How to grow through resistance...

Most of my life as of late is met with a certain level of resistance. To be honest I live in a perpetual state of resistance and have since the moment I surrendered my life to Christ. I am just now grasping this physical/emotional occurrence in my life.  It would be best described as a tug bent towards running after Christ while being faced with my flesh that resists. The resistance isn't voluntary. To be honest it's my involuntary desire to fulfill my humanness that desires comfort, ease, and the safe route. Every day we awake, by an act of our will, we must choose to follow Jesus. By doing so it's a path set apart from the world and many times met with resistance inside. What I've learned is, it's ok to feel resistance but not ok when it manifest itself as anxiety, fear, or complacency. I believe the Lord was showing me that I can trust Him in the unknown and in the moments when nothing makes sense. Resistance should lead us to is the deep places of God. The moment the feelings begin to manifest we should take the signal to press in to the Lord
I can look back at my life and can confidently tell you every bit of resistance I faced was always the precursor to new growth in the Lord. He is so awesome, always teaching us something valuable. He also knows us so well that He knows exactly what needs to transpire to position us to grow. To be real honest this is where many of us miss the mark. We say yes to Jesus but run for cover the moment we face the least bit resistance. There is no way out of facing resistance head on if we truly want to follow Jesus. In these moments we must cling to the Word of God & declare victory. We have already won in Christ Jesus. The enemy has no power over us. We have authority over the accompanying thoughts & feelings he may attempt to oppress us with.

Resistance looks like...

being presented with forgiveness after a betrayal

wanting to forgive but not knowing how

trusting God for your future in uncertain times

releasing anger & resentment

denying the flesh

hearing the Word but not doing what it says

obeying when you don't really want to

needing answers

We thrive through resistance when we...

choose to forgive no matter how painful

look to the scriptures & lean on the Holy Spirit for direction on how to forgive

choosing to believe God only has good planned for us

submit to the authority of Jesus Christ in our lives & emotions

consider it a honor to lay down our lives for HIS

hearing & doing well according to the Spirit's direction according to the WORD

Obeying always no matter what

Seeking His face for the answers we need

We will all be faced with resistance at some point in time. I felt lead to share this with you because I know the Lord wants us to know that resistance isn't permanent and that we can surrender through it all. In pressing in we learn endurance & we know that "he who endures til the end shall be saved."(Matthew 24:13)

"And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and the words of our testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die"(Revelation 12:11)

Let us not perceive resistance as a reason to quit or run but instead let us press on in Jesus name to lay hold of the prize. Let us see resistance as the white flag waving in the wind reminding us to seek out God in the matter & grow! Let us continue to grow through the hard stuff, the silly stuff, and blossom into the beautiful souls God destined us to be. Let us say like the Psalms "I run in the path of Your commands for You have set my heart free!" Let us bear witness of the Light of Jesus just like John did in all things. (See John 1:6-8)

photo from the web

From the depths of my heart,

Katie Joy