WEEK ONE: CONTROL

Have you ever heard a person refer to someone as their “own worst enemy”? They are normally referring to a situation where a particular person can’t seem to catch a break due primarily to poor decisions that they seem to continually make. Maybe you feel the same way sometimes…like you are your own worst enemy.

Often the fiercest battles we face aren’t with the world around us, but with the war within. It’s the quiet self-doubt whispering that we’re not enough. It’s the sabotaging choices we make, even when we know a better way. It's the inner critic that speaks louder than the voice of truth. Listen, we all struggle with this at times. No one is perfect!

In Romans 7:19, the apostle Paul, speaking of himself, writes, "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." (NIV) You might be your own worst enemy, but it’s not because you're inherently bad or evil. It’s because you’re human. Like Paul, you want to do what’s right, but you keep tripping over your own two feet. At times it can feel like riding a stationary bike—you work really hard, but you don’t actually go anywhere. That cycle can be exhausting.

But here’s the hope: God sees that inner struggle and doesn’t condemn you. In fact, God offers strength where you feel weak, grace where you feel shame, and renewal where you feel stuck.  God has given us the Holy Spirit, so stop trying to control your urges by relying on your own willpower and let the Spirit help and lead you. Surrender your struggle in prayer and allow the Holy Spirit to be your guide. God is not waiting for you to win the battle on your own; he wants to fight it with you.