Take Ground Part 7

A bold call invites everyone to “take ground” not just as a church family but in the hidden places of the heart. Change is normal and necessary because there are always people to reach and areas in life where God wants to advance. That advance, however, hinges on the posture of the heart. Scripture urges a deliberate choice: “I incline my heart…”—the choice to set one’s heart toward obedience, worship, and truth. That posture explains why two people can sit in the same room, sing the same songs, and have completely different encounters with God. Breakthroughs sometimes come in a moment, but often freedom and healing are a process—layer by layer.

Transparent stories underscore this truth. Old coping mechanisms—like craving cigarettes during stress—even after nicotine addiction was broken, reveal how the heart looks for relief. Sexual sin and anger require long obedience in the same direction, and yet real progress is possible. Think David and Saul: the conflict lasted a long time, but David grew stronger while Saul grew weaker. That’s the picture of discipleship. The real questions are: How badly do you want to take ground? And are you moving forward?

Urgency matters. Proverbs paints the image of a gazelle running for its life; that’s the intensity with which to pursue freedom. It also requires wise boundaries—loving people as a safety net, not enabling them like a hammock. Momentum matters too. Saul lacked it. David created it. Solomon built it. Rehoboam stopped it. The way forward is wisdom leading to wise choices, and wise choices compounding into momentum. Mistakes will happen; don’t let them define you, let them refine you. You can’t steer a ship that isn’t moving—so move.

A vivid basketball story brings it home: confidence grows as small shots fall. Spiritually, confidence and momentum grow the same way—through faithful steps. Be faithful with what’s in your hand now; faithfulness in the small makes you ready for the larger. Much of that faithfulness happens when no one sees—like practicing in the empty gym—so you’re prepared when opportunity comes. Ultimately, the human part is surrender. Lay down the white flag and let the Holy Spirit take ground within. Start today, keep moving tomorrow, stay faithful next month. Over time, those small decisions become a fruitful life.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Posture Determines Your Encounter With God The heart must be inclined toward God, not passively waiting for change to happen. Choosing obedience, worship, and openness allows truth to land and grace to transform. This is why two people can share the same room yet have opposite experiences—one surrendered, one closed. Surrender is the doorway; posture sets the room for God’s work. [07:36]
• 2. Freedom Is Often A Long War Some chains break in a moment; many break over years. David’s house grew stronger while Saul’s grew weaker—progress measured not by instant perfection but steady direction. Expect layers, setbacks, and slow victories; the important question is whether strength is increasing and bondage weakening. Keep walking; God matures courage in the long fight. [13:45]
• 3. Want Freedom Like A Gazelle Scripture calls for an urgency that silences excuses and endures pain to live. Hunger reorders priorities, shrinks the fear of people, and refuses enabling patterns—being a safety net for others, not a hammock. Desire alone doesn’t save, but it fuels the choices that partner with grace. Freedom grows where holy desperation lives. [16:27]
• 4. Build Momentum Through Faithful Choices Wisdom births wise steps; wise steps compound into momentum; momentum births confidence. Start where you are—be faithful with a few things, and more will be entrusted. Much of growth happens offstage: practicing when no one looks, sowing when there’s no applause. Keep moving; you can’t steer a still ship. [29:44]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [03:18] - Guest next week + free book
• [03:49] - Thank you and record attendance
• [05:06] - Taking ground personally and embracing change
• [08:52] - Heart posture and the process of freedom
• [09:35] - Honest struggles: cigarettes, pornography, anger
• [13:45] - Long war: growing stronger while bondage weakens
• [16:27] - Desire and urgency: free yourself like a gazelle
• [20:00] - Are you moving forward? Momentum lessons
• [21:26] - David’s charge to Solomon: obedience and promise
• [22:27] - Equipping Wednesdays: parenting, foundations, prophetic, deeper
• [24:24] - Wisdom, wise choices, and refining mistakes
• [25:45] - Basketball story: from hesitation to swagger
• [29:44] - Faithful with little; practice when unseen
• [41:20] - Surrender to the Holy Spirit; prayer and next steps

1. In Psalm 119:112, what deliberate action does the writer take with his heart, and what does the phrase “forever, to the end” add to that action?
2. In 2 Samuel 3:1, what lasted a long time, and who grew stronger while who grew weaker?
3. In Matthew 25:21, what three outcomes are given to the faithful servant, and what reason is given for those outcomes?
4. Two people can sit in the same room and have opposite experiences with God. What factor was highlighted as making the difference? [08:14]

1. If a person must “incline” his or her heart (Psalm 119:112), what responsibility does that put on them before God? How might that choice shape obedience, worship, and openness to truth?
2. In a “long war” like 2 Samuel 3:1, what are wise ways to measure progress—“stronger and stronger” versus “weaker and weaker”—in battles with anger, lust, or coping habits?
3. How does faithfulness “with a few things” prepare someone to be entrusted with more and to share the Master’s joy (Matthew 25:21)? Where does that faithfulness usually grow—seen or unseen places ([32:54])?
4. “Free yourself like a gazelle” pictures holy urgency. How do urgency and surrender work together so a person doesn’t drift into striving or into passivity? [16:27]

1. Heart posture: Before your next gathering or quiet time, what specific step will you take to “incline your heart” (for example, put your phone away, kneel first, confess, sing out loud)? Pick one for this week. [07:36]
2. Long war: Name one area where you’re in a long fight. What would “David growing stronger” look like this month—list two or three simple markers you can watch for? [14:09]
3. Urgency: On a scale of 1–10, how badly do you want to take ground right now? What one decision this week will show your urgency (ask for help, set a filter, show up to group, throw something out, schedule counseling)? [16:00]
4. Safety net vs. hammock: Where might you be a hammock instead of a safety net for someone? What loving boundary could you set that still cares but doesn’t enable? [18:38]
5. Momentum: What is one “few thing” in your hand you can be faithful with this week—Bible reading, budget, serving, apology, bedtime, daily walk? How will you practice it when no one is looking? [32:54]
6. First small shot: Where do you need to take a first “small shot” to begin building confidence—send the text, make the call, sign up, confess, start the plan? Name it and set a time. [28:22]
7. Surrender: If you were to lay down a white flag before God tonight, what one area would you hand over? What does surrender look like in practice for you this week? [41:20]