“[The Idolater] feeds on ashes. His deceived mind has led him astray, and he cannot rescue himself, or say, ‘Isn’t there a lie in my right hand’” (Isaiah 44.20)?

I cannot rescue myself. My sins leave me bound and chained. I am a slave to my desires apart from Jesus Christ. Only He is able to free me. I am a captive to the devil. I will do his will apart from Christ. I must come to my senses to escape the snare of the devil. I was carried away to idolatry, led there by the spirit of this world. Most people don’t see that they are slaves to sin and Satan. They might have brief lucid points in life when they recognize their need for the Truth not a truth. They might see that they need to turn to God. They strive to turn over a new leaf but cannot. Inward desires are too strong. Deep-rooted habits are so intertwined with who they are that they cannot break free. “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to evil” (Jeremiah 13.23). In other words, those accustomed to doing evil cannot do good. The sinner returns to his sin like a dog returns to his vomit or like a pig wallows in the mud. We simply cannot rescue ourselves.

Father, keep me from evil and the evil one today. I cannot save myself. I need your grace and mercy to unceasingly flow in and through me today. Help me be a light in this world for you. Guide me and strengthen me for Jesus’ sake.