“Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Romans 7:24–25
Do you ever pray, “Lord, rescue me from myself?” I sure do. My mind often feels like an enemy, a relentless inner critic running on a hamster wheel of negativity. Once it starts, it can be hard to shut it off.
It usually starts with a thought like, “You should be a better __________” (friend, mom, wife, co-worker, daughter, neighbor, sister). And when I’m trying so hard to live like Christ, those thoughts can get even louder. Before I know it, I’m questioning all my intentions, and I’ve nitpicked everything I’ve done and said.
I appreciate the apostle Paul’s words in Romans 7:15: “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” I can pick up a thought that turns itself into a doubt or lie and then proceed to carry it as if it were gospel truth, even though I don’t “want” to.
One of the sneakiest thought patterns has been the full conversations my mind rehearses that haven’t even happened yet. Talk about mentally draining! My insides churn into anxious knots before any real words have been exchanged.
In Romans 7:24 Paul asks, “Who will deliver me…?” Another translation uses “rescue” in place of “deliver.” That word resonates with me because even Paul struggled with sin, which is actually a comfort to remember.
I admit I am my own worst enemy. I get bogged down in my own woundedness. I dwell on the very things I don’t want to think about. We can’t escape our humanity. But God! He rescued us from ourselves by sending His Son, Jesus, to the cross for us. Like Paul, I am nothing without Christ.
You want to be rescued from yourself? Turn to Jesus. He rescued us on the cross. He died so we could live. That doesn’t mean our life will instantly be easy and free from struggles. Paul often spoke of his own afflictions and troubles. My inner thoughts spiraled for years before I learned I could replace them with something better. The best “something better” is the truth of God’s word. That’s where we learn all about how He rescues us from ourselves, despite ourselves.
His Word is your best defense from yourself. Read and memorize these verses today. His truth is our rescue.
Prayer: Lord, when I pray, “Rescue me from myself,” remind me that You already have. You went to the cross so that I can live. When my thoughts spiral, bring Your words of truth to my mind through Your Spirit, so I may dwell on them rather than myself. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Want More?
In his commentary on Romans, F. F. Bruce titled the section of Romans 1:16–11:36 “The Gospel According to Paul” for the way Paul explains what the gospel is: how we are separated from God, why God’s grace is the answer, and how to live transformed by Him. It’s an intricate picture of life in the Spirit.
- Read Romans 3:9–20 and write out our condition apart from Christ.
- Next, read Romans 8:1–39 and observe what has been done for believers in Jesus.
- How do we go from wretched man to indwelt by the Spirit of God? Note specifically the role of God, Jesus, and the Spirit.
