Contrast in Esteem: Self- or God-Esteem?

In our world today, we often hear believers saying, "God is on my side! He wants me to feel good about myself and have a positive vision for my life;" and/or praying, "God, I thank You . . . that I have discipline and self-control, and that I can make good decisions."

In contrast, it was Apostle Paul who told the church,

"For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" Romans 7:14-24 (ESV)

What a difference! Perhaps the Apostle Paul should "get with it" and join the 21st Century, eh?! I mean, it's God who wants us to feel good about ourselves, right?! Riiiiiiiiight.