Get A Grip!

Romans 7:¹⁸ “I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn I can’t make myself do right. I want to but I can’t.” (LB)

This is Paul, the most effective Apostle speaking about his spiritual life. The summary of what Paul is saying is he has no traction in that instance because he cannot do what he wants to do. Is Paul saying that it is impossible? Absolutely not. Paul just wants you to know that he struggles too. Paul wants you to know that he is familiar with this struggle of wanting to do something and not being able to do it, not having traction. It is frustrating! Paul says in Romans 7:²⁴ “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (KJV). This elicits a sense of helplessness and wretchedness. But he does not stop there, he says in Romans 7:²⁵ “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord…” (NIV)

We have looked at four Dis-Tractions the enemy brings to negate traction in our lives. And beginning today, we are going to learn how to Get A Grip And Move Forward (pull forward). For you to experience the destiny that God has for your life, you have to get out of the rut and get out of that endless cycle of no traction and motion. Hebrews 12:¹² “So take a new grip with your tired hands, stand firm on your shaky legs” (LB). This is so huge. God wants you to get a grip and move forward. God wants you to get a grip on your life, get a grip on your intellect, get a grip on your emotions, get a grip on your spiritual life, get a grip on your business, get a grip on your family. God wants you to get a grip and move forward.

Sometimes, we look at our lives and say to God, ‘Lord, don’t You know that my hands are tired and that my legs are shaking? I just want to give up! I don’t know what is going on, maybe a witch in the village, or maybe this is the work of haters.’ God says, no witch or hater can stop you. Some time back, I was driving in a place where there was a racist man. He looked at me, and he was appalled. For what? For just existing. And I was bothered because these people are actually sick. I was also bothered because I felt unwanted. As I was driving and pondering, God spoke to me and said, ‘They can hate you, but they cannot stop you.’

His Words hit me like a thunderbolt. Do you feel like everybody is turning their backs on you, or that people dislike you? Does it feel like the situation you are in is not working for you? God is saying to you, ‘They can hate you, but they cannot stop you.’ They neither have the right nor the permission to stop you. If you are going to be stopped, it is up to you. What will it be?

Prayer: Father, by faith according to Your Word, I take a new grip with my tired hands, and I stand firm on my shaky legs because You are my salvation, in Jesus Name. Amen.