I was reading one of my old devotionals a couple of days ago and a passage of a dream I had written down both from a few years ago. They both talked about giving up things to be able to move forward and not live in the past. It was then I was reminded about the saying The Ability To Grow Is Directly Related To The Ability To Let Go.
Approximately 10 years ago I was working and helping out at a church that was in its beginning stages. It was one Thursday morning when the assistant pastor at the time came screeching up to the front door in his truck and all but ran into the church, saying “I have a word for you”. I didn’t pay much attention at the time as I was busy just doing church stuff, but he was adamant “This is serious”, and “I have a word”. He went on to explain how he had been praying with some friends and God had given him a very specific word for me. Obviously I wanted to know what it was, but he kept saying this is serious are you ready? After this back and forth for about 10 minutes he finally said, “The Ability To Grow Is Directly Related To The Ability To Let Go”. At first I thought ‘Cool, that is catchy!’, and then I thought, ‘Man, that would teach.’, but he went on to explain, at great lengths, and that this was a personal word for me.
I thought about this statement for a while and then filed it at the back of my mind, oh and yes I did teach on this very thing a couple of weeks later at a ladies meeting. However, this week the saying has been back at the fore front of my mind – along with reading my old devotionals and a dream from years ago. I began to understand God was telling me it is time to let go of certain things to be able to move forward and sadly, I also think that includes certain people. I have been holding onto things from my past which have and has hindered my walk with God today. It is time for a new beginning, a new covenant, and a renewing of the mind.
Now, you are probably saying how can this help me and what the heck does this mean? To break it down simply we all have things or people in our lives that weigh us down, hold us back, bring sorrow to our souls, and really hinder our walk in God’s Kingdom. This can be anything from, anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, resentment, being critical, judgmental, etc. or it can also just be certain relationships that need to be completely let go. One part of my dream was about burning and getting rid of everything that belonged in the past; even clothes, it was very specific. The things we hold onto are like weights around our necks or body that we are carrying and we will eventually become weary and want to give up. Imagine this, pick up two ten pound weights tie them around your body and carry them with you all day. How will you feel? Now imagine the same weights when you cut the cord and let them go dropping to the ground. The relief and lightness you will feel! It seems too simple to just let our weights go but in Christ it is that simple – we just have to trust in Him.
The word says, “And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” As you can see in all these verses it is His anointing that breaks yokes. If we keep offences or hold onto things that we should let go then we are putting a yoke around our own necks and breaking His anointing.
As believers we all can, at some times in our lives, hold onto things that will hinder our walk with God and could even cause us to fall. However, the good news is Jesus is always right there waiting for us to turn around, repent and come home, it really is that easy. As it was with the prodigal son, so it is with us, some hurts can run deep and cause crevices in our hearts. This is when we put our trust and hope in Jesus letting Him daily renew and refresh us, gently restoring the brokenness in our lives. We just have to let Him in and let Him work. He says, “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”
So today have a look at yourself and let Christ search your soul. What is it you have to give up and let go of? What is holding you back from walking in His Glory? Let Jesus search you, let Him reveal the darkest parts of your soul, opening up the hidden parts of your hearts, and then let Him heal your hurts and wounds. Remember, it is always your choice to let go of these things, people, etc. God will only reveal them, so what will you choose today? Live with Him and die to self, or continue to carry the twenty pound weight around your neck. Turn around and walk with Him as He is right there waiting for you with open arms. Let nothing and no one hinder you from a close relationship with Him.
Cited
Isaiah 10:27, Luke 4:18, Mark 11:24, Ezekiel 36:26