DATE POSTED
Thursday, June 18, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read 1 Samuel 15:23; Romans 6:13 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the Living Bible (TLB).

1 Samuel 15:23 (TLB) ~ …rebellion is as bad as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as bad as worshiping idols. And now because you have rejected the word of Jehovah, he has rejected you…

Romans 6:13 (TLB) ~ Do not let any part of your bodies become tools of wickedness, to be used for sinning; but give yourselves completely to God—every part of you—for you are back from death and you want to be tools in the hands of God, to be used for his good purposes.

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

I believe it is easy for all of us to understand the word stubbornness, because we have probably all put it on full display at one time or another. It represents those moments when we are fiercely determined to do exactly what we want, no matter what our parents, bosses, or authorities demand of us.

In many cases, we were disciplined for our stubbornness—and sometimes, that discipline is exactly what it took to get our attention! But within a family, and especially as a Christian, that strong will is truly broken only when we finally realize that someone loves us unconditionally. We realize they are simply trying to help us be our very best and most successful.

Think about that for a moment, because it is beautifully true of our Lord and Savior.

Many of us accepted Jesus through an altar call at church, perhaps while singing that powerful, familiar invitational hymn, “I Surrender All.” In that sacred moment, the Holy Spirit spoke to your heart. He gently but firmly encouraged you to surrender your sin, your self-will, your stubbornness, and your wickedness to God through the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ.

For those of you who took that step of faith, you were saying a definitive “no” to self and a resounding “yes” to Jesus. Your stubborn spirit – the very thing that got you into trouble so many times before – was broken. You accepted Jesus as the absolute Lord of your life, willingly handing the steering wheel over to Him.

But let’s be honest: Do we consistently allow Him to control everything? I believe I can safely speak for us when I say, no. Neither you nor I will ever totally succeed at perfect surrender, as long as we remain here on earth, where sin and stubbornness run rampant. However, as children of the King, we must remain deeply attentive to the Holy Spirit who lives within us. He is faithful to continually lead us toward righteousness (being right with God) and to prompt us to seek forgiveness when we fall short.

As part of our new life in Christ—shedding the old, worn-out ways of this world – our deepest desire should be to please God and bless those around us. When we do stumble, a transformed heart will quickly feel a healthy sorrow for that sin. We will ask for forgiveness and immediately try to get back on track, patterning our lives after our Savior.

I feel compelled to remind us today: on the day we accepted Jesus as Lord, we decided to leave the ways of this world behind. We made a 180-degree turn to live each day for Him—obeying His commands and walking in the very footsteps He left as our example. If you detect today that you aren’t fully walking in that complete surrender, don’t despair. Go to Him as often as it takes. Ask for His forgiveness, and then ask for His supernatural strength and guidance to be more committed and more obedient tomorrow. He graciously gives us a brand-new day to begin again with Him and for Him. The Holy Spirit is right there to help you do it, so never, ever think that it’s impossible!

PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father,
I come to You today recognizing that my own stubborn will still tries to rear its head. Forgive me for the moments I try to take the controls back from You. Thank You for loving me enough to break my stubborn spirit and for drawing me close through the blood of Jesus. Lord, I don’t want any part of my life to be a tool for wickedness; I want to be a tool in Your hands for Your good purposes. Holy Spirit, keep my heart tender and quick to repent. Give me the strength and determination to make that 180-degree turn every single day, walking faithfully in the footsteps of my Savior. It’s in the precious name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray that one of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, as you will also find that option on this page. Friends, I encourage you to find a Bible teaching church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk while you invite God to work through you to bless them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that while also growing in your faith as you worship with fellow believers!