Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. -Romans 8:1-2

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. -Galatians 5:1

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. -Galatians 5:16

I had surgery less than three weeks ago. The day after the procedure, an older woman who is a friend from church stopped by with dinner. We chatted and laughed as we shared the meal she had brought. When it was time for her to leave, we prayed. One of my requests was for a “made up mind.” There’s nothing more powerful than a made up mind. 

A moment ago, I thought about how the spiritual intensity and attacks I have felt over the last several years have made me want to give up more times than I’d like to admit. Here’s the thing-the Enemy is not going to let up his attack against you just because you decide to curl into a ball and surrender. I had to say that to myself today. I had to remind myself of who I am and what I possess. Moreover, I am a spiritual soldier and war does not cease simply because I don’t want to fight. Fortunately, The weapons we fight with are not carnal, they are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds (II Corinthians 10:4).

What are our weapons? I could start with how a Christian’s weapons are salvation through Jesus Christ, prayer, praise, reading the word and putting it into practice, and fasting. Another weapon is to remain around other Christians and have accountability partners you respect. I will also say that the primary weapon that allows us to utilize the others is the awareness that we have a new identity in Christ. I will no longer identify myself by things I struggle with. I am a daughter of the most high God. That’s my identity from which other aspects of my being flow. 

Jesus calls us to freedom. It’s not the cheap freedom that society promises which basically says, “Do whatever you feel like because you only live once.” As we can see, much trauma in the world has been caused by people living it up. I also believe that we sometimes cause our own disillusionment by setting unrealistic expectations for ourselves and other people. Only God is perfect, dependable, and has a full understanding of who we are. We are filtering everything, including our perspectives of ourselves, through our past and current experiences which are contextual. There are so many things from which we need to be set free-the desire the please people, the desire to constantly indulge our own passions, freedom from the past, freedom from worry and anxiety, freedom from disillusionment, distrust, and cynicism. 

I have fought God more times than I can count. Let me tell you, God will allow you to throw your infantile temper tantrum and then tell you to pick up the assignment He gave you this morning, yesterday, last week, or a decade ago. What I love about the gospels is Jesus never begs anyone to follow Him. He loves well, meets people’s needs, and answers the questions of those who are curious or confused. But He never begs. He also knew that following Him would not be easy so He told his disciples to count the cost, take up their cross daily, and wait for the Holy Spirit. What makes it difficult to be a Christian in today’s world is that so many messages are about leveling up. There are very few messages about living a life of sacrifice, or that following Christ may be difficult at times. I know from experience that God is able to provide joy in the most difficult of circumstances. But, I fear that many church leaders have left their congregants unprepared to withstand the pressures of life and keep following God in spite of them. We as Christians are also responsible to talk to God for ourselves instead of always expecting someone who we deem as more spiritual to do that work. 

I have found God to be more generous and patient than I could have imagined when I was younger. I also realize that some of the accusations I have hurled at God are based on how people have treated me which resulted in a sometimes unconscious distrust of God’s character. Interrogate your doubt. Where did it come from? When, how, and through whom were the seeds planted?