Each day I fall short, neglecting the everlasting enterprise of the eschaton for endless entertainments of earth. My mind is more preoccupied with work than worship; profits than prayer; with play above piety; preferring the path of an earthly champion above the portion of charity, character, and the cross of Christ. Each day and every hour I need new grace, renewing grace, to continue upward in the Christian way.

It is not wrong to desire all good things, but only good things by bad means or wrong timing. The Word does not count it covetous to want that which we can procure by God’s means for His glory. In fact, we are told to pray for and act within our power to attain the goods we yearn for.

Paul told the saints at Ephesus to put on the “helmet of salvation.” This was to say, an assured faith in Jesus Christ is essential for the believer’s battle with this world. Hope that is grounded on the promises of God is the armor best-suited to protect the mind as we push onward, upward, against so many opposing ideas and temptations.

After a Christian sins, he may collapse into a paralysis of guilt and despair. What he ought to do instead is trust God for mercy, resolve again to live by the Spirit’s power, and keep moving forward. Imagine a soldier stumbling over a trip-wire in a battle; instead of continuing to fight, he just lays there sobbing, “my commander must hate me! I am a failure!” The commander yells back at him, amid the noise of bullets whirring past, “I knew you were weak on your own beforehand, that is why I am with you! Now get up and fight for me and your brothers! You are no good on the ground—stand up, man! Fight!