Knowing what to believe or what to do is hard. What should I believe about the current cultural controversy? Which section of Scripture applies to what I’m facing right now? What is the biblical response in this situation?

What is harder, much harder, than knowing what to believe, is doing what I already know to do. I know I should spend more focused time with my family and show more love to my wife. I know I should think more of others than of myself. I know I should stop using YouTube as a time waster when I’m bored or tired. I know I should do better with meaningful and consistent family devotions. I know I should do to others as I’d like them to do to me.

Knowing what to do is much easier than actually doing it. I like to see myself as a fearless and disciplined warrior for Christ, but in my most honest moments I know that instead I’m a lazy, weak, undisciplined coward. I know what to do, and I keep trying to do it, but I keep failing. Paul spoke about this in Romans 7. “For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.”

It is impossible for me to do what is right if I try to do it on my own strength. I even know this, but I somehow keep trying and thinking that if only I try hard enough that this time I can do it. How can I be victorious? “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Rom 7:24, 25)

Doing what you already know to do is the hardest thing.