“Winners Never Quit”

Monday, November 09, 2015

I am twenty-years-old and have been trying to live a christian life for three years now.  It just seems like I can never get it right.  When I get rid of one ungodly habit, another rears its head.  I realize I have so many that I can't even find the strength to tackle them.  I have prayed and committed these things to Christ, and I know He's gonna come through.  My question is: how do I deal with constantly disappointing God?  I feel like I embarrass the kingdom whenever I behave a certain way (very argumentative, keeping malice, fornicating), and I hate that I hurt the God that came through for me when I was down in the pit.  Please pray for me as well. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Missing The Mark

Dear Missing The Mark,

Your struggle is the struggle of every christian.  As we seek to live godly lives, we are constantly confronted with our inadequacies.  It is a good thing that you are honest with yourself and with God about your faults; if you weren’t, you would deceive yourself, and the truth would not be in you (1 Jhn 1:8).  On the other hand, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and willing to forgive us (1 Jhn 1:9).

Ironically, only honestly imperfect people will be saved.  If you told us that you had stopped failing and no longer sinned, then you would be a liar, and God’s Word would have no place in your life (1 Jhn 1:10).

Christianity is not about being perfect – but about not giving up attempting to be perfect.  A faithful person is one that hears, learns, and attempts to apply God’s Word (Rom 10:17).  You will constantly fail in that struggle, but godly people pick themselves back up again and keep trying (Pr 24:16).  In essence, the victory of Christianity exists in never saying, “I quit!” or permanently returning to an ungodly life.  Continue to give your one hundred percent to repenting of the sin in your life – but understand that as long as you keep fighting – God keeps forgiving.

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