An interesting scripture...

Romans 7:14-24 "For we know that the Law is spiritual; but I am fleshly, sold under sin. For what I am working out I do not know. For what I wish, this I do not practice; but what I hate is what I do. However, If what I do not wish is what I do, I agree that the Law is fine. But now the one working it out is no longer I, but sin that resides in me. For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, there dwells nothing good; for ability to wish is present with me, but ability to work out what is fine is not [present]. For the good that I wish, I do not do, but the bad that I do not wish, is what I practice. If, now, what I do not wish is what I do, the one working it out is not longer I, but the sin dwelling in me."

"I find, then, this law in my case: that when I wish to do what is right, what is bad is present with me. I really delight in the law of God according to the man I am within, but I behold in my members another law warring against the law of my mind and leading me captive to sin's law that is in my members. Miserable man that I am! Who will rescue me from the body undergoing this death? Thanks to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So, then, with [my] mind, I myself am a slave to God's law, but with [my] flesh, to sin's law."

A little confusing to read, but once understood, it is a rather "telling" scripture.

I don't know why, but I find comfort in this scripture. Maybe because it explains the struggle I am constantly feeling inside, and knowing that God truly understands this never-ending battle makes me feel a little less "evil."

Does anyone understand this feeling?

Yes, one of the first verses I memorized was Romans 8:38-39 for that "comforting" feeling. I love the length and all-inclusiveness of the list:

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

WOW! That IS difficult to read! I think Paul talked in circles a lot. LOL

I think this sums it up... at least for me.

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Thanks to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So, then, with [my] mind, I myself am a slave to God's law, but with [my] flesh, to sin's law."

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Yes, I understand it oh too well. Our Pastor showed me that scripture because I just wanted to give up and felt like I was the only one on earth that struggeles so much with sin of the flesh and wanting to do good but not able to and thinking I am the worst person alive. Alcohol/drunkeness is one thorn in my flesh and no matter what I do or how hard I've tried I end up doing what I do not want to do. Even after periods of time not drunk I end up there agin and agin and agin. Smoking was a thorn in my flesh at a point and no matter how I tried nothing worked. It is hard when ppl around say how easy these things were to quit for them and yet here I am. Thing is I do not know what their thorn may be. It has helped me to depend on God much more and deffinately very humbeling. Srry didn't mean to go on so long. Just wanted you to know that I understand it (feeling)
mlyn

Yes, it's disappointing to me in a way that Paul struggled with that so! Surely he was able to rise above that and realize the higher level of understanding.

I think part of what he was saying is that we reach a point in sin where sin takes over. like crossing a line of such. I just know I am grateful for that scripture for it has taken away the shame and shown me more of humaness and I trust more will be revealed as long as I keep seeking God.