Do you ever feel stuck? Like you are fighting the same battle over and over again.

And you are out of breath, beaten up, and questioning if this faith life is cut out for you.

You believe in the idea of God as a Creator, but that belief does not seem to be helping you face this challenge in your life.
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Some of us are Christians who have been for 20 years but with a 1 year old faith repeated over 20x. You go over and over, because you kept doing with your own strength or that God still has character He wants you to refine through this battle.

Is it that you feel stuck because your own sins has kept you stuck in the same cycle of trouble? Here is where a lot of Christians falters. You believe, but never allow His Kingship to rule your lives. Which areas of your lives are you not surrendering to God? No wonder, you are battling the same battles you did 3-5 years ago. “Show me your battle, and I will show you a place you are not surrendering”

Our faith grows the same way a healthy tree would—-to grow tall, its roots needs to deeply planted and established. How can we be like this Palm tree that the Psalmist described, regardless of any circumtances:

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;  planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit  in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.  ” - Psalm 92:12-15

How to Get Unstuck?

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a crowd of witnesses, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. - Heb 12:1-3

To grow tall and clean, first we need to strip off every weight that slows us down:

1.Get Rid of Baggages

“Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.” - 2 Tim 2: 22

Sin so easily stumbles. it’s incompatible with living for God. Is it that you feel stuck because your own sins has kept you stuck in the same cycle of trouble?

In our Christian walk, we grow when we are healthy. And now, we not only want to grow tall, but also clean.
Allow God to fight your battles, to allow you to win against the power of sin. If you are nourished in your body, mind & soul, you will be more likely to get out of the entanglement of sin.

2. Connected to the right source

The Palm Tree flourishes as it's connected to the Living Water that never runs dry. We have endurance by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Then, we shall be fruitful in all seasons—having His wisdom and His perspectives on life.

3. Take care of the soil of your heart

As Jesus showed in his parable of the sower and the seed, a tree will not grow if the soil is too hard, or already covered with competing weeds. ‘Guard your heart’, Jesus warned, for from it flows the wellspring of life. Regardless of how much you fertilize the seed, it will not be able to grow if the soil is not ready.

Perhaps you need to tap into the past to look at past traumas, to till the soil again to make it ready for planting.

4. Rely on the spirit and prayer for sustenance

At first, perhaps, life was manageable. And the battles get bigger and harder. And you get tired. Regardless of how skillful and gifted you are, we are not meant to carry the burden ourselves. The Devil knows our weak spots. Sometime we will not be bothered as much with old sins we have conquered. And he will continue to attack the deeper sins of our hearts.

Through prayer and the Spirit’s leading, He shows us what are the triggers and guardrails we need to build. Ultimately, it is with Christ’s power that has won against death that we can win the battles. Keep relying on God’s grace : “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” (2 Tim 2:9)

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When we feel stuck, it could be because of these 2 reasons: We have been stumbling in the same sins, relying on our own strength; or we have not been connected to the right source and tap into the power of His resurrection in our lives.

The journey to grow your roots downward requires trust.

Remember, when we don’t trust God, like the Israelites, the supposed 2-week trip became a 40 years trip.

And the journey to grow your trunks high, requires letting go off unhealthy habits. Sometimes the ripping off is painful. Remember that a broken heart is still better than a destroyed soul.

There will be trials, but be encouraged: God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him (James 1:12).

x,

T.W.