"Can't Hold Me Back"

“Can’t Hold Me Back”

June 11, 1997 will go down as one of the greatest moments in sports history. Michael Jordan battling “flu-like” symptoms was barely able to stand upright between plays as he watched game 5 of the NBA finals slip as his team fell to a 16 point deficit to the Utah Jazz in the 2nd quarter. John Stockton, Karl Malone, and the Jazz were hot and didn’t look to cool off. But a fever wasn’t the only thing heating up about Jordan. Summoning every ounce of strength and focus he could muster, Jordan scored 38 points in 44 minutes to defeat the Jazz in a 90-88 win.

It is true that we can’t always control our environments and circumstances, but one of the only things that we can control is how we respond. Michael Jordan was faced with the choice: let his circumstances affect his actions, or let his actions  affect his circumstances. The bible emphasizes that when we live spiritual lives, we become uncomfortable in this world. Hebrews 11:13 describes several spiritual people that all considered themselves “strangers and pilgrims”. When we choose to live lives that are spiritual, there must be some physical aspect that we sacrifice:

“For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”      -Galatians 5:17

So often we find ourselves struggling to grow in our spiritual lives, whether it be prayer, study, edification, etc., but have failed to sacrifice anything of our physical life. The old saying applies “it is hard to fill a cup that is already filled.” We will never experience significant growth until we make room for spiritual things. Oftentimes this comes from removing harmless things from our lives. 

If you want to build a home on a piece of land, you must first clear the trees. There is nothing wrong with trees, but if they occupy the ground where your house is to be built they must be removed. The trees and the full cup represent those things in my life that aren’t necessarily harmful or sinful, but take the time that could be devoted to spiritual activity. 

It has been said that how we use our free time is an indicator of our soul. What do you spend most of your leisure time doing? What can you do to keep these things from hindering your spiritual growth?

I Love YOU,

Jonathan Long