special graces

I find it’s hard to do the good thoughts I want to do. Sound familiar? This is from Romans 7:18. When Paul wrote this he also shared with us the solution to his dilemma. He wrote that “those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit wants to do (Rm 8:5). Do we sometimes struggle with good thoughts that we can’t seem to carry out? And the better question is, are they God’s thoughts, or are they ours?

The clear answer is that, when we live in the Spirit, we have our mind set on the good thoughts that are from God. It’s as if He comes along, inserting His thoughts into ours, and says “let me show you how to do this better.” He loves it that we are willing to do good, and then brings the best of the good into our minds to do.

I am a person who has often struggled with the motives, or good intentions, of my heart. Looking at good results didn’t always convince me that I was doing God’s best in my life. Then the Lord took me though a personal tutoring program, called “affliction.” I had an illness that just wouldn’t go away. It sapped all my strength from me, and then my motivation to do good left also. Later, as God began healing me, He asked me to do things I had no strength to do. He gave me “special graces” to carry the tasks. I’ve come to know that these graces are His power, quickening my mortal body (Rm 8:11). In His special graces lie His richness, and the depth of His love. I find His strength there, and His character is made known to me. All that God is lives in me when I am willing to walk in the grace that carries me where I cannot walk alone.

God loves it when we want to do good, and enjoys our thoughts. Just like any loving father, He comes along and tells us “let me show you how to do it better.” We can go from the frustration of not being able to do the good we want, to the victory of doing “all things through Christ Who strengthens us” (Phil 4:13). Let us remember that the answer is in living in the Spirit, and the strength comes in those special graces that allow us to walk with God.