Stubbornness clings to self-will, defends pride, and delays the healing that only Christ can bring.
Yet when the indwelling Life of Yeshua breaks through, the grip of stubbornness begins to loosen—not by force, but by grace. Freedom doesn’t come from trying harder; it comes from yielding deeper. In that sacred exchange, the soul discovers that true strength is found not in control, but in being mastered by mercy.
Stubbornness Versus the Indwelling Mind of Yeshua:
THE BACK STORY
Recently, late one night, I was stirred from sleep by what I can only describe as a vision-dream—supernatural in nature, vivid in clarity, and unmistakably Holy in origin. Yeshua walked with me in the calm of the day. It wasn’t chaotic or symbolic; it was precise. I found myself standing in a vast field with Him, surrounded by people whose faces were tense with resistance. Their arms were crossed, their brows furrowed, and their feet planted firmly in the soil. I knew instantly: this was the posture of stubbornness. Not rebellion in the loud sense, but a quiet, immovable refusal to yield. And then, Yeshua spoke to me—not external, but rising from within me: “This is the war within My people. They cling to their own thoughts while My mind waits to be released.”
I awoke with urgency. Not fear, not confusion—but a holy summons. The Spirit impressed upon me that this message was not for me alone, but for the Body. Stubbornness, He said, is not just a selfish flaw—it is a spiritual blockade. It resists the renewing of the mind, it delays obedience, and it keeps believers tethered to their own understanding. Instantly, I realized that the tragedy is that they are weak, but also that they are unwilling to be made strong through the Holy Spirit. I knew that the Lord is not asking for better behavior—He is calling for a divine exchange: our thoughts for His, our reasoning for His revelation, our control for His indwelling counsel. Then He said, “Awaken, and write.”
I wrote this essay, and the above song in obedience to His nudging because I believe many are being called to release the grip of self-will and receive the mind of Christ—not as a theological concept, but as a living reality. The indwelling Life of Yeshua is not passive; it is active, wise, and ready to govern. But it will not compete with stubbornness. It waits for surrender. If you’ve felt stuck, weary, or resistant, I urge you: let go. The mind of Christ is not just available—it is already within you, waiting to be released.
Jeremiah 7:24 “But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward.”
The Nature of Stubbornness: One Step Forward & Two Backward
Stubbornness, in its rawest form, is not a personality trait—it is a spiritual posture of resistance, which equates to divination/witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:23). Scripture often equates stubbornness with rebellion, pride, and a hardness of heart. In Deuteronomy 9:6, the Lord declares to Israel, “You are a stiff-necked people,” exposing the spiritual defiance that hinders covenantal intimacy. Stubbornness builds fortresses around the soul, shielding it from conviction, correction, and transformation. It is the flesh’s last stand against obedience, a refusal to be mastered by anything other than self-will.
This resistance is not passive; it is an active form of warfare against the Spirit. The stubborn heart resists the voice of the Lord, rationalizes sin, and delays obedience. It clings to control, even when that control leads to chaos. In theological terms, stubbornness is the antithesis of yieldedness—the soul attempts to enthrone itself in place of Christ. Above Christ.
In contrast, the indwelling Life of Yeshua is the supernatural antidote to stubbornness. Like my song states, it is not a moral upgrade or behavioral improvement—it is the supernatural replacement of the old life with the Life of Christ Himself. Galatians 2:20 declares, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” This is not a metaphor—it is mystery incarnate. The believer does not merely imitate Christ; he is indwelt by Him.
Where stubbornness demands autonomy, the indwelling Life invites release. Where the flesh resists, the Spirit woos. The Life of Yeshua does not negotiate with stubbornness—it crucifies it. Through the cross, the believer is not reformed but reborn. The stubborn heart is not rehabilitated; it is replaced. This is the divine exchange: my will for His, my strength for His sufficiency, my resistance for His rest.
The Battle Within: Flesh Versus Spirit
Theologically, this tension is not resolved by discipline alone but by death and resurrection. Romans 8:7 reveals that “the mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God.” Stubbornness is not neutral—it is enmity. But the Spirit does not cohabitate with rebellion. He confronts it, convicts it, and calls it to the cross.
The believer must choose daily: to walk after the flesh or to walk in the Spirit. This is not a behavioral decision but a relational one. The indwelling Life of Yeshua is not activated by effort but by abiding. As the soul yields, the Spirit reigns. As the heart softens, Christ is revealed from the inside out. The stubbornness that once ruled is dethroned—not by force, but by love.
The Fruit of Surrender & Obedience: A Life Transformed
When stubbornness is crucified and the Life of Yeshua is enthroned, the transformation is unmistakable. The believer becomes teachable, tender, and obedient. The heart that once resisted now responds. The mind that once argued now agrees. The will that once rebelled now rejoices in submission.
This is not weakness—it is holy strength. It is the power of a life mastered by mercy, governed by grace, and animated by the indwelling Christ.
The stubborn soul becomes a sanctuary for selfishness. The rebellious heart can become a resting place for the Spirit. And the life once marked by resistance becomes a vessel of revelation. It is time to come out of that field.
Please ensure you watch the music video. It is a powerful testament to this message.
