Oh, how I have struggled with aspects of life, wanting my own way, not wanting to lose control of things that I believe I have control over. There have been times where I just refused to give in and other times where I gave in feeling defeated. Either way, it was all about SELF, about ME!! My will, my ego needed nourishing and placed above all else, even above God…OR so I believed.
As I grow in the LORD, He shows me His way, His will. I let go, but not always without a struggle. So the lessons must be taught and re-taught. My desire to write about “letting go” has taken me down a sweet road with Jesus.
Thank you, Jesus, for never giving up on me, even when I have been stubborn. Thank You for walking with me and teaching me the Truth. You are The Word. You are where I desire to dwell.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14
In the Name of Jesus, The Word. Amen.
A rope with two stories upon which I dangle and learn letting go!
from Genesis 32: And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the name of the place Penuel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. Genesis 32:24-31
A few verses earlier in this chapter of Genesis, Jacob prayed heartily to God for protection, laying out his great fears, and reminding God of His promises:
“… But You have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.’ ” Genesis 32:12 How often I pray and then wrestle with all that I prayed, even with the prayers I did not know how to utter, often keeping me awake for hours into the night! Jacob stayed strong in his struggle and did not quit although he received an injury in the hip joint by a touch. Jacob’s faith in God and his deep prayer life prevailed above his fears. Jacob’s strength caused him to wrestle and prevail with God for promised blessings. God did bless him with a new name, Israel, meaning prince with God, a most honorable name, plus God fulfilled His promises. Jacob was forever reminded of this struggle by the hip injury, a limp. Jacob did not let go until God released him, yet he was humbled by the injury, yet praised and honored God for blessing him as well as deliverance of his life. As the sun rose, communion between Israel and God was shared. Jacob, now Israel, let go of his fears and no longer needed to wrestle with God.
from Luke 13: And there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. Luke 13:11-13
This woman struggled with a spirit that disabled her for a long time. Jesus touched her. Her body was healed…from bent-over to straight. She had lived in a humbled position all bent over for years, possibly dependent upon others, made fun of, or even neglected. The healing may have changed her posture and removed the disabling spirit, yet she did not go around saying, “Look at me! Look what I did!” What she did do was…“She glorified God.” I believe she remained humbled, recalling often her blessing from God. In continued humility, she praised Him, seemingly being able to let go of eighteen years of suffering and maybe there was self-pity to release too. How else can one rejoice as she did? God healed her. She could stand tall. I believe she could let go of the past, looked ahead and UPward unto God!
Letting go humbles me by understanding God’s promises, believing Him for them, praying unto Him, and standing strong in those promises and blessings, knowing He will, indeed, fulfill them. He may allow me to struggle with fibromyalgia, spinal stenosis, hip and knee issues. But I am continually reminded Who granted the blessings and promises.
Letting go humbles me by acknowledging God’s healing power and knowing that it is not me who heals myself, for I am poor, meek, and a sinner. God loves me and drew me to Him. He is my Healer. He is All I need. I can stand upright in Him no matter my physical, mental, emotional condition. He heals my spiritual health and will heal all else in His will and in His timing.
No matter where I am on the rope, the healing touch or the wounding touch, I learn to bring praise and honor to my God.
LORD, I am humbled no matter where I am on the rope. I am humbled because You are You and You love me. I ask for Your help that I would let go, living for You in all ways. I want to be healed physically, desiring to be strong spiritually even more so. I want to walk in Your will and desire You always by my side, Father. I know You will hold me upright as You fill me with the fruit of Your righteousness through Your Son’s death on the Cross. I love You more than all, Abba Father. Amen.
Photo “Hanging On” – http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=107753&picture=hanging-on
Photo “Twisted Rope Up Close” – http://www.photos-public-domain.com/2012/03/18/twisted-rope-close-up/
Being Woven 