Winning the Battles

I am still reading the book "A Bruised Reed" By Richard Sibbes. Some of you may remember the post I put about it way back when. But as I read two days ago as well as today, he pointed out a new truth to me. Winning the battles. Often times after a long struggle don't you feel you have lost the battle between what you should do and what your sin nature tells you? Even though you did the right thing, you still feel defeated. Well just remember this, every war has a cost and every victory has a cost. There is still greiving after a battle has been won. Friends have died, you were a bit of a coward, whatever it may be. But why doesn't God just let us win easily, just like he let the Israelites? Well how did the Israelites turn out? I have been reading straight through Judges from Genisis and have you noticed how many times chapters start out with 'and the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord...' they were always going to God for help, and desserting him when they were getting along well. You see when we win a battle with little struggle, we think That wasn't so hard, so I must have done it. We don't give credit to God because it wasn't very difficult for us. But when the battle is hot and raging and we see our chances of winning are going down the tube, we cry out to God and he saves us. But it is still difficult after we call to him, and he helps us. Because after the victory we see how marvelous of a work he did, and we see the power of God. And how we can do nothing on our own.