Each New Year, I choose a word. The word that’s been laid on my heart this year is “Release”.
2023 has brought me so much joy! Joy with watching my boys become young men, the joy of finding love again and entering into a new marriage, the joy of blending a family, the joy of two grandsons, the joy of ministry…..but there is something that holds me back from fully embracing the joy…
I once met a woman who told me that she saw my life as a jar full of butterflies. The butterflies are trapped inside of this jar and the lid is my past keeping it closed. She reminded me that God’s blessings for my life can only happen if I remove the pain of the past and allow the lid to open. Only then will I have the ability to allow myself the freedom to let God’s plan be unveiled for my life.
That stuck with me as I realize my thoughts and sometimes my days are held captive by the pain of the past. The things that happened are in the past and God TELLS US not to ponder on such things. Let’s be honest- letting go is hard. We hold onto it because after all “it wasn’t fair”…. What this person did to me (or you) wasn’t fair and it just hurts so much. The lies and attacks keep coming at us like arrows. Your thoughts become held captive by this idea that we need to hold on to this pain. This idea that their words and actions have a place in your life. It’s consuming.
But guess what? The things of the past have no value compared to what God is waiting to do when you allow HIM to take the place of where the past dwells inside of you.
I will enter 2024 with the word “RELEASE” written on my heart. It’s time to stop allowing the past hurt, anger, resentment, and pain take up residence in my life. It’s time to RELEASE it all and be FREE. God has started something NEW inside of me and inside of you. Isaiah 43:18-19
I’m ready to start using my energy on God’s plan for my future rather than dwell in the past.
…I don’t live there anymore.
