Justice is the insurance we have on our lives, and obedience is the premium we pay for it. William Penn

There is one important lesson that I have painfully learned in my lifetime; every time I make a promise to change some facet of my life, I have just set myself up to fail. I am simply unable to make those changes in my own power, and the resulting failure makes the next time just that much more difficult. In fact, it gives the enemy fuel for his fire of doubt: Oh, you cannot do that, remember the last time you failed the very next day. But God knew that was the case and He has a plan in place.

Zech 4:6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. ESV

The Lord provided a way for us to escape temptation and remain obedient to His Word but it takes the Spirit of God to accomplish the tasks that He places in front of us. We are fully incapable of accomplishing them in our own power. We absolutely do not have the power to be obedient to the Word of God without His Spirit. Our old soulish desires are too strong, and if we are left to our own devices, we will spend our life in disobedience.

Yes, God tells us to lead an obedient life … but He does not ask us without giving us all we need to get the job done.

1 Cor 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. ESV