It has been said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again only to expect different results. This of course applies to many things in life but perhaps broadly to our struggle with sin as Christians. The apostle Paul wrote:
For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. Romans 7:15 NASB
How many times have we found ourselves repeating the same mistakes of old? If it is human to err but divine to forgive then God must be really good at forgiving. Why? Because we test Him time and time again. If you’re like me I don’t want to be caught up in this never ending cycle. I want to break free to a new path.
This whole line of reasoning reminds me of a 90s movie entitled Groundhog Day. The premise is simple. A selfish reporter, Phil Conners, played by comic actor Bill Murray finds himself reliving Groundhog Day over and over. At first he tries to exploit the knowledge he has gained by reliving the same day to his own benefit. But the cycle continues and he tires of the endless monotony. Finally Phil learns to use his growing to knowledge to help others only to be ultimately freed from his prison in time.
The premise of the movie may sound absurd, but how often are we stuck in a situation of our own making? How often do we succumb to things that we know won’t help and won’t change our situation only to return to our folly again? It’s an age old story that has probably played in everyone’s life in some manner or another. But it doesn’t have to be the whole story.
Like Phil in Groundhog Day we can break the cycle. But it isn’t by being altruistic alone. We have to surrender to the Lord of our lives. We must lay down our wants and wishes and let Him lead us to better things. You and I may have some recognition of our predicament (which itself is a gift from God) but in order to truly escape our spinning top we have to grasp grace through through the hand of faith. We have to hold on to the promises of God’s word that can and will pull us from the slough of despond.
As you push forward in February perhaps you can take hold of the promises of God. Perhaps you can realize more fully that only Jesus can place us on a firm foundation. Remember in whom you have first believed. Remember Him who:
…is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Ephesians 3:20
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