true grit
The feeling of watching any of the Rocky movies is almost indescribable. After watching Rocky, there is an immediate confidence and resilience that soaks into my heart and soul that cannot be destroyed at any cost. I genuinely believe that I can do absolutely anything after watching Rocky. I believe that there is nothing in the entire world that can stop me for accomplishing my dreams. As a child, I would run around the house pumping my firsts, throwing pillows into the ground, and flex my muscles after I finished any Rocky movie. That feeling is my favorite feeling in the world. Throughout my study of scripture, I have found several biblical accounts that have resonated that “Rocky Feeling” back into my soul. Imagining Nehemiah overcome countless obstacles to build the wall of Jerusalem, Paul’s perseverance through imprisonment, and Jesus’ bloody perspiration at Gethsemane summon the “Rocky Feeling” in my soul. This feeling is an unwavering desire to live a resolute lifestyle. I want to live in pursuit of something. I want to make a difference for the Kingdom of Heaven. I believe that as Christians, we are called to live with that “Rocky Feeling” inside of us, but even amplified. The amplified desire to live resolutely stems from heavenly grit that is rooted in a radical love for God and love for people. The definition of loving God and loving people is obedience to God, and obedience to God requires resolute living.
In light of mainstream Christian influencers pushing for wide acceptance and application of restful rhythms of life (which are biblically sound and serve as incredible resources), we must simultaneously remember that God calls his children to be resolute, to be disciplined, and to be resilient. Although the Western Church is filled with people who work long hours and have little free time, there are few Christians that walk with resolute grit and discipline. Having a full schedule does not indicate discipline. The American form of idleness resembles a rat race, where people are moving fast but going nowhere. Resolute living is exemplified when a believer intentionally denies the cravings of the flesh to take on the pain and suffering of the present. Heavenly grit is a willingness to endure suffering for holy purposes. When God gives us a vision, a plan, a goal, or a Word, we must relentlessly obey with a pure heart and resolute hands.
In this hour of gluttony and idleness, the Church of Christ has a beautiful opportunity to lead the charge in our communities for transformation. If Christians were the most radical givers with the greatest resources, the best possible volunteers, and the most welcoming people in our neighborhoods, agnostics of the masses would launch their search to know the Christ. One of the greatest evangelistic tools is to live a life surrendered the Holy Spirit because the Spirit is capable of taking an individual to great depths of adventure and accomplishment. A life that is completely surrendered to the Holy Spirit is a life that exemplifies resolute living.
The very core of resolute living lies within Matthew 16:24-26. Jesus encourages the world to deny themselves, to pick up their own cross, and to follow Him. Jesus’ statement is astonishing on so many levels, but primarily because Jesus lives out this verse a short time after saying this statement. My favorite scene of Jesus is the prayer at Gethsemane, where Christ prays separated from His disciples in such a gritty, resolute fashion that he has bloody perspiration. Gethsemane displays a nervous God that has natural desires to avoid incomprehensible pain and torture, and it also displays a furious love from a God that is willing to deplete himself of any rights to comfortability for the sake of his children. Gethsemane shows the highest example of strength, obedience, and discipline in the history of mankind. Jesus, the King of Kings, chose to die and bear the sins of those that would believe in him. Jesus lived out his own encouragement to His followers, by ruthlessly denying himself to endure the incomprehensible spiritual and physical pain. Jesus is our model. Jesus is our King. Jesus shows the world how to live a life of resolute determination and grit. The bloody perspiration of Christ should mean something to us. The fact that Christ was able to choose to obey the will of the Father at the most difficult of circumstances should not be a fact that sits dormant in our minds. This scene of Christ’s prayer should drive every Christian to their knees, it should stir their love for Christ, and it should serve as everlasting motivation for living resolutely for Him.
Obedience is often painful. God rarely asks us to do things that are easy. Obedience requires a level of sacrifice because of the uncomfortability required. However, people never have to endure the pain and suffering of Christ’s obedience from Gethsemane to the Cross at Golgotha. The writer of Hebrews does this in a beautiful way, because the Christocentric tones and imagery encouraged believers to consider the pain, the grit, and the discipline of Jesus before falling into slothful nature. Hebrews 12 tells me and you that we are called to think about the unimaginable pain of Christ whenever we face difficult obstacles.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:1-2
The Spirit of Christ dwells within your mind and heart, which indicates that the same Spirit that allows Christ to choose obedience amidst blood perspiration is the person that empowers you to overcome temptations of idleness.
Living with a resolute mindset is primarily important because you cannot disconnect love with resolute behavior. They are beautifully connected by God, and they can never disconnect. When I give into laziness, I am never thinking about God or about those that I love. Giving into laziness is ALWAYS a byproduct of self-absorption. Love for God and love for friends and family will ALWAYS drive me to living resolutely. Love is the most powerful driving force in the world, because it destroys the temptation to be lazy. The best way to combat laziness in your life is to love God and love people. If you are currently struggling with laziness, I want to encourage you to check to see if you love the desires of your flesh more than God. Obedience to God requires a resolute mind, and a resolute mind is always developed out of love for God, and a love for God is always developed out of spending time with Him.
Want to have a resolute mind? Love God.
Want to love God? Spend time with Him.
If you spend time with God, and you taste and see His goodness, and He becomes irresistible.
Prayer:
Father, I pray that as I spend more time with you, that I would grow to be deeper in love with you, and I would taste and see Your goodness more and more. Jesus, thank you for the Cross. Thank you that you put on flesh and bone, and willingly endured the highest form of pain. You are a resolute God, willing to break down any wall to accomplish your purposes. You are truly unstoppable. Holy Spirit, train my heart and mind to operate with the same resolute grit and strength that You operate in. You are my source. You are my motivation. You are my one true love. I want to imitate you. Amen.
Questions:
1. Has God downloaded dreams and visions inside of you that you haven’t seen come to pass? Write them down and talk to God about them.
2. When was the last time that you clearly denied your flesh? Pray and ask God about how to deny your flesh more often.
3. What fears are holding you back from accepting and pursuing the dreams that God has placed before you? Write out the fears, and combat those fears with Bible verses that speak Truth and Life.
