What holds you back? What causes you to hesitate when it comes to abandoning your will and submitting to God’s?

If you are a believer in Christ you may think, “I’ve given my life to Christ and I’m saved”. That is true, but there are two separate parts to being a believer. The first, of course, is receiving redemption and forgiveness for our sins through Christ Jesus. It’s the second part, the on-going sanctification work within us that we often struggle with.

A lot of times we hesitate because we like being comfortable and are afraid the Lord will ask us to do something we don’t want to do. Other times we may not want to give up certain things or sin because we like doing what we want. We end up ignoring those parts of the Bible or the Holy Spirit when He convicts us, trying to show us the Lord’s will. You may have other reasons or fears that hold you back from saying, “Not my will Lord, but Yours be done”.

It comes to a question of trust or faith. Do we really trust God with our future? With our families, our finances, our very lives? The idea that we can control things is an illusion. Also, as a believer, we don’t get to just accept God’s grace and forgiveness but continue to live however we want in the ways of the world without dying to our flesh or submitting to God. The Lord requires our obedience. Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my commands.”

So, whether you’ve been a believer for 3 minutes or 30 years, a teenager, stay at home mom or a CEO, Jesus is still beckoning us: “Take up your cross and follow me.” The question is will you? Let’s determine to start July with a resounding “Yes!”

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. ~ Matthew 16:24-25 NIV

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ~ Colossians 3:1-3 NIV

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. ~ 2 Corinthians 7:10 NIV