Step 1 as Paul Sees It

The Struggle with Watching The Kardashians

15 I do not understand my own actions. For I want to spend my time wisely, but instead, I sit for hours watching The Kardashians.

16 And if I recognize that this is not the best use of my time, then I am admitting that there are better, more meaningful things to do.

17 So it is no longer truly me who chooses this, but the habit and distraction living inside me.

18 I know that keeping up with their lives won’t enrich mine. I have the desire to turn it off, to do something productive, but I cannot seem to stop.

19 For I do not do the good I want to do—reading, praying, learning, growing—but instead, I watch episode after episode, lost in their drama.

20 And if I keep watching when I know it’s a waste of time, then it is not truly me, but this mindless craving controlling me.

21 So I find this law at work: when I want to focus on real life, entertainment always lures me back in.

22 Deep in my heart, I know I was made for more than watching someone else’s carefully curated life.

The Struggle with Greed and Materialism

15 I do not understand my own actions. For I want to be content, but instead, I chase after more wealth and possessions.

16 And if I recognize that greed is wrong, then I am admitting that generosity and contentment are good.

17 So it is no longer truly me who chooses this path, but the greed living inside me.

18 I know that nothing truly fulfilling comes from my obsession with money and status. I have the desire to be satisfied with what I have, but I cannot seem to live it out.

19 For I do not do the good I want to do—being generous and grateful—but instead, I pursue more wealth, more luxury, more things that never satisfy.

20 And if I keep chasing riches when I know they will not fulfill me, then it is not truly me, but the greed controlling me.

21 So I find this law at work: when I want to be content, the hunger for more is always there, tempting me.

22 Deep in my heart, I long for simplicity, for peace, for the joy of giving.

23 But there is another force inside me, waging war against my mind, dragging me back into the cycle of materialism, making me a prisoner of my own desires.

The Struggle with Mello Yello

15 I do not understand my own actions. For I want to drink more water, but instead, I keep reaching for another Mello Yello.

16 And if I recognize that drinking too much of it isn’t good for me, then I am admitting that moderation is wise.

17 So it is no longer truly me who chooses this, but the craving for sugar and caffeine living inside me.

18 I know that nothing truly beneficial comes from drinking so much of it. I have the desire to cut back, but I cannot seem to follow through.

19 For I do not do the good I want to do—staying hydrated and making healthy choices—but instead, I crack open another can.

20 And if I keep drinking it even when I tell myself I won’t, then it is not truly me, but my addiction to the sweet, citrusy goodness controlling me.

21 So I find this law at work: when I want to make better choices, the urge for Mello Yello is always there, calling my name.

22 Deep in my heart, I know I should drink water and take care of my health.

23 But there is another force inside me, waging war against my mind, pulling me toward the fridge, making me a prisoner of my own thirst for that bubbly, sugary rush.

The Struggle with Lack of Faith

15 I do not understand my own actions. For I want to live by faith, but instead, I give in to fear.

16 And if I recognize that fear holds me back, then I acknowledge that faith is the better way.

17 So it is no longer truly I who act, but the fear dwelling within me.

18 For I know that doubting God brings no good thing. I have the desire to walk in faith, to trust His word—but I cannot seem to.

19 For I do not do the faithful things I long to do, but instead, I surrender to anxiety and hesitation.

20 And if I keep letting fear control me when I know I should walk in faith, then it is not truly God who rules my life, but fear gripping me.

21 So I find this law at work: when I seek to live by faith, fear rises up to hold me back.

22 Yet in my heart, I delight in faith and truth, knowing I was made for more than a life ruled by fear.

The Struggle Between God and the World

15 I do not understand my own actions. For I want to seek God, but instead, I chase after the things of this world.

16 And if I recognize that living for myself is empty, then I am admitting that God’s way is good.

17 So it is no longer truly me who chooses this path, but the pull of the world living inside me.

18 I know that nothing truly lasting comes from chasing success, pleasure, or approval. I have the desire to seek God, but I cannot seem to follow through.

19 For I do not do the good I want to do—drawing closer to Him—but instead, I keep running after temporary things that leave me feeling lost.

20 And if I keep ignoring God even when I know I need Him, then it is not truly me, but the world’s influence controlling me.

21 So I find this law at work: when I want to follow God, distractions and temptations are always there, calling me back.

22 Deep in my heart, I know the truth—I was made for Him, and only He can satisfy.

23 But there is another force inside me, waging war against my mind, pulling me away from Him, making me a prisoner of my own desires and the world’s empty promises.

The Struggle with Alcoholism

15 I do not understand my own actions. For I want to stay sober, but instead, I drink.

16 And if I drink when I know I shouldn’t, I am admitting that sobriety is good.

17 So it is no longer truly me who chooses to drink, but the addiction living inside me.

18 I know that nothing good dwells in my cravings—that part of me that thirsts for the bottle. I have the desire to quit, but I cannot seem to carry it out.

19 For I do not do the good I want to do—staying clean—but the very thing I hate, I do again and again.

20 And if I keep drinking when I don’t want to, then it is not truly me, but the addiction controlling me.

21 So I find this law at work: when I want to stay sober, the temptation is always there, waiting.

22 For in my heart, I long for freedom, I want to live well, to be whole.

23 But there is another force inside me, fighting against my mind, dragging me back into the same cycle, making me a prisoner of addiction.

Romans 7:15-23 Struggling with "insert here"

15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate, I do.

16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.

17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but "insert here" living in me.

18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.

20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but "insert here" living in me that does it.

21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, "insert here" is right there with me.

22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law,

23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of "insert here" at work within me.