Live Let Go and Held
This weekend I hit a breaking point. My life is abundantly blessed and I am so grateful for all of the wonderful people and opportunities that the Lord has given me. But, it is also a lot to manage and I have found myself trying to do it all on my own and feeling very alone. The past few weeks have been a lot. Between studying for finals, preparing for the World Race, trying to pack up to leave school, and making time for all of the people that I love so much and I am going to miss. I stopped prioritizing alone time with Jesus.
In these past few weeks, I have noticed my thoughts being brought back to childhood. The simplicity in living let go. Let go of the cares of the world and all of the stress and pressure that comes with it. Living a life held by others, taken care of, loved. A life dependent on trusting and loving parents. A life that is free. I miss this life. I miss my parents. I feel very overwhelmed and all on my own.
I know I am not alone and that my Father in Heaven is taking very good care of me. But when you don’t prioritize intentional time with someone, it can be hard to see that they are there, it can be hard to see how much they love you. It can be hard to believe that they are with you. Just like a marriage is unhealthy if the couple spends no time alone together, it is the same in our relationship with our Father in Heaven. When we are not spending time alone with Him it can be hard to see how present He really is and how much He truly loves and takes care of us.
Over the past few weeks, I found myself trying to balance all of life’s responsibilities on my own and it has been filling me with fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of letting people down, afraid of leaving, afraid of making the wrong decision. I am human, I am weak, and I cannot do it on my own. Heck, I can’t even make my own heartbeat on my own. I have been letting the “Have To’s” lead my life, I have been allowing the fear and anxiety guide my steps instead of prioritizing the only one who can carry me through it.
Our God is a good Father who takes good care of His children. We don’t have to do anything but we do have a choice. We can choose to give Him the things of this world that are weighing us down and allow Him to love us by letting Him take those things and take care of us. The “Have To’s” will always be there. We will never be able to do enough in our own strength to make them go away. But, if we choose to prioritize our Father, give Him the worries of the world, and allow Him to fill the space where they once were, He can bring us back to a life filled with childlike joy and peace despite what is going on around us.
This is life with Christ. A life let go and held. A life let go of the worries and anxieties and responsibilities of the world. A life held by the only one who can carry us through. I haven’t been living this life for the past few weeks. Today, I am choosing to give it back to Him. I need Him. I can’t do anything without Him. I have a question for you dear friend, are there areas in your heart and life where you could be living more let go and held? If there are, there is no shame in giving it back to Him. Because of what Jesus did on the cross for us, we can enter into His presence with humility and confidence. Freedom is found here. Childlike joy is found here. I encourage you to run to Him and continue to live let go and held by our good Father in Heaven who takes good care of His children.
Songs:
Sunday Drive – Brett Eldredge
Restoring Eden- MBL Worship
Nothing Else- Cody Carnes
Real Thing – Maverick City Music
Scripture:
Psalm 118: 8
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in human hands.
2 Samuel 12:8
“I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all of this had been too little, I would have given you even more.”
1 John 3:1
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Matthew 18:3-5
“Truly I tell you if you unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of a child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”
1 John 5:20
We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you.
Luke 10:38-41
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he had said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” The Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed — or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.
Hebrews 4:16
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
It is good to recognize when you are overwhelmed and that you can rely on others who share your goals to assist! Also I’m happy you remember your childhood in such a special way! You go Beautiful Princess! Love you – Mom
Reagan,
Quiet time with Jesus is absolutely essential. Even with the hustle and bustle, you have to find that time deep within you. Even if it putting on headphones while you are packing, or planning other things, put on some worship and sing to the Lord, even when those around you only hear your voice, sing to the Lord. Here are some verses with the address to find them when you need to be reminded of Jesus time. He even went to the Father early in the day before the others woke up. I get up at 4am each day just to prepare to have my quiet time that starts at 6am. It is so important.
Meeting with God is essential. Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 12:1, “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them.”
Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 32:47, “They are not just idle words for you, they are your life.”
The psalmist in 42:1-2, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God, My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”
Time in God’s Word, reading, studying, and memorizing it, gives guidance for the issues in our lives. And we all have them. Students, parents, grandparents. We all do. Joshua wrote in 1:8, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth, meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Psalm 119:9-11, How can a young man, or woman, keep his/her way pure? By living according to the Word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
Psalm 19:9-11, “The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”
Paul wrote in Hebrews 4:12, “For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double=edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints, and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
We know that spending time in prayer is not only essential, but required. It is our cellphone line to God. Psalm 88:13 says, “But I cry to you for help, O Lord, in the morning my prayer comes to you.”
Psalm 119:47-48: “I rise before dawn and cry for help, I have put my hope in your word. My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.” (I LOVE THIS PASSAGE)
Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:18: “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (I keep you in prayer)
Some other examples through Scripture:
Ezra 7:10: “For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.”
Daniel 6:10: “Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.”
Habakkuk 2:1: “I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.”
Matthew 14:23: “After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.”
Mark 1:35: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”
Luke 5:16: “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
Keep the important stuff first. Make time for Jesus. He prayed for you in the latter part of John 17. I love how much He loves us. I keep you in prayer for a hedge of protection over you, your family, and your team as you embark on this world mission.
Felix