Not Finished Yet

Published: April 21, 2020, midnight

b'Lying on my dorm room floor, I wiped tears from my eyes. Why did I keep doing things I knew grieved the heart of God? Perhaps it was growing up in a strict home? The countless rules just fueled my desire to live a little outside the lines. For me, that looked like a struggle to honor God in my romantic relationships. While I didn\\u2019t go \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153all the way\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d with guys, stepping over the line with them offered the thrill I craved. Afterward, though, I felt worse. The Holy Spirit was gently prompting me to flee sin and run into the arms of Jesus instead.\\nTime after time, this happened, and I wrestled and prayed. I felt like I was finally grasping what Paul said in Romans 7:15-24. I was doing what I didn\\u2019t want to do, and I kept on doing it. I really felt like I was a prisoner to these desires\\u2014they were battling within me against the Holy Spirit\\u2019s leading. \\u201cGod,\\u201d I prayed, \\u201cJust let me get caught or in trouble or something! I want this to stop, but I feel so powerless!\\u201d\\nThe love and grace of Jesus Christ eventually drew me back. I was attempting to fill my cravings for ultimate meaning with something other than Him\\u2026and that never satisfies. When I trusted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, He gave me freedom from sin\\u2019s power. Even though I will wrestle with my old sinful nature until I see Jesus face-to-face, I have His power living inside me. With His help, I can reject sin and be led by the Spirit as I set my mind on His desires (Romans 8:5; Galatians 5:16-18).\\nNow, when Satan throws my failures back in my face, I block his attacks with truth from God\\u2019s Word. When Satan whispers, \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153What kind of a follower of God are you? How can you expect to reach others with God\\u2019s love when you\\u2019re trapped in your own sin? You call this victory?\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d Now, I shout back: \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153God\\u2019s not finished with me yet! He began a good work in me, and He will continue it until the day He comes again!\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d (Philippians 1:6). \\u2022 Savannah Coleman\\n\\u2022 What sin struggles do you feel powerless over? You are not alone in this battle! If you are a child of God, you are empowered by the Holy Spirit to choose victory instead of sin. \\n\\u2022 Read Romans 7:25. Our sins and struggles may be great, but God is greater. Who gives us the deliverance we need? \\n\\u2022 Read 1 John 1:9\\xe2\\u20ac\\u201c2:1. When you do fail, who should you run to?\\nBeing confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 (NIV)\\n\\xa0\\nRead Verses:\\nRomans 7:15-25; Galatians 5:13-25'