One of my biggest struggles as a Christian (and as a man) has been in my mind; controlling my thoughts has always been challenging. The key to continuing the fight is the reminder that God is always there to catch me when I fall, help me get back on my feet, and give me strength to carry on anew.

“A Christian’s Struggle against the Flesh” (#9)
Dear Lord, please be near me in my times of strife,
And give me strength to endure the battles in my life.
As a Christian, two personalities now lurk within
My body and mind-and only one can win.
The one is my old nature-strong, sinful, and selfish, too;
The other is my new self-the man who reflects you.
Yet the old man is not gone-no, this man only leaves
When starved-until then, he battles the one who believes
That God will provide for his every need;
And this, Lord, I plead:
I know you wish for me to have self-control, and to be patient, humble, and meek;
But, though my spirit is willing, my body is weak.
I keep falling back to the same old sin;
Without you as my strength, Lord Jesus, I cannot win.
I pray, therefore, that you would cleanse me
Of everything sinful, and carve
Away the lustful flesh in me
So that it will soon be starved.
This, Lord, I pray in your holy name,
That this would (if it be Your will) come to be:
That, as I mature, my balance would tip in favor of you
And that I would become dead to the sinful me.