An infant clings to their parent, finding security, provision, comfort and meaning in that relationship. In a perfect world the relationship should never be spoiled. However we live in an imperfect world and we are imperfect people.
Along the way, as the child grows, they discover that the parent has different moods, makes demands of the child, is not always reliable, puts other relationships ahead of the child and doesn’t always provide what the child wants. And as a child grows they begin to see the human flaws in the parents who they once relied on totally.
As those things happen the child has to look inside to find consolation and meaning and a means of navigating a world that is not ideal. Each of us has made that journey in some way, whether we remember doing so or not. And each of us has been drawn to our own coping techniques. We may well have adapted our life management program over time, as we have grown, copied others and faced increasing challenges along the way.
Some people withdraw from reality into their own fantasy thoughts, while others become experts at observing the world and trying to control it. Some become self-sufficient, aiming not to need people, while others become addicted to friendships. Some aim to be popular and loved, while others withdraw and avoid social contact. Each one tends to play toward their strengths, such as mind, emotion, physical capabilities, relationship skills, manipulation skills and so on.
By the time we are hearing the gospel and discovering our need for Christ we have likely already developed our own grip on life and our own way of engaging with society. We will have our own navigation process in hand, even if it’s not a very good one. We will look inside ourself and draw out from within us the principles that keep us going.
Most of the things we have developed are not consistent with abandoning ourselves on one who loves us completely and is absolutely faithful and trustworthy. Whatever we developed of our own style was built because we didn’t feel we had that kind of relationship.
So now we find ourselves being invited by God to enter into the most wonderful intimate relationship with a loving Heavenly Father, while we have developed strong, self-determined ways of navigating life. We have to let go of the things we have relied on for our ‘grown up’ existence in order to fully enjoy the wonders of the relationship God offers.
Sadly, I think most Christians don’t do well at letting go.
The objective is to Let Go of our own home-made survival skills and Let God be God and let God take the wonderful place He can and will take if only we will let Him.
So we meet intellectual Christians, wanting everything to be explainable, with its proof text Bible verses and so on. And we meet manipulative Christians, and falsely fake “I want to be your friend” Christians, as well as “Pity poor me” Christians. We meet loner Christians, and insecure Christians, and shallow ‘I want to be in the Spotlight’ Christians.
There are all kinds of Christians, just as there are all kinds of people in the wider community. Just because Christians have found Christ as their Saviour does not mean they have learned to let God have His way in their life and rebuild them to the person they were created to be.
God loves you, just the way you are, and He wants to transform you from the inside out. He has wonderful plans for you. Your challenge is to Let Go and Let God do wonderful things inside you.
“I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn you toward me” Jeremiah 31:3
“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind” Romans 12:2
“I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for your good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
We are to walk with the Lord, not according to our own life navigation. In the Book of Revelation those who kept themselves from evil were described as walking with the Lord.
“Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.” Revelation 3:4
We also see Jesus as our Good Shepherd, which means we, His sheep, walk along with Him, constantly led by Him.
“The Lord is my shepherd” Psalm 23:3
“I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.” John 10:14
“My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” John 10:27
You can’t follow the Lord and go your own way at the same time. You can’t learn Christ’s humility and walk in pride. You can’t learn spiritual warfare and cower in your timidity. You can’t learn to bless others while walking in your selfishness. You can’t learn truth that sets you free while you cling to your own ideas. You can’t become new while you refuse to change or you cling to your old ways.
Your new life in Christ calls you to Let Go of your own self-preservation techniques, and your personally preferred way of encountering life. God wants you transformed, not informed. He wants you new, not just freshly painted. God wants to give you a new heart, not just a new addition to your old life.
God wants you to be a new creation, not a renovation.
“Neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.” Galatians 6:15
God doesn’t ask you to Let Go of your old life and have no foundation. He is your foundation and His love is your new security. As you allow God to embrace you and to assure You of His wonderful care for you, you can safely Let Go of all you have made yourself into and Let God transform you.
Imagine being free from the charade you have to put on every day. Imagine being free from your fears and insecurities. Imagine being free from having to be your own security guard and your own navigator in uncertain waters. Imagine being free from your self-made solutions and having some really wonderful new things built into your life.
My friends, I urge you, for your sake and the sake of the Kingdom of God, Let Go, and Let God transform you.
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