Lately, I've been catching myself mourning sin more and more often. From day to day, I find that I am actively mourning not only my own sinfulness, but as I look upon the world that we live in I am repeatedly confronted with the pride, anger, bitterness, greed, envy and lust that seems to be ever present in the world. 
These principalities that are in direct conflict with God (Eph 6:12) are forces that cannot be avoided and must be reckoned with, but as the rest of this passage commands, we are to arm ourselves for battle with the divine everlasting armor of God. "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Eph 6:13-17 NIV).
These principalities that are in direct conflict with God (Eph 6:12) are forces that cannot be avoided and must be reckoned with, but as the rest of this passage commands, we are to arm ourselves for battle with the divine everlasting armor of God. "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Eph 6:13-17 NIV). Even in my interactions with others, the relational brokenness that is ever pervasive cannot be avoided. Whenever I begin new friendships, this brokenness glaringly reminds me of 
my own awkwardness and clumsiness and lack of social graces. The part of me that forgets how to walk and talk at the same time. But, once again I am comforted by Scripture that tells me that the Holy Spirit, who lives within me (Rom 5:5) is also continually cultivating His good and righteous fruit within me. "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Gal 5:22-23a NLT). It's when I forget to seek the strength and power of the Holy Spirit to help me overcome my own brokenness and the brokenness of others that I lose hope and walk around defeated and alone.
my own awkwardness and clumsiness and lack of social graces. The part of me that forgets how to walk and talk at the same time. But, once again I am comforted by Scripture that tells me that the Holy Spirit, who lives within me (Rom 5:5) is also continually cultivating His good and righteous fruit within me. "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Gal 5:22-23a NLT). It's when I forget to seek the strength and power of the Holy Spirit to help me overcome my own brokenness and the brokenness of others that I lose hope and walk around defeated and alone. So, as this year comes to a close and we once again have before us the opportunity in the coming year to press more deeply into the passions that pulsate within us. Let us remember that through our enduring and intimate relationship with Jesus, we are empowered with what we need to persevere through the trails that lay before us as we pursue those God given yearnings within our hearts that call out to us and urge us to make an impact for the Kingdom of God. "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-disciple" (2 Tim 1:7) and that those who overcome are given "the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God" (Rev 2:7). 
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