Why do we do what we shouldn't?

Have you ever been there...you know the place, where you come to a realization you are on the wrong road, and yet you stubbornly and defiantly go forward in that direction - damn the consequences! You know that what lies at the end of the road isn't good for you - worse, it isn't even what you want, but rather than admit you have made a mistake and turn around, you just stubbornly keep plodding along. Don't you hate that! You end up hating yourself for your stubbornness and you hate the fact that there isn't a decent way to blame it on someone or something else, because your friends, your family, your God, has tried to lovingly and gently guide you in a better direction. But do you listen? NO! You just keep your stubborn chin up and keep on going, or if you are really good at it, you pretend you cannot hear what everyone is saying. 'What God? I can't hear you, God! Lalalalalala,' as you have your fingers firmly planted in your ears!

Why do we do this? Why does it seem to be human nature to stubbornly continue on with those things that are bad for us. Like smoking. We are educated in the dangers of cigarette smoke, we have known at least one person who has suffered some disease as a result of smoking...cancer, emphysema, heart disease, etc., and yet, year after year more people begin smoking, most of them are pretty young. I guess we feel immortal, invincible and wise when we are young. Maybe that's where we get in the bad habit of not listening to good advice, even though we do it when we are older as well.

So what do we do about it? Do we say, "well, it's human nature, nothin' can be done 'bout that. Might as well go ahead, stubbornly down the road." One thing I have found is that unless change is desired, change does not happen. Whether you come to an intelligent realization that change is needed, or you are forced to look hard at the problem and change is the only way you will survive, one must want to change in order for it to happen. No one can force it on you, even though they may try. No one can do it for you, even though you may wish they could. It must be between you and God.

So, I guess we must decide to change, and stick by our decision. Often we decide many times, but go back on our decision. We must stick by our decision for change for the better, following God's desire for our lives. We must choose it, intentionally and willingly. My prayer is that we will all make such good choices.