Letting Go and Grabbing Hold

I said goodbye to some old friends today.

Well… sort of.  They were actually books that had been sitting on my bookshelf since… the 1990’s???

Good books, too… mostly.  The kind that held lots of wisdom.  Maybe that’s why it has been so hard for me — over many years, obviously — to part with them.

But I had to admit:  When was the last time I had picked any of them up?  To read them again?  Or even to reference them? More years than I could count.

More than that, as I perused their titles, I realized another truth:  It may be just as many years into the future before I would pick them up again.

They’re now sitting in a box, to be donated to our local library.

It isn’t that I’m reading any less now.  In fact, I continue to purchase new books almost every couple of weeks.  It’s just that the River of Life has continued to flow… in the midst of a radically-changing world.  So has Your calling and focus for my remaining years, Lord.

As I said to a dear sister today:  More than ever before, perhaps in all of history, it is obviously time for Your people to Wake Up, Grow Up, Train Up and Suit Up.

All of which requires some Letting Go… doesn’t it, Lord?

Letting Go of slumber and complacency.  Letting Go of childish pursuits and naivete. Letting Go of stumbling and fumbling. Letting Go of old ways it is high time we grew out of. Letting Go of the old lies that energize those old ways.

“I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly — mere infants in Christ.  I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it.  Indeed, you are still not ready.  You are still worldly.  For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly?… Do not deceive yourselves.  If you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise.  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight.”  (1 Corinthians 3:1-3b,18-19a)

Time for Letting Go.  Which leads to Grabbing Hold… doesn’t it, Lord?

Grabbing Hold of the Truth — Your Truth — that sets us free.  Grabbing Hold of our responsibility to submit to You and not give the devil any foothold in our lives.

Grabbing Hold of every opportunity to advance Your calling on our lives and Your Kingdom in our world.  Grabbing Hold of the privilege of being Your Ambassadors, even in the face of suffering or worse.

“The Spirit clearly says that in latter times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons… Be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith… train yourself to be godly… godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come… set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity… devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.  Do not neglect your gift…

Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.  Watch your life and your doctrine carefully.  Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”  (1 Timothy :1-16)

Oh, Lord… What a thrilling time to be ALIVE!!!

Seeking more surrender… so You, Lord, can  Make It Happen!!!

Abba’s Girl

 

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