If I tried to lift 500 pounds, I would fail miserably. I simply do not have the strength to accomplish such a feat. If I tried to run a marathon, again I would fail. I haven’t built up the endurance to run such a long distance. If I tried to throw a football 50 yards, it would come up well short of this goal. Although I try to do the right thing almost all the time, I come up short in my own efforts.
Mark 14:38 explains this conundrum, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Consistently walking in the path of righteousness cannot be done in our own strength. We simply need the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives to be able to walk according to God’s design. We must continually pray for God’s wisdom and remain vigilantly alert to temptation, in order to resist.
Reluctant Retiree 