The old man is dead!  We are not just trying to kill the old man (our way of doing and thinking), he is dead and we are alive in Christ.  The life we live is a life of "just believe" instead of gritting our teeth and trying to be a Christian.  As we step out in faith to believe that He is speaking and leading we live a life of fun and adventure.  Religion is all about "I have too...." pray, be good, go to church, don't do that, etc.  The dead old man you are trying to breath life into "stinks".  Death stinks and needs to stay buried. " I am alive in Christ and it is not I that lives but Christ that lives in me.'  That Word is always true but if I don't allow it to be so it is not true, for I am what I believe.