the learning in letting go

More often than not we must give things up.
We must live without.
We must move away from something... somewhere... someone.
We must sacrifice.
We must let go.

More often than not, letting go proves unsettling.
It is not fun or easy.
It is not something our selfish, stubborn, hoarding wills take kind to.
And yet, here the altar beckons.
Here the King commands us to love Him more.
To lay down what we clench... where we stake... and to whom we cling;
To seek Him first, with the whole of our hearts.

I used to hate when people would unsympathetically blurt out the slogan, "Let go and let God."
I used to wonder if they truly knew about really letting go... about REAL loss.
But the truth is, despite our individual history, each of us must "let go" of the somethings, somewheres, and someones of this earth if we are to "let God" rule in us.
We must be willing to bow down... to surrender... to entrust...
To commit our way to Him and put on His armor as we fight His good fight.
For He is indeed better than what we see and know.
His is the narrow path that will lead us to His holy, perfect, eternal Life.
He is Salvation, The Good Shepherd,  The Lord of all lords.
And though our deadly flesh fights ruthlessly to reign against His Kingdom and sway us from His call,
Our confidence can be secure when we learn the truth of His character.
Our faith can be made complete within the loving parameters of His grace.
Yes, we need Him more.
For we were created to glorify His purpose, His plan, His presence.
We were made to worship and know Him intimately.

Scripture promises that all things work together for good to them that love God,
To them who are called according to His purpose...
Have you been called?
Has He asked you to live without...
To walk away...
To give up for His Name's sake?
To love Him more?

Will you take on His Name?
Will you clothe yourself in His righteousness?
Will you lay down your somethings, somewheres, and someones upon His altar?
Will you seek first - with your whole heart - The Lover of your soul?
Lord, help us learn that you are our Most Beloved.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! 
In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 
And into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. 
This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 
In all this you greatly rejoice, 
Though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 
These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 
For you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
(1 Peter 1:3-9)

Blessings and peace as we learn to "let go" in Jesus Name.

To live is Christ.

~Victoria

© The Devoted Woman | Victoria Anderson