So, I have been staring at this blank page all day trying to get just the right scripture reference and just the right opening story to go with it. And…nada! Nothing! Zilch! Nunca! Not even nothing! Reading story after story after scripture after scripture…and still nothing. (Well, not really nothing. I have a lot of good unction for a lot of other teachings, but not really what I wanted to write today!)
So, maybe it’s okay for some days to look different. Maybe it’s okay to just share. So….here goes.
Let it go! That is the word for the day.
In order to get from potential to realization of the promise, sometimes you have to let it go.
[Prompted] by faith Noah, being forewarned by God concerning events of which as yet there was no visible sign, took heed and diligently and reverently constructed and prepared an ark for the deliverance of his own family. (Hebrews 11:7)
Noah had to let go of his understanding. He worked on the ark day after day after day with all his neighbors looking on. “What is that Noah?” Noah might have said, “What does it look like. It’s a boat! The whole earth is going to flood.” Except no one had seen rain or a boat or a flood or anything like that. He did it all by faith. He had to let it go.
It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. (Hebrews 11:8)
Abraham had to let go of his home and everything he knew. He had to go without even knowing where he was going. How did that sound to his family? “Where ya goin’ Abe?” “Well…ummm…not sure yet. I’ll know when I get there.” Uh huh!
It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him…Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. (Hebrews 11:18-19)
Abraham had to let go of his son, Isaac. That was a biggie. Isaac was his dream come true. Isaac was the promise fulfilled. Why would God give Isaac to him and ask him to sacrifice him. It makes no sense. But Abraham had to let it go and trust God.
It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. (Hebrews 11:27)
Moses had to let go of the cushy life he lived in the palace in Egypt. He spent years on the back side of the desert. God was preparing him to deliver His people…he just didn’t know it at the time. He had to let it go first.
The disciples let go of their occupations. Saul let go of his traditions and all that his education and training told him was right. Steven let go of his hold on life and his fear of death. Some of the early church let go of their possessions.
Bottom line: In order to reach your potential…in order for that dream that God has given to you or the potential He has spoken over you and birthed in you to turn from faith to sight, you will have to let something go. That something is different for each one of us. It could be the distractions of TV or books or media. For some it will be a person. For others it might be a job or the comforts of home. For some it might be past mistakes trying to hold you back. Cut ’em loose and get ready to run!
This quote of Hudson Taylor always challenges me when I read his book Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret. His goal was to see how much He could give for the cause of Christ. To see how much he could let go of.
…I soon found that I could live upon very much less than I had previously thought possible. Butter, milk, and other luxuries I ceased to use, and found that by living mainly on oatmeal and rice, with occasional variations, a very small sum was sufficient for my needs.
What a perspective! He also found “in self-denial and the daily cross a fellowship with the Master nothing else could yield.” Letting go is a key to stepping in.
So…what do you need to let go of? It’s a question I’ve been asking myself for days. It’s not something he takes from me. It’s something I yield to be more effective for Him. Something I lay down at His feet as an offering because He gave so much for me. Something I let go of because I want to make more room for Him.
I have such anticipation in my heart about this year. Anticipation for His potential coming to pass in my life. For open doors and walking into dreams. I’m ready to let it go and run. How about you?
