This episode was originally recorded around Thanksgiving!

Paul describes his own frustrating experience as a believer who wanted to obey God but couldn't because the temptations of his flesh were too powerful to resist. And then he suddenly explodes with thanksgiving. Immediately after crying out, "Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?" He joyfully shouts, "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" He's able to give such heartfelt thanks because he's not living in defeat anymore. He's not being dragged around by appetites, emotions and old ways of thinking that still reside In his flesh. Even though those forces continue to pull at him and tempt him, he's found the keys to freedom, and he tells us what they are so we can be free too.

Regardless of how challenging this past year may have been, as believers in Jesus Christ each of us has so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. The amazing gifts Paul describes here are ours as well. And because we possess these gifts we know for certain the year ahead will be full of God's mercy and power so we can walk in increasing freedom from our old ways. We're forgiven, full of the Holy Spirit and freed from sin and when we lay hold of these truths real, lasting change takes place. We can thank God not only for His faithfulness during this past year, but because the year ahead will be even better.

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