Claim Victory Before the Battle is Won!

Or, even more fundamental, why are my affections for God so cold? Why is my desire for repentance so weak? It’s not that I want to do good but get tripped up. Sometimes I don’t even want to do good.

Here’s the good news: God hears even that cry of desperation. The broken and contrite he will not despise (Psalm 51:17).

Because, deep down, I’ve made a decision to seek God. I want him to change me. I want to want God more. And that’s what repentance is.

And so I call out to God on behalf of my broken, cold heart, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24–25 CSB)

I may not experience victory today. But I can live today with the assurance of victory. And that assurance changes my disposition in the fight—from helplessness to hopefulness.