"Letting Go"
Part 3 of "The Path for Healing and Redemption"
17For the Lord says, “I was angry with them because of their sin and greed, and so I disciplined them. But they were stubborn and kept on going their own way. 18 I have seen how they acted, but I will heal them. I will lead them and help them, and I will comfort those who mourn.” – Isaiah 57:17-18 (GNT)
12 I am surrounded by many troubles— too many to count! My sins have caught up with me, and I can no longer see; they are more than the hairs of my head, and I have lost my courage. 3 Save me, Lord! Help me now! – Psalm 40:12-13 (GNT)
28 “Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke and put it on you, and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest. 30 For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30 (GNT)
The BIG Idea:
The 3rd step of the Path to healing and redemption will lead us to consciously choose to commit all our lives and will to the care and control of Christ Jesus. Pride, guilt, fear, worry, and doubt are among the leading causes as to why most people will not give Christ control in their lives. When we surrender to Christ, we experience freedom. Freedom is choosing who or what controls us. When we give our lives to Christ Jesus, He sets us free!
The First Step to R-E-C-O-V-E-R-Y:
REALIZE I am not God. I admit I am powerless to control my tendencies to do the wrong thing and my life is unmanageable. Our “sin nature” is the cause of our challenge(s).
The Second Step to R-E-C-O-V-E-R-Y:
EARNESTLY believe that God exists, that you matter to God, and that God has the power to help you recover. It is important for us to acknowledge God exists, to understand the true character of God, and to accept God’s offer to help me. We must plug into the power of God. We must believe and receive.
The Third Step to R-E-C-O-V-E-R-Y:
CONSCIOUSLY choose to commit all my life and will to the care and control of Christ.
What may keep me from taking this step?
No one is respected unless he is humble; arrogant people are on the way to ruin. – Proverbs 18:12 (GNT)
I am surrounded by many troubles -- too many to count! My sins have caught up with me, and I can no longer see; they are more than the hairs of my head, and I have lost my courage. – Psalm 40:12 (GNT)
Do you gain anything if you win the whole world but lose your life? Of course not! – Mark 8:36 (GNT)
Leave all your worries with Him, because He cares for you. – I Peter 5:7 (GNT)
And so I am sure that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it on until it is finished on the Day of Christ Jesus. – Philippians 1:6 (GNT)
“It was because you do not have enough faith,” answered Jesus. “I assure you that if you have faith as big as a mustard seed, you can say to this hill, ‘Go from here to there!’ and it will go. You could do anything!” – Matthew 17:20 (GNT)
How do I take this step of choosing to commit all my life and will to the care and control of Christ Jesus?
They answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” – Acts 16:31 (GNT)
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the faith and correcting error, for resetting the direction of a man’s life, and training him in good living. – II Timothy 3:16 (Phillips)
How I love to do Your will, my God! I keep Your teaching in my heart. – Psalm 40:8 (GNT)
12 I know what it is to be in need and what it is to have more than enough. I have learned this secret, so that anywhere, at any time, I am content, whether I am full or hungry, whether I have too much or too little. 13 I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me. – Philippians 4:12-13 (GNT)
Questions for Reflection:
What are some of the most common things that may keep you from choosing to commit all your life and will to the care and control of Christ?
Which one of these do you identify as the primary factor that prevents you from committing your life to Christ?
How do we take the step of choosing to commit all our lives and wills to the care and control of Christ Jesus?
12 I am surrounded by many troubles— too many to count! My sins have caught up with me, and I can no longer see; they are more than the hairs of my head, and I have lost my courage. 3 Save me, Lord! Help me now! – Psalm 40:12-13 (GNT)
28 “Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke and put it on you, and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest. 30 For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30 (GNT)
The BIG Idea:
The 3rd step of the Path to healing and redemption will lead us to consciously choose to commit all our lives and will to the care and control of Christ Jesus. Pride, guilt, fear, worry, and doubt are among the leading causes as to why most people will not give Christ control in their lives. When we surrender to Christ, we experience freedom. Freedom is choosing who or what controls us. When we give our lives to Christ Jesus, He sets us free!
The First Step to R-E-C-O-V-E-R-Y:
REALIZE I am not God. I admit I am powerless to control my tendencies to do the wrong thing and my life is unmanageable. Our “sin nature” is the cause of our challenge(s).
The Second Step to R-E-C-O-V-E-R-Y:
EARNESTLY believe that God exists, that you matter to God, and that God has the power to help you recover. It is important for us to acknowledge God exists, to understand the true character of God, and to accept God’s offer to help me. We must plug into the power of God. We must believe and receive.
The Third Step to R-E-C-O-V-E-R-Y:
CONSCIOUSLY choose to commit all my life and will to the care and control of Christ.
What may keep me from taking this step?
- PRIDE (I do not want to admit that I need help.)
No one is respected unless he is humble; arrogant people are on the way to ruin. – Proverbs 18:12 (GNT)
- GUILT (I’m ashamed to ask for God’s help.)
I am surrounded by many troubles -- too many to count! My sins have caught up with me, and I can no longer see; they are more than the hairs of my head, and I have lost my courage. – Psalm 40:12 (GNT)
- FEAR (I’m afraid of what I’d have to ‘give up.’)
Do you gain anything if you win the whole world but lose your life? Of course not! – Mark 8:36 (GNT)
- WORRY (I confuse the decision phase with the problem-solving phase.)
Leave all your worries with Him, because He cares for you. – I Peter 5:7 (GNT)
And so I am sure that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it on until it is finished on the Day of Christ Jesus. – Philippians 1:6 (GNT)
- DOUBT (My faith seems so small.)
“It was because you do not have enough faith,” answered Jesus. “I assure you that if you have faith as big as a mustard seed, you can say to this hill, ‘Go from here to there!’ and it will go. You could do anything!” – Matthew 17:20 (GNT)
How do I take this step of choosing to commit all my life and will to the care and control of Christ Jesus?
- I accept Jesus – the Son of God- as my Savior.
They answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” – Acts 16:31 (GNT)
- I accept God’s Word as my standard.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the faith and correcting error, for resetting the direction of a man’s life, and training him in good living. – II Timothy 3:16 (Phillips)
- I accept God’s Will as my strategy.
How I love to do Your will, my God! I keep Your teaching in my heart. – Psalm 40:8 (GNT)
- I accept God’s Power as my strength.
12 I know what it is to be in need and what it is to have more than enough. I have learned this secret, so that anywhere, at any time, I am content, whether I am full or hungry, whether I have too much or too little. 13 I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me. – Philippians 4:12-13 (GNT)
Questions for Reflection:
What are some of the most common things that may keep you from choosing to commit all your life and will to the care and control of Christ?
Which one of these do you identify as the primary factor that prevents you from committing your life to Christ?
How do we take the step of choosing to commit all our lives and wills to the care and control of Christ Jesus?