So I know by the title you’re probably assuming this blog is about forgiveness or something, not this time. Today we’ll be talking about letting go of your life.
In Scripture, Jesus tells us to give up our own way, pick up our crosses daily and follow Him (Luke 9:23 NLT). He also says, “if you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it (Matthew 10:39)."
Now, in my blogs I enjoy being transparent (I think it helps).
So here it goes.
I’m a control freak.
And I’ve been a control freak for as long as I can remember. It's really hard for me to hear that I have to let go of my life. Let alone actually do it.
The visual I have in my mind is the Holy Spirit driving a car and I’m in the passenger seat. When it looks like we’re about to turn down a street I’ve never been down before, I go to grab the wheel.
I’ll admit, I get scared.
The idea of the unknown freaks me out.
However, what am I afraid of? This is our God we’re talking about.
Why do we spend so much time praying for the Lord to guide our steps but the second He tells us to go in a direction we’ve never been or down a path we don’t like, we try to grab our lives back and take over as if we know what we’re doing?
He clearly says if you cling to your life you will lose it, but if you give up your life for me you will find it; therefore we must give up our lives here on earth to truly find our lives with Him in heaven.
And not only our lives but our plans.
Yeah, I know how we are, we’ll have our entire lives planned out to the last detail by the time we’re teenagers.
And that’s the right thing to do, right?
WRONG!
Giving up your life for Him means submitting yourself under His power, purpose, mission, and message.
It means choosing Him and His will above your own everyday.
Let’s relinquish the wheel, get in the passenger seat, buckle up (it’ll probably be a bumpy ride) and trust Him.
We have nothing to be afraid of!
Not only is Jesus driving but he created the car and the road we’re driving on. Every obstacle that may fall in our way on the road is under His control.
Whether it’s a test from Him or an attack from the enemy
God knows when they’re coming and He knows how to navigate us through them.
Again, what are we afraid of?
He’s in control of this entire thing.
How often do we sit and ponder on that reality?
God is in control of ALL things.
Not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without our Father knowing it. (Matthew 10:29 NLT-What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.)
If we cling to this temporary life we will lose our eternal life. We will lose our eternity in the Kingdom of Heaven with Jesus.
If we give up this life for Jesus we will be rewarded. If we seek Him. We will find eternity with Him.
Sometimes I think we forget this isn’t our last stop.
We’ve been deceived. We’ve allowed the enemy to convince us that this life is it
Or that there are no sacrifices when it comes to serving Jesus.
We put our lives and identities in things that are fleeting; things that won’t last forever.
Scripture says, “there is a time to live and a time to die.”
Everything has an ending except for the reign, power, authority and dominion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
He is the only one that lasts forever and He’s gifting us with salvation and eternity with Him yet we deny Him and choose ourselves.
And for what?
Things that mean nothing, things that will burn up one day.
God searches our hearts not our worldly possessions.
My husband and I were talking one day and the phrase “yolo” or “you only live once'' was brought up in the discussion. He mentioned he felt the motto wasn't true. The idea is not to live once but to live twice and the second time being for eternity with Jesus.
To be here, to die, then to be raised from the dead by our Savior and spend forever with Him.
I thought that was good.
The goal should never be to live once.
If we want to be disciples of Jesus we must be willing to lay it all down for Him.
Let’s think about the disciples.
They literally left everything.
Peter and Andrew were fishing, which was how they made their living. In the midst of putting a net in the water Jesus told them to come. (Matthew 4:19 NLT-One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 1Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”)
They dropped everything and followed Him.
James and John were sitting in a boat with their dad repairing nets when Jesus told them to come too. They also dropped everything, leaving their dad and the boat behind. (Matthew 4:21-22 NLT- A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.)
These men walked away from their jobs, family, etc.
We might have to do the same. Are we willing?
We have to count the cost and ask ourselves is Jesus worth it? Is salvation worth it? Is eternity with Him worth it? Is serving Him worth it? Yes!
He’s God! The plans He has for us are good! He’s our Creator! The very hairs on our heads are numbered. He knows us! He knows our hearts!
Every second of every day He’s worth it!
I’m not saying the Lord is going to tell you right now to walk away from everything and everybody you love but if He does, are you ready? Will you go?
Jesus tells us in comparison we must hate everyone else.
Can we truly say we love and choose the Lord above all in our lives?
If the answer is no, then it’s time to let it go.