Resistance can best be defined as the refusal to accept or comply with something that may be considered objectionable.
Part of my weekly physical exercise includes resistance training. My muscles would prefer I did not do such workouts, but I know that my workout regimen benefits me and helps keep me physically fit.
What’s most important is to know your limits and not overdo your workouts. Yet, when it comes to life decisions, we would be wise to certainly resist what may seem irresistible.
It’s quite easy to fall into temptation and find ourselves going down a path with little or no resistance. The path may feel awfully good for a while, but many such paths can lead to devastation. We can all succumb to these paths of least resistance.
These irresistible paths are often quite addictive. Here’s a short list of addictive behaviors: gambling, gaming, internet, shopping, sex, pornography, food, exercise and work.
Can you relate to some of these in your own life experience?
We all have addictions. Or, should we simply call our addictions human weaknesses? It’s quite possible we all have a top two or three addictive behaviors, if we’re honest with ourselves.
For years, I’ve been a recovering workaholic! Most people find the internet addictive in one way or another. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t observe several folks purchasing lottery tickets at my second office, Spudnuts & Donuts. Yes, many more come in for their favorite sweets and I guess I’m guilty of that as well.
Now there is good news. We can overcome these addictions through the encouragement and support of others through a number of easily accessible “Anonymous” groups and professionals who specialize in obsessive compulsive behavior.
And, of course I must tout what I believe to be the most relevant method of resistance available to humankind. His Name is Christ Jesus and He’s been the Lord of my life for nearly 40 years. Let me continue in this vein.
When I accepted Christ as my Savior in 1984, the Holy Spirit started working inside of me. It was a gradual but steady process and through the decades I’ve experienced a dramatic change in who I am and in who I am becoming. No, I have not arrived, but I’m on the track to total recovery.
If you haven’t tried trusting in Jesus, you may just want to consider Him while you still can. Allowing Him to become Lord of your life is not a panacea, but it allows Him to guide you from dependence to interdependence.
There’s a spiritual battle going on and the Enemy wants you to succumb to your addictions and draw you away from the Truth that can only be found in God’s Word.
Listen to the salient advice of the Apostle Peter found in 1 Peter 5:6-7: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you.”
It’s quite natural to become caught up in unhealthy behavior. The best answer available is supernatural. The Holy Spirit has become my Comforter and He is quite available to all who ask for His supernatural help. Come to Jesus. He is the answer to all your inhibitions.
Passages to Ponder
— Jim Langley has been writing for more than 30 years while working as a life and health insurance agent in Santa Barbara. In recent years, his passion has turned to writing about his personal relationship with God, and his goal is to encourage others to draw near to Him as well. As a longtime member of CBMC of Santa Barbara (Christian Business Men’s Connection), he started writing Fourth Quarter Strategies columns in 2014, and he now reaches an international audience through the CBMC International devotional Monday Manna. He can be contacted at [email protected] for more information. Click here for previous columns. The opinions expressed are his own.
