A Prayer When You Fall Short All The Time - Your Daily Prayer - October 22

Audio By Carbonatix

A Prayer When You Fall Short All The Time
By Laura Bailey

Bible Reading
“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate, I do.” - Romans 7:15 NIV

Listen or Read Below

“I am beyond frustrated; I feel like no matter how hard I try, I keep making the same mistakes,” I lamented over coffee with a friend.  I’ve always struggled to keep a tight rein on my tongue, especially when I feel attacked or misunderstood.

I knew that I needed divine intervention to help me, so I’d been specifically praying that the Lord would “ set a guard over my mouth and keep watch over my lips ( Psalm 141:3). But after a recent interaction with someone who has a gift for ruffling my feathers, not only did I not hold back my words, I let loose my wrath. Within minutes of leaving the conversation, I felt the familiar conviction of the Holy Spirit and knew that an apology lay in my future.

Truthfully, there are times when I’d wrestled with the gentle nudge from the Holy Spirit to seek forgiveness over my careless words. Yet, in this case, I knew it was the right thing to do. See, this time I was more shame-ridden over the fact that I seemed to always fall short–why can’t I just get it right for once?

My friends listened as I shared my feelings of inadequacy over sips of her latte; she offered assurance and showed concern for my circumstance. Once I’d finished my venting, she grabbed my hand and said, “Laura, I think it’s great that you acknowledge when you fall short, but remember, God’s grace isn’t dependent on what you do, or you don’t do.”

I’ve always loved the Apostle Paul’s writing; his straightforward, head-on approach to the realities of life in a fallen world, especially highlighting how difficult it is for those of us in Christ to live faithfully. His wrestlings within himself are on full display throughout the New Testament. Paul writes in Romans 7: 15, “ I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate I do.” In many Bibles, the title of this section is “Struggling with Sin,” which is appropriate because it is just that, a struggle.

Paul, in this passage of Scripture, is being honest about the difficulty of our battle with sin. Those of us in Christ are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), and while we are no longer slaves to sin (Romans 6:6), we are still susceptible to sin’s effects in our lives. I’ve heard it shared that through Christ we are freed from the penalty of sin, the Holy Spirit helps us be freed from the power of sin, and one day, when we are with the Lord, we will be freed from the presence of Sin. Alleluia! This explains why even those of us who have the Spirit dwelling within us are still waging war daily against the flesh.

Knowing this reality, that we will never fully conquer sin this side of Heaven, explains why, even when we try our hardest, we often fall short. Only one man was able to live a perfect, sinless life: Jesus Christ. The mark of a believer is not flawlessness but faithfulness. If someone like Paul, like myself, who doesn’t keep God’s commands perfectly but, when they mess up, is quick to acknowledge their sin, repent, and seek forgiveness.

My heart's desire is to genuinely learn to control my temper and tongue. And while I haven't mastered it, I have seen improvement: my responses are delayed, the words tempered. That’s sanctification at work in our lives as we strive to look more like Jesus every day. We will fall short, but thank goodness, where sin increases, God's grace increases all the more (Romans 5:20).

Let’s Pray

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Your Son to die for us sinners. We are so undeserving, yet from the beginning of time, You have made a way for Your children to return to You. Help me in my weakness; give me the strength to fight the war that wages within me, to die to myself daily and take up my cross to follow You.

Lord, when I fall short, please lead me quickly to confession and repentance, and help me remember that You are a God whose grace meets me where I am, whose love is unending, and whose mercy never fails. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Go Deeper: How God Helps Us Repair Broken Relationships

What do you do when a relationship feels so broken you’re afraid it may never recover? Relational pain can trigger fear, shame and an urgent desire to fix things—reactions that can make already difficult conversations even harder. In this episode, Jennifer talks with pastoral counselor and author Chris Coursey about how God can help us navigate relational fractures with greater peace, clarity and compassion. Chris explains what happens in our brains when pain pushes us into “enemy mode,” why emotional safety is so important and how learning to quiet ourselves and reconnect with God can help us respond as our healthier, relational selves. If this episode helps you face fear with God's confidence, be sure to follow Faith Over Fear on Apple or Spotify so you get new episodes every week!

Discuss today’s devotional with others in the Your Daily Prayer thread on the Crosswalk Forum.

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/urbazon

Laura Bailey is an author and Bible teacher who encourages others to understand what they believe, why it matters, and how to apply biblical truths to their lives. Laura holds a certificate in Biblical Women's Studies from SEBTS and serves as a workplace chaplain and the director of women’s ministries at her church. She is the author of multiple books and Bible studies; her most recent one on Habakkuk explores Habakkuk’s message of hope Amid Uncertainty. She lives in Upstate South Carolina with her husband and 3 daughters.  She attends Macedonia Baptist Church, where she is the director of Women’s Ministry and teaches Bible studies weekly.  Learn more about her ministry and her books: www.LauraRBailey.com connect on Facebook and Instagram. 

Want More Encouragement for Your Day?

Story Behind is a Christian podcast sharing true stories of God at work in the lives of ordinary people: from answered prayers and unexpected miracles to everyday heroes, extraordinary courage, and the good news happening in our world today.

Each episode goes beyond the headlines to uncover the remarkable people, moments, and circumstances behind these stories. Discover how God is moving through people, families, and communities, and find hope in the places you might least expect it.