"Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God." 2 Corinthians 3:5 (ESV)
I slammed the trunk lid down and dust from the back of my car flew everywhere. Wiping the sweat off my brow I just felt a little lighter with the bags of clothes and over abundant items I had just sorted through. It was a whole trunk load plus half of my back seat.I've been doing a lot of cleaning lately. De-cluttering always leaves my mind a little worn about what to keep, what to toss, and what's going to a new home. The biggest wearing is the letting go.
Why do we let a nagging memories of days gone by hold us captive?
Does our de-cluttering stem from the fear of what might happen afterward? Or are we living in a pauper mentality instead of living like a princess in God's economy?
I tend to forget that God is our sufficiency in all seasons. Wouldn't that cover our treasures we cling to? I'm not just talking about teddy bears but wouldn't God's sufficiency also include opportunities to make new memories and relationships?
My mother taught me to never throw away a photo. I laugh now because everything is digital but what about those crammed photo albums we never look at that hold all those precious happy times together?
Do the items we hold tightly in significance make us more important in God's eyes?
How often do we fill our lives with old hurts of the past, holding them close and clinging to unhealthy relationships, hoping that we can fix the situation and make it all better again? Here's a hard hitting question...are you in a job, volunteer position, prayer group, social circle, or partnership because you fear what might happen if you’re not?
Letting go and trusting God with our reputations, our jobs, our next steps, our relationships, with those who influence us is the most healthy thing we can do. It makes room for new life in areas that are stale and unfruitful. And it doesn't just help us, it helps others too.
But it's hard to do when you are insecure and won't let go of them.
There are times when you just can't be the hero for everyone. It doesn't make you right or them wrong. It's just makes for an awkward fit. And no one needs awkward. It's just like that old pair of jeans at the back of your closet. You know the ones. They are either too tight and you think one day you will get into them again. Maybe they remind you of a season when you could wear them and you can't let go of the memory that you will never be that size any more.
What's worse is thinking we would want to go back to those "mom" jeans. Seriously, though we must shake the past with all it's hurts and unwanted reminders, those things that will never be the same.
I think we want them near by because those memories make us feel special or we hide behind them in fear of letting go. We fear that we will be the only ordinary.
In looking at our unwanted items, the things that aren't a good fit, or just aren't needed, we tend to slip into letting ourselves be measured by man's idea of where our worth comes from instead of just letting go to God's yardstick. Our worth isn’t measured by public opinion, numbers, platform, or recognition by significant people.
I prefer the way God measures us instead of how man sizes our worth.
Jesus says we are worth dying for. That is our story and this is the only story that counts. Looking at the life of Jesus he shows us how ordinary doesn't mean less valuable. He had humble beginnings and took the worst of humanity upon his shoulders.
His one act gives us great significance in the only story that matters. It's enough to make this little princess know that when I let go of old junk hidden away, there is more room for new things He wants to do in me.
That isn't exhausting, it's exhilarating. What's keeping you from letting go?
There are times when you just can't be the hero for everyone. It doesn't make you right or them wrong. It's just makes for an awkward fit. And no one needs awkward. It's just like that old pair of jeans at the back of your closet. You know the ones. They are either too tight and you think one day you will get into them again. Maybe they remind you of a season when you could wear them and you can't let go of the memory that you will never be that size any more.
What's worse is thinking we would want to go back to those "mom" jeans. Seriously, though we must shake the past with all it's hurts and unwanted reminders, those things that will never be the same.
I think we want them near by because those memories make us feel special or we hide behind them in fear of letting go. We fear that we will be the only ordinary.
In looking at our unwanted items, the things that aren't a good fit, or just aren't needed, we tend to slip into letting ourselves be measured by man's idea of where our worth comes from instead of just letting go to God's yardstick. Our worth isn’t measured by public opinion, numbers, platform, or recognition by significant people.
I prefer the way God measures us instead of how man sizes our worth.
Jesus says we are worth dying for. That is our story and this is the only story that counts. Looking at the life of Jesus he shows us how ordinary doesn't mean less valuable. He had humble beginnings and took the worst of humanity upon his shoulders.
His one act gives us great significance in the only story that matters. It's enough to make this little princess know that when I let go of old junk hidden away, there is more room for new things He wants to do in me.
That isn't exhausting, it's exhilarating. What's keeping you from letting go?
