Buts - Everybody's Got One

Some may think by looking at the title, "Christopher left a 't' off of that word."  My response to that is, get your mind out of the gutter, I'm not talking about one of those.  However, like one of those with an extra 't' on the end, everybody has a "but" like I am talking about
We all have said, "John Doe is a good ole boy, but ..." or "Jane Doe is a good ole girl, but ..."  These are sinful strongholds in our lives.  Some of us keep our "buts" hidden while for others it is more or less a character trait.  For some, they are a good ole boy, but they have a nasty temper.
Each "but" is different in that there are different ways to overcome each "but."  Ultimately, however, the way to overcome all of them is God.  I am not like one of these TV preachers that will tell you there is a special prayer to pray or if you do some sort of ritual you will magically overcome your sinful strongholds.  Many of our "buts" will remain a daily struggle and require daily walking with the Lord, praying and studying the scriptures.
For instance, I know people who have been addicted to drugs and alcohol who, after entering into a relationship with Jesus Christ, completely lost all desire for those things.  Others, even after walking with him for years continue to struggle to stay on the wagon.  I don't know why the Lord chooses to take the desire from some and leave this thorn in the flesh for others.  For many, it may be that He wants them to learn depend more on Him than their addiction.
Even the Apostle Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament, had a "but" (which he chose to call a thorn in the flesh.)  We do not know what it was and I do not even want to speculate because I cannot do so intelligently.  In Romans 7:15 he stated, "for what I would, that I do not; but what I hate, that I do."  The fact is that we live in a fallen creation and we will always struggle with sin until we reach our home in heaven.
I have recently been participating in a devotional from Mud Creek Baptist Church in Hendersonville, NC called 40 Days of Change.  Each day has a couple of verses to read along with a "Put Off" and a "Put On."  After roughly ten days the Holy Spirit has revealed a couple of "buts" that I didn't even realize that I had and is helping me to "Put Off."  You may ask, "What is one of your 'buts'?"  One in particular is I tend to give smart aleck answers to people who ask questions that is none of their business.
In all seriousness, I suggest this devotional that is a free download PDF from their website.  I also suggest the book by their pastor, Greg Mathis entitled God Is Able, But Am I Willing.  I read this book a couple of years ago and am re-reading it.  We will never be perfect as long as we are in this fallen state, but that doesn't mean that we should just give in to sin.  Paul calls us to, "be not conformed to this world" in Romans 12:2.  We may be the only light of the Kingdom some sinners ever see.