Catrina M. Blount

I went to a leadership class last week and found out that for as many years as I can remember, I have been driving my life with both feet.

Now I know you may think I have lost my mind, but give me a moment to explain.  What I learned is that no matter how motivated you are to do something big, no matter how fast you are trying to drive, many times there is an unconscious foot on the brake that stops your progress (Thanks, Dr. Story!).  In other words, as hard as you are trying to move forward, you also have hidden traits and characteristics that put the brakes on your progress.

Honestly, it's no surprise.  The Apostle Paul talks about this very same problem in the seventh chapter of Romans. 

For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

Romans 7:15-25 (NKJV).  It is so good to know that the dilemma we are in is not unique to us.  Everyone has things that threaten their progress and try to hold them in the familiar patterns of life, with no ability to move out and break free.  It is even better to realize that those of us who are in Christ have a solution within us that does not depend on us.  We have the ability to draw on the power of the Holy Ghost.  The Apostle Paul lets us know the secret in the eighth chapter of Romans:

THERE is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:1-2 (NKJV).  The Spirit of God is the solution to the problem.  He is able to take the foot off the brake whether we know it's there or not.  I want to encourage you to think of areas in your life where you really want to make progress.  Are these the same areas that you vow to improve year after year?  If so, you may have your foot on the brake and be holding on in your mind to some secret commitments - made only to yourself.  These are our inner defense mechanisms - the things we use to protect ourselves from being hurt, being criticized, being ridiculed because of our differences, or, as in my case, to shield ourselves from rejection.

Only the power of God is able to rewrite our unwritten laws.  The Holy Ghost can supercede the hidden commitments we've held for so long we don't even know about them anymore. 

Give in to the power of the Spirit.  Surrender your unconscious thoughts to Him.  He can protect you better than you can ever protect yourself.  And the Spirit of God can empower the foot that has been on the gas for years without ever moving your vehicle.

Drivers, restart your engines - and let the Spirit do the driving!