Week 2: Replace the Lie

Ever felt like following Jesus is just one long, exhausting fight against everything you actually want? I know, that sounds like something you're not supposed to say out loud. But seriously. Sometimes it feels like being a Christian means trying not to mess up and keeping track of everything you're not allowed to do anymore. We talk about freedom, but a lot of us aren’t feeling it. Instead, it feels like behavior management.

Paul felt that too. The same guy who said, “For freedom Christ has set us free…” also wrote, “I don’t really understand myself. I want to do what’s right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.” (Romans 7:15) Been there? I have. A lot. I want to live differently, but I mess up. And when I read what Paul wrote, it’s kind of a relief. Because he’s not giving up, he’s being honest. What he’s saying is this: “My heart wants something better. Even when I fail, I’m not the same person I used to be.”

And maybe that’s true for you too. You’ve still got your moments, but something’s changing. You don’t want the same things you used to. Maybe it’s subtle. But deep down, you’re starting to think, I don’t want that anymore. That shift? That’s Jesus working in you. You’re reading this because something in you wants more. More than your old habits. More than quick fixes. You’re not just looking for relief, you’re looking for something real. Even if your actions don’t always show it, your desires are different. That’s a big deal.

I’ve been following Jesus since I was eleven, and I still have to surrender every day. Some days I get it right. Some days I don’t. But I’ve learned this: God isn’t waiting on me to be perfect. He’s walking with me while I figure it out. I get why letting Jesus lead your life can feel scary. Like if you really let Him change your desires, you’ll lose something. But here’s the truth: the stuff you’re afraid to lose? It was never helping you.

Jesus isn’t managing your behavior. He’s not handing you a list. He’s pulling up a chair and saying, You’re mine. When you believe that, everything changes. You stop trying to prove yourself. You stop thinking freedom is something you earn. You start to understand, Jesus already did it all for you.

So next time you feel like you’ll never get it right, pray: Jesus, thank You for changing my desires—and for grace while my actions catch up. And if you’re tempted to quit, hear Paul’s challenge:

“You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom.” (Galatians 5:7-8)