Episode Details

Romans 7:18-19 highlights the inner struggle every believer faces between sinful desires and the desire to honor God. In this devotional, Aaron D’Anthony Brown challenges Christians to honestly evaluate whether they may be sabotaging their own spiritual growth, relationships, or progress in life. Rather than always blaming circumstances or other people, believers are encouraged to practice self-awareness, humility, and accountability as they confront patterns of unhealthy thinking and behavior.

This devotional reminds readers that spiritual maturity begins with honest reflection and repentance. The Apostle Paul openly acknowledged his battle with sin, showing believers the importance of recognizing personal weaknesses instead of excusing them. Through humility, accountability, and dependence on God, Christians can stop getting in their own way and begin pursuing the righteous life God calls them to live.

Highlights

• Romans 7 reveals the ongoing battle between flesh and spirit.
• Self-awareness is the first step toward personal and spiritual growth.
• Pride can prevent believers from recognizing harmful behaviors.
• Accountability helps sharpen and strengthen Christian character.
• Excusing sinful habits leads to self-sabotage and spiritual stagnation.
• Humility allows believers to receive correction and grow in wisdom.
• God calls Christians to actively confront and reject sinful patterns.

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Full Transcript Below:

Are You Getting in Your Own Way?

By Aaron D’Anthony Brown

Bible Reading:
“For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do.” (Romans 7:18-19, CSB)

There’s a certain question we should ask ourselves every now and again: Am I getting in my own way?

When we don’t get the outcomes we want in life, blaming our circumstances and other people comes naturally enough. What doesn’t happen as frequently as it should is looking at the man in the mirror.

Recently, I remember talking to a fellow young man about our desire for marriage. Well, we went out to lunch with women from our church. Something we both wanted. For one reason or another, this getting-to-know-you experience led him to talk about an extremely embarrassing incident. Now, who in their right mind would share that on a first date?

Or take, for instance, a buddy of mine who is encountering deep financial str