FOLK WILL TRY… KEEP RUNNING!

Main message: When you decide to grow closer to God or move to a higher level spiritually, people who are comfortable with the old you will try to hold you back — don't let their discomfort or attempts at control stop your growth. Continued transformation is expected even after years of faith.

Key points:

• Deciding to get closer to God exposes who will act like weights and try to drag you backward.
• Some people resist your change because they can't handle a "better" you and prefer the familiar version.
• Critics will complain about your new habits (church attendance, reading self-help, watching different TV) and wish you were unchanged.
• Don't let others control or keep you from moving to another level.
• Personal testimony: after ten years with Jesus the speaker is a new, living person — growth is ongoing.

Scriptures mentioned: none