March 20

For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive an abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! — Rom 5:17 BSB

Precious souls sometimes face tremendous battles in their efforts to achieve righteousness, especially in difficult circumstances. Perhaps the heart has wandered in a place where temptation has been allowed to take hold, or it has strayed from full devotion to God. The resulting conflict can be intense, as the soul struggles to realign itself with God’s will, battling spiritual enemies and its own sense of helplessness and guilt. The struggle often feels dark and futile, as efforts in the flesh lead to discouragement and failure.

It’s almost inevitable that the soul caught in this struggle will strive in the spirit of the law, which only results in condemnation. Every failure brings a sense of wrath and discouragement, and despair looms large. But if only the struggling soul could remember the truth it has learned before—that Christ is our righteousness and that victory comes not through the law, but by grace alone. “Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law, but under grace.” This is the key to the whole battle.