The Battle I Will Never Win Alone

It seems like the Christmas Season began the very day after Halloween this year. Every store was filled with decorations and the holiday music was playing loud and clear. I keep wondering why I am feeling such pressure this year to get my shopping done, events planned, cookies and candy made....I usually just enjoy the season and all of the fun things that come along with it. It would be easy to say that society has caused me to feel this pressure to fill my days doing all of the very things that cause me stress. But, in reality, I only have myself to blame. I allow myself become overwhelmed with all of the things that Christmas is NOT about. I'm feeling guilty for talking out of both sides of my mouth....reinforcing to my children the "real" meaning of Christmas while getting wrapped up in all the things of this world. This freaks me out a little bit because I am a Christian, I know I am "saved", I have no doubt that when I die I will go to Heaven. So with that being said, why do I do the things I do? Why do I say the things I say? Why do I allow the things of the world to be so important to me?

In my bible study this week I learned that there is a daily "battle" going on for my time, my mind, my actions, my words.....so, obviously my first reaction is that I must not be doing a good job at winning the battle. I'm not trying hard enough, I'm not working at it like I should be. This is just who I am. If something isn't going well, or the way I want it to, I just try harder, do something else, make it work! Then, it hit me that I, personally, will never overcome these challenges on my own. I will always, always fail. The one and only way I will ever attempt to win the "battle" of my mind, my actions, and my words is to turn to Jesus and remember that the battle was already won for me when I accepted Him. He is the only one that can change me....I'll never be able to do it alone.