Lately I've been thinking about following God's path for my life. I have had some confusing talks with friends, some that leave me feeling refreshed and relieved, others that make my mind run at 100 miles an hour (hard to believe I know). One thing I have been thinking about is, the times when we need to give something up in order to follow the plan God has for us. Giving something up didn't sound too hard to me. I've given things up before. Well, sometimes the thing we need to give up isn't easy and sometimes it's something we want to hold on to. There are times where what we want to hold on to the most are the things that are holding us back. Following God was never promised to be easy, and the life of a servant for Christ was never a walk in the park. Something I've known for a long time, but never really thought about. Sometimes we need to do something that feels impossible to follow God with everything. There are things that we love so much that we never want to let go, but God may have other plans for us.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2.
This is the verse that comes to my mind when I think of this topic. Maybe the things we are holding on to, are the very things that are interfering with us totally following God. We need to just look to God, hold on to Him and let go of the things that are blocking us from living for God with everything we are.
It is my encouragement to everyone, that we find the things holding us back, fix our eyes on God and throw off everything that hinders us.
"Enjoy life and take the Lord along for the ride!"-Alva Sample
