Lent: Mess of Me

Romans 7:15-20 (NIV)

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

Mess Of Me – Switchfoot

I am my own affliction
I am my own disease
There ain’t no drug that they could sell
Ah there ain’t no drugs to make me well

There ain’t no drug
It’s not enough
There ain’t no drug
The sickness is myself

I made a mess of me I wanna get back the rest of me
I’ve made a mess of me I wanna spend the rest of my life alive
I’ve made a mess of me I wanna get back the rest of me
I’ve made a mess of me I wanna spend the rest of my life alive
The rest of my life alive!

We lock our souls in cages
We hide inside our shells
It’s hard to free the ones you love
Oh when you can’t forgive yourself
Yeah forgive yourself!

There ain’t no drug
There ain’t no drug
There ain’t no drug
The sickness is myself

I made a mess of me I wanna get back the rest of me
I’ve made a mess of me I wanna spend the rest of my life alive
I’ve made a mess of me I wanna reverse this tragedy
I’ve made a mess of me I wanna spend the rest of my life alive
The rest of my life alive!

Ah! Right

There ain’t no drug
There ain’t no drug
There ain’t no drug
No drug to make me well
There ain’t no drug
It’s not enough
I’m breaking up
The sickness is myself
The sickness is myself

I made a mess of me I wanna get back the rest of me
I’ve made a mess of me I wanna spend the rest of my life alive
I’ve made a mess of me I wanna reverse this tragedy
I’ve made a mess of me I wanna spend the rest of my life alive
The rest of my life alive!!

God of compassion,

you hate nothing that you have made,

 forgive the sins of all those who are regretful and ashamed,

and embrace your people who struggle to return to you with open arms.

Create and make in us new and contrite hearts

that we, worthily lamenting our sins

and acknowledge our wretchedness,

may receive from you perfect remission and forgiveness;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.