There Will Be Pressure: How to Stand Your Ground
Gary Keesee • May 20, 2020
How is everything that has been going on affecting you? Have you lost your job? Lost hours at work? Is your family in financial trouble?
Are you having trouble believing you can get out of this?
Please listen to me. It has never been as important as it is right now that you learn how the Kingdom of God operates.
Now, more than ever, you need to know who you are in Christ, and know the promises of God.
Because, now, more than ever, you have to be able to stand your ground.
In Luke 6, Jesus talks about a man who dug deep and built the foundation of his house on a rock. When a flood came, the house couldn’t be moved. Then He tells us about the man who built his house on the ground, without a foundation. When the flood came, his house collapsed and was ruined.
Now, you might have heard that story or even sang the song as a kid. The wise man built his house on the rock and the foolish one built his on the sand, right?
But, did it sink in? Did you take the time to build a firm foundation? Have you been confident enough to be able to stand your ground in the midst of this storm, or the pressure it may have caused in your life, your job, your marriage, or your relationships?
Maybe this whole COVID-19 situation hasn't felt like a storm for you at all.
Maybe you were dealing with problems prior to having to stay in your house.
Or maybe you haven't really faced any hard things... yet...
We’re all going to face storms in our lives at some point. And sometimes they’re even going to catch us off guard, like this one likely did. But if our foundations are strong, like strong trees weathering a storm, we’ll still know how to stand our ground.
Years ago, Drenda and I we were invited to a birth. We thought it would be a normal delivery, and we got there just as the baby had been born. The baby girl was extremely pale, and several doctors and nurses came running.
We watched as they started CPR on her. She was in cardiac arrest.
For more than 30 minutes, her heart stopped beating.
But as I watched these things happening, the Spirit of God said, YOU HAVE AUTHORITY HERE.
We couldn’t go in the room, but her dad and I stood outside the entry doors on each end, laid our hands on those doors, and began professing life over her, declaring what the Word of God says over Baby Holland.
We were praying.
We were standing our ground.
Then, we heard the beep of the heart rate monitor.
That was more than eight years ago now, and Holland is a healthy, thriving little girl.
But, as you well know, every story doesn’t end that way.
Sometimes we miss it. Sometimes we make mistakes. Sometimes we let what the world is saying sway us. Sometimes we panic.
But it’s all part of the learning process. And, if we learn through the small things, we just might not miss it when it’s a life and death situation.
How do we keep from missing it?
We have to learn what the Word of God says. We have to know how the Kingdom of God operates.
The church… the TV preachers… the people representing God, most haven’t done a good job of teaching people to recognize truth. Instead, they’ve taught people that God makes decisions on the run. It’s “if” He’s going to respond, and “if” He’s going to rescue them. We think we have to beg, and cry, and somehow convince
God of our need.
But that’s not what the Word of God says, and that’s not how the Kingdom of God operates. So it never works, and that house crumbles and falls in the storm.
One of my favorite scriptures is Romans 12:2:
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect.
See, most of the time our problem isn’t the enemy—it’s our lack of understanding.
Of course, the enemy is going to contend for every piece of ground that you try to take, but the Bible says the enemy is under our feet.
So the problem really is that people don’t know who they are.
They give too much credit to the enemy. If they would understand the truth, and the authority they have, they would know exactly how to stand their ground in every situation.
We can’t know the truth without knowing the Word of God.
First John 5:14 says that the confidence we have in Him is that if we ask anything according to His will, He listens and hears us. But if you don’t know the will of God, you can never be confident. And, if you’re not confident, you can never stand your ground.
We have to know how to build our houses on the rock. We have to be an example. This isn’t the time to play church. There’s no time for riding the fence. When everything is on the line, you can’t sit around wondering where God is. You have to know the Word. And you have to be courageous enough to wade into the face of circumstances—into the pressure—and DECLARE THE WORD.
Oh, and there most definitely WILL be pressure.
You’re just going to have to be confident that you can take it because, many times, your victory is based on that—on whether or not you can hold onto it under pressure.
See, Satan fears the Word. He fears the living Word of God. He knows that if the Word is incubated by your spirit, there’s no stopping it. It will produce every time.
So the only thing he can do is bring pressure against you to make you give up—to make you let go of the Word.
He wants you to think it can’t be done. He wants you to think the times are too scary. He wants you to think you’re not strong enough. He wants you to think it’s too late.
Years ago, a woman in our church found her four-year-old son at the bottom of a swimming pool. Her thirteen-year-old niece was with her. She screamed, “Call 911!” But her niece had been in church. She had learned that we have authority. So, she told her aunt, “We have authority here.” I believe God placed that niece with that mom at that very moment for that very purpose.
They began praying in the spirit and nothing was happening. The niece said, “We need to speak life to him.” So they said, “In the name of Jesus, wake up!” Immediately, he spit the water out and woke up. Today, that boy is an adult.
Now, I don’t know what the outcome might have been had they called 911. And, I’m not against doctors and medicine, but I do know that the right person was there—someone that understood the Kingdom of God and how to operate in the authority of the Kingdom at the right moment.
Could you handle that?
Are you so confident that you can look your situation in the face and declare what God says, even though the facts seem to say otherwise?
That’s the definition of faith: being fully persuaded that God has the power to do what He said even though there are facts saying otherwise.
You don’t have to be moved by facts. The Word of God is true. God doesn’t lie.
We need to be aware of facts, but they don’t dictate the end result. God is the final authority. And, if we’re the agent of God in that particular moment, we’re the final authority.
I knew why I was there at that exact second when Baby Holland was in cardiac arrest. I know why the niece was there when the little boy was found lifeless in the pool.
Friend, YOU are here for such a time as this.
You can either look at the situation—at what the facts might appear to be—and miss it. Or, you can know the Word of God, feed your faith, doubt your doubts, starve your fears, dig deep, and stand your ground.
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It has never been as important as it is RIGHT NOW that you learn how to resist the enemy and take territory for God.
Because you have an adversary, and he doesn’t care if you go to church every week. He doesn’t even really care that you’re going to heaven. What he does care about is whether or not you’re influencing the world. He doesn’t want you to exercise your authority as a child of God.
It’s time you did.
Download Gary's life-altering four-part series Taking Territory now, and unpack all you need to know about using your authority, enforcing your rights, and taking territory in life!
Get the spiritual knowledge YOU need for YOUR battle!
Because you have an adversary, and he doesn’t care if you go to church every week. He doesn’t even really care that you’re going to heaven. What he does care about is whether or not you’re influencing the world. He doesn’t want you to exercise your authority as a child of God.
It’s time you did.
Download Gary's life-altering four-part series Taking Territory now, and unpack all you need to know about using your authority, enforcing your rights, and taking territory in life!
Get the spiritual knowledge YOU need for YOUR battle!
Reading Time 5 mins 59 secs – Most of us have asked it, sometimes out loud, sometimes in frustration: Are we there yet? Not just about a trip but about life. Calling. Direction. The future. The problem isn’t that you want clarity. The problem is thinking God will hand you the whole map up front. Proverbs instructs us to give careful thought to the paths our feet are on and to be steadfast in all our ways. This isn’t passive language. It assumes intentional movement, focused direction, and refusal to drift. Staying on the right path requires attention and discipline, not just belief. That means the focus isn’t anxiety about the destination; it’s attention to the path under your feet today. Look Straight Ahead Proverbs gives a simple instruction that’s easy to skip over: “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Do not turn to the right or the left” (Proverbs 4:25, 27a, NIV). So, what are you supposed to look at? You’re not meant to stare at fear, compare lanes, or obsess over what might happen way in the future. You’re meant to keep your gaze fixed where God is leading you now and to keep your foot from evil by refusing distractions that pull you off course. God’s Word is described as a lamp: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105, NIV). A lamp doesn’t show you everything. It shows you just enough, a few steps ahead. That’s exactly how God often leads, especially when you’re going somewhere you’ve never been before. That’s why Abraham’s story in Hebrews 11 is so relatable. Abraham obeyed and proceeded, even though he did not know where he was going. And if we’re honest, neither do we. When the Water Doesn’t Part Until Your Feet Touch It Joshua 3 shows what trusting God often looks like. The Jordan was at flood stage. It wasn’t a convenient crossing. But the instruction was still to move forward. And the river didn’t part while they stood on the bank thinking about it. It parted when the priests’ feet touched the water. God’s path often requires motion before you see the breakthrough. The same principle shows up with Peter. He didn’t walk on water; he walked on the word. When Jesus said “come,” that word carried him. You may feel like you’re facing impossible valleys, things that seem like they have no way around them, but if God said “go,” then the obstacle is not proof you missed Him. Sometimes, it’s part of the plan. Don’t Misread the Process Many believers get discouraged because they mistake the beginning for the end. They assume that if God spoke, it should happen immediately. But Scripture shows something else: God often leads with glimpses and dreams, not full explanations. He gives you enough to move and enough to hold on to. That’s why many people quit too early—not because they don’t love God, but because they don’t understand the process. Joseph: Dreams, Training, and the “Pharaoh Moment” Joseph had two dreams at 17. Then life took a hard turn: betrayal, slavery, false accusation, and prison. And yet later, Joseph said something shocking to his brothers: “It was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you” (Genesis 45:5b, NIV). That means the path, including the painful parts, was not random. It was preparation. Joseph couldn’t have gone straight to the palace. He needed training, exposure, language, protocol, and wisdom. God positioned him in the house of a high-ranking official so he could learn what he’d need later. Then came the moment everything was aimed toward: standing before Pharaoh. When that moment arrived, Joseph didn’t just interpret a dream; he had a plan. And the plan seemed good to Pharaoh. There’s a practical takeaway here: sometimes God develops you in places you don’t enjoy so you’ll have something to offer when the door opens. Your faithfulness now can become your credibility later. When You Don’t Like Your Job, You Might Be in Training It’s easy to say, “I hate my job.” But a hard season doesn’t automatically mean you’re off track. Sometimes the question is: Can God trust you where you are? Can He trust your integrity when nobody’s impressed? Can He trust your obedience when you don’t feel like it? Can He trust you to stay out of sin when it would be easier to compromise? This is the kind of training that happens before anyone knows your name. And when you consistently show up with excellence and bring solutions, your gift becomes visible. The value is sometimes found in the training season. You’re being prepared for a season to come, and everything you learned in that training season will not be wasted. Sometimes the First Step Is to Sit After a message about vision and purpose, people can get anxious: “I need to do something right now.” But sometimes wisdom says: be still and sit for a minute. Many people come to Christ carrying an “earth curse system” mindset of work, labor, perform, and strive because that’s all they’ve known. But learning the Kingdom takes time. Identity comes before assignment. Simple Ways to Stay on the Path This Week Fix your gaze. Stop demanding the full map. Stay faithful to today. Keep moving. Don’t get stuck replaying the lies of the enemy. Step in before you see it. Some waters part after your feet touch them. Honor the process. Training seasons are not wasted seasons. Write it down. Keep a record of dreams, words, and reminders from God. A Simple Prayer Father, Thank You for leading me on the right path. Help me fix my gaze straight ahead and follow You one step at a time. Give me the courage to move forward even when I can only see a few feet in front of me. Strengthen me in the process, teach me what I need to learn, guard my integrity, and keep me steady when I feel delayed or discouraged. Remind me of what You’ve spoken to me through Your Word, through dreams, and through moments you’ve marked in my life. I choose to stay on the path and trust You with the destination. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.
Reading Time 3 mins 59 secs – A new year isn’t just a change on the calendar; it is an opportunity for alignment. God is always moving, always advancing His Kingdom, and always inviting His people to come into agreement with what He’s already established. Scripture tells us that God’s throne is established in heaven and His Kingdom rules over all. That means heaven is not distant, theoretical, or reserved for later. The Kingdom of God is active, present, and meant to be experienced now. When you understand that you are a citizen of God’s Kingdom—not someday, but today—it changes how you think, how you pray, and how you live. You stop reacting to life from the outside and start governing from the inside. This is how heaven touches Earth. You Were Created to Rule, Not Struggle From the beginning, God gave humanity authority. He didn’t create people to survive on Earth; He created them to steward it. Dominion was always part of God’s design. Genesis tells us that mankind was created in God’s image and crowned with glory and honor. That crown wasn’t symbolic. It represented authority backed by heaven itself: authority to subdue, to bring order, and to enforce God’s will in the earth. Although that authority was lost through rebellion, Jesus legally restored it. Colossians reminds us that we were rescued from the dominion of darkness and brought into the Kingdom of God’s Son. You are not waiting to enter the Kingdom. You are living in it now. Citizenship Changes Everything Citizenship isn’t just identity. It’s access. When you were born again, you didn’t just receive forgiveness; you received legal standing in God’s Kingdom. Ephesians tells us plainly that we are no longer strangers or outsiders but citizens and members of God’s household. That means the benefits of the Kingdom belong to you now, not later. As a citizen, you have: A right to provision. A right to healing. A right to wisdom and direction. A right to peace and freedom. You don’t approach God as a beggar hoping for mercy. You approach Him as a son or daughter who understands covenant. That perspective alone will change how you pray. Stop Running. Start Seeking. Jesus told us not to run after provision the way the world does. Anxiety-driven effort is not Kingdom living. Instead, He instructed us to seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness. Seeking the Kingdom doesn’t mean begging God to do something He already said yes. It means learning how the Kingdom operates and aligning your life with its laws. In God’s system: Seed produces harvest. Faith releases authority. Agreement allows heaven to move. Truth drives out fear. Everything you need already exists within the Kingdom structure. The issue is rarely whether God is willing; it’s whether we understand how to receive. Understanding Produces Confidence Many believers love God deeply but live unsure of their rights. That uncertainty shows up in prayer filled with desperation instead of confidence. Scripture tells us that when we ask according to God’s will, He hears us, and if He hears us, we already have what we’ve asked. That’s not hope; that’s assurance. Confidence grows when you stop allowing vague ideas about God to shape your thinking and start grounding your life in what His Word actually says. You are not disconnected from heaven. You are not powerless. You are not at the mercy of circumstances. You are a citizen with authority. Agreement Unlocks Heaven on Earth Jesus demonstrated how the Kingdom works everywhere He went. He didn’t plead with the Father to act. He acted in agreement with the Father’s will. When people received healing, freedom, or restoration, it wasn’t because God suddenly decided to intervene. It was because someone came into agreement with what heaven had already established. Heaven moves when faith agrees. Heaven advances when truth is believed. Heaven manifests when authority is exercised. Disagreement—whether through fear, doubt, or false teaching—blocks what God desires to release. Agreement opens the door. Simple Ways to Align with the Kingdom This Year If you want to experience heaven on Earth more fully, start with these practical steps: Renew your thinking daily. Keep God’s Word in front of you morning and night. Truth recalibrates faith. Pray with confidence, not panic. Stop begging. Start agreeing. Expect God’s direction. He knows what you need and how to lead you there. Guard what you believe. Don’t entertain ideas that contradict God’s character or promises. Act on what you know. Authority works when it’s exercised. A Simple Prayer Father, Thank You that I am a citizen of Your Kingdom and a member of your household. I choose to align my thinking, my words, and my actions with what You have already established. I release every old mindset that limits Your work in my life. Teach me how Your Kingdom operates. Lead me by Your Spirit. Let this be a year of clarity, confidence, and forward movement. I receive what You have already given and step into the life You’ve prepared for me. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.
Reading Time 4 mins 6 secs – Thankfulness isn’t just good manners; it’s a spiritual posture. It’s how your faith stays strong, your heart stays aligned, and your life stays connected to what God is doing. In a world that constantly pulls on your emotions, drains your joy, and fills the air with fear and pressure, thanksgiving becomes how you stay connected to the victory Jesus has already won for you. Second Corinthians 2:14 reminds us that God always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through our lives, He spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere we go. That’s not just poetic language. That’s a description of your life in the Kingdom. You were designed to walk in victory, carry the fragrance of heaven into every room, walk in faith and not fear, and bring evidence of God’s goodness wherever you go. And the doorway into that life? A thankful heart. Thankfulness Is Your Position of Strength You don’t wait until you see victory to thank God. In the Kingdom of God, thankfulness comes before the breakthrough. First Corinthians 15:57 reminds us that God gives us victory through Jesus. Not someday, not eventually, but as a present, active reality. When you say, “Thank You, Lord, for leading me into victory in this situation,” you are aligning your heart with what God has already spoken. You are: Agreeing with His Word. Positioning yourself to receive. Stepping into alignment with His promises. Philippians 4:6 tells us to bring every request to God with thanksgiving. Gratitude is not the result of answered prayer; it’s part of how we pray. If someone handed you a check and you said, “I’ll see if it clears, and then I’ll thank you,” how eager would they be to bless you again? In the same way, when we approach God with “Father, thank You that You always lead me into victory,” we’re not pretending. We’re trusting His character before we see the outcome. That is faith. Gratitude Changes the Atmosphere You don’t just walk into a room; you carry an atmosphere. We’ve all stepped into places that felt heavy, tense, or anxious without anyone saying a word. But God designed you to carry something different: Peace instead of pressure Freedom instead of fear Victory instead of defeat A sound mind instead of anxiety When you adopt a posture of thanksgiving rather than one of complaint, your home changes, your conversations change. Psalm 100 reminds us that we enter God’s presence with thanksgiving and praise. Gratitude isn’t just something we do; it’s how we step into His presence and shift the atmosphere around us. How We Limit God When We Forget to Say “Thank You” Psalm 78 tells us that the people of Israel limited God not because His power failed but because they refused to agree with Him. God wanted to bless them. He had good plans for them. But instead of aligning with His promises, they complained, focused on what they saw instead of what He said, and talked more about giants than about God. Grumbling doesn’t just make you miserable; it closes your hands. Thankfulness opens them. The same is true for every promise in your life—provision, wisdom, direction, breakthrough, and peace. Ask yourself: Am I agreeing with God or resisting Him with my words? Do I talk more about the problem or about His promise? Have I been limiting God by withholding my thankfulness? Simple Ways to Practice Thankfulness Every Day You don’t have to wait for Sunday to live a thankful life. You can practice gratitude right where you are. Start with these 5 simple rhythms: Thank Him before you see the answer. When you pray, don’t just ask. Take time to thank the Lord that the answer to your promise is already yes. Guard the atmosphere of your home. If voices, media, or conversations are feeding fear and heaviness, turn them off. Make room for worship, the Word, and encouragement. Say “thank you” out loud. To God. To people. For big things and small things. Train your heart to respond with gratitude instead of suspicion or resistance. Worship on purpose. You don’t need a worship team to praise. Turn on worship in your car, your kitchen, your living room. Lift your voice. Let His presence fill your space. Check your heart often. If thankfulness and gratitude haven’t been on your heart much, don’t condemn yourself; just correct your course. Let God restore your joy. A Simple Prayer Father, Thank You that in Christ You always lead me into victory. I repent for every time I’ve complained, drifted, or agreed more with fear than with your Word. Today, I choose to be thankful. I say “yes” and “thank You” to Your promises, Your plans, and Your goodness. Restore to me the joy of my salvation. Lift off all heaviness. Fill me fresh with Your Spirit. Let my life carry peace instead of pressure, praise instead of complaining, faith instead of fear. I receive Your wisdom, Your strength, and Your direction for every situation I’m facing. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.