March 7, 2010
Starting point: Holding on
Destination: Letting Go
God Direction: From the Holding On apartment building, take a right and board the Bus of Prayer and Meditation. It will take you along the Lent Expressway. Do not get off until you reach the Letting Go subdivision.
I hope this God Direction hasn't scared you. Letting go is hard to do, pardon the cliché. We all want control. We want to have a say in how things happen. We want to know what is next. We want to see what is just around the bend. Why? Is it because we don't want to get hurt? Is it because we don't want to experience pain? Is it because we know better than anyone else how to live our lives?
How's that going for you? It never worked out for me. Why? Pain is a part of life. Since the fall of man, when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit, suffering has become a part of life. It is a consequence of all sin, ours and everyone else. But Pain is also necessary. I look back on my times of pain and hardship and those are the times that I experienced the most growth spiritually. I know, it's hard, I've been there and I am experiencing pain and struggle as I write. (These directions from God are as much for me as they are for anyone.)
Pain and hardship are the instruments that God uses to help us let go. Until we let go of control we will not experience joy, peace, or a close relationship with God.
Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.1
Here Solomon realizes that God is always in control. The will of God will happen rather we follow it or fight it. If we fight it we will never experience joy or peace. Our toil will never satisfy us. Others will enjoy the benefits of our work. But if we give all to God, he is faithful and will give us that close relationship with him that will fill us and satisfy us giving us joy and peace.
Matthew 19:16-22"Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”
“Which ones?” the man inquired.
Jesus replied, ”‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’
“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.2
Jesus is not saying that we cannot possess money, but He is saying that money should not possess us. Anything that we hold above God, possesses us. Anything that we need in order to feel in control has a hold on us. It does not matter what we do. What matters is how we live. Are we living for God or for self?
During Lent it is customary to give up something. Some give up sweets, some give up soda, ice cream and even Facebook. All those things are great if done out of love for God. But I challenge you to go deeper. What if we gave up all? What if during this Lenten journey we spent more time in prayer and meditation? What if we dedicated our lives to God? I challenge you to use this Lenten season to prepare yourself for new life on Easter. Die to self and rise again with new life in Christ. (Romans 6:1-11)
Let us pray: Father God, I have not lived as you desire. I have tried to be in control. Forgive me. I surrender all to you, Lord. Help me to let go and follow you. In Christ's Name I pray, Amen.
Destination: Letting Go
God Direction: From the Holding On apartment building, take a right and board the Bus of Prayer and Meditation. It will take you along the Lent Expressway. Do not get off until you reach the Letting Go subdivision.
I hope this God Direction hasn't scared you. Letting go is hard to do, pardon the cliché. We all want control. We want to have a say in how things happen. We want to know what is next. We want to see what is just around the bend. Why? Is it because we don't want to get hurt? Is it because we don't want to experience pain? Is it because we know better than anyone else how to live our lives?
How's that going for you? It never worked out for me. Why? Pain is a part of life. Since the fall of man, when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit, suffering has become a part of life. It is a consequence of all sin, ours and everyone else. But Pain is also necessary. I look back on my times of pain and hardship and those are the times that I experienced the most growth spiritually. I know, it's hard, I've been there and I am experiencing pain and struggle as I write. (These directions from God are as much for me as they are for anyone.)
Pain and hardship are the instruments that God uses to help us let go. Until we let go of control we will not experience joy, peace, or a close relationship with God.
Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.1
Here Solomon realizes that God is always in control. The will of God will happen rather we follow it or fight it. If we fight it we will never experience joy or peace. Our toil will never satisfy us. Others will enjoy the benefits of our work. But if we give all to God, he is faithful and will give us that close relationship with him that will fill us and satisfy us giving us joy and peace.
Matthew 19:16-22"Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”
“Which ones?” the man inquired.
Jesus replied, ”‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’
“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.2
Jesus is not saying that we cannot possess money, but He is saying that money should not possess us. Anything that we hold above God, possesses us. Anything that we need in order to feel in control has a hold on us. It does not matter what we do. What matters is how we live. Are we living for God or for self?
During Lent it is customary to give up something. Some give up sweets, some give up soda, ice cream and even Facebook. All those things are great if done out of love for God. But I challenge you to go deeper. What if we gave up all? What if during this Lenten journey we spent more time in prayer and meditation? What if we dedicated our lives to God? I challenge you to use this Lenten season to prepare yourself for new life on Easter. Die to self and rise again with new life in Christ. (Romans 6:1-11)
Let us pray: Father God, I have not lived as you desire. I have tried to be in control. Forgive me. I surrender all to you, Lord. Help me to let go and follow you. In Christ's Name I pray, Amen.
1The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Ec 2:24-26). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
2The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Mt 19:16-22). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
2The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Mt 19:16-22). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
