Practicing Self-Reflection to Identify Spiritual Resistance
Self-examination stands as a biblical imperative, explicitly enjoined in 2 Corinthians 13:5 and required before communion in 1 Corinthians 11:28 [2]. The practice aims to uncover spiritual resistance—those patterns of self-will, unbelief, and hardness that obstruct obedience to God. Jeremiah 17:9 warns of the difficulty inherent in this task: the heart's deceitfulness makes honest self-assessment challenging without divine aid [2].
The Nature of Spiritual Resistance
Scripture identifies spiritual resistance in multiple forms. Self-will and stubbornness proceed from unbelief, pride, and "an evil heart" [3]. These manifest in refusing to hear God's word, rejecting his messengers, declining to walk in his ways, and resisting correction [3]. The Psalms counsel self-examination "with holy awe" and "with diligent search," accompanied by prayer for divine searching—an acknowledgment that we cannot reliably diagnose our own condition without God's illumination [2].
The Reformed tradition, following Paul's description in Romans 7, recognizes an internal conflict even in mature believers. Charles Hodge notes that the regenerate experience "utter renunciation of self" alongside "delight in the law of God," yet also endure protracted struggle between the spirit and remaining sinful inclinations [6]. Augustine similarly describes the flesh lusting against the spirit while the spirit maintains contrary desire, creating a state where "the actual law of sin partly holds the flesh in captivity" even as the mind refuses full obedience to sinful desires [4].
The Practice of Self-Reflection
Effective self-examination requires specific disciplines. The Psalms model both diligent searching (Psalm 77:6, Lamentations 3:40) and petitionary prayer (Psalm 26:2, 139:23-24), asking God to reveal what self-deception obscures [2]. This practice must be "engaged in with purpose of amendment"—not mere introspection but examination aimed at repentance [2]. The advantages include avoiding divine judgment through self-correction (1 Corinthians 11:31) and gaining assurance before God (1 John 3:20-22) [2].
Self-denial, modeled by Christ and necessary for following him, involves "denying ungodliness and worldly lusts," controlling appetite, and mortifying sinful desires [1]. This discipline serves the "warfare of saints" and proves essential to spiritual triumph [1]. The Reformed understanding emphasizes that believers grieve or quench the Spirit's influences through resistance, indulgence in sin, and especially by denying the Spirit's agency [5]. Vigilance against such resistance requires ongoing examination of motives, affections, and the subtle ways pride and unbelief reassert themselves.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Examination — Enjoined -- 2Co 13:5. Necessary before the communion -- 1Co 11:28. Cause of difficulty in -- Jer 17:9. Should be engaged in With holy awe. -- Ps 4:4. With diligent search. -- Ps 77:6; La 3:40. With prayer for divine searching. -- Ps 26:2; 139:23,24. With purpose of amendment. -- Ps 119:59; La 3:40. Advantages of -- 1Co 11:31; Ga 6:4; 1Jo 3:20-22.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Will and Stubbornness — Forbidden -- 2Ch 30:8; Ps 75:5; 95:8. Proceed from Unbelief. -- 2Ki 17:14. Pride. -- Ne 9:16,29. An evil heart. -- Jer 7:24. God knows -- Isa 48:4. Exhibited in Refusing to hearken to God. -- Pr 1:24. Refusing to hearken to the messengers of God. -- 1Sa 8:19; Jer 44:16; Zec 7:11. Refusing to walk in the ways of God. -- Ne 9:17; Ps 78:10; Isa 42:24; Jer 6:16. Refusing to hearken to parents. -- De 21:18,19. Refusing to receive correction. -- De 21:18; Jer 5:3; 7:28. Rebelling against God. -- De 31:27; Ps 78:8. Resisting the Holy Spirit. -- ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 35 [XXXI.]--THE FLESH, CARNAL AFFEC- (part 2): long as the flesh lusts against the spirit--without, however, subjugating the mind, inasmuch as on its side, too, the spirit has a concupiscence contrary to the flesh.[1] Thus, although the actual law of sin partly holds the flesh in captivity (whence comes its resistance to the law of the mind), still it has not an absolute empire in our body, notwithstanding its mortal state, since it refuses obedience to its desires,[2] For in the case of hostile armies between whom there is an earnest conflict, ev”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 138: ordinances, which exist in the world. And consequently that the greatest calamity that can befall an individual, a church, or a people, is that God should take his Holy Spirit from them. And as this is a judgment which, according to the Scriptures, does often come upon individuals, churches, and people, we should above all things dread lest we should grieve the Spirit or quench his influences. This is done by 675 resistance, by indulgence in sin, and especially, by denying his agency and speaking evil of his work. “Whosoever speaketh a w”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 31: subjects of the inward conflict here depicted. There is in them indeed often a struggle protracted and painful, between reason and conscience on the one side, and evil passion on the other. But there is not in the unrenewed that utter renunciation of self, that looking for help to God in Christ alone, and that delight in the law of God, of which the Apostle here speaks. What Romans vii. 7-25 teaches. Assuming, then, that we have in this chapter an account of the experience of a true and even of an advanced Christian, we learn that in ever”