Holding On
Holding On
Sometimes God shows me something by putting it in front of my face over and over again. Do you ever have that happen? I hear it said in a sermon. It surfaces in my morning quiet time. Next, I hear a friend share about it. It becomes a recurring theme in my thought process. Before I know it, I am struggling with something and that recurring theme pops in my mind – wait! it doesn’t just pop in my mind, the Holy spirit reminds me - and I realize that is my answer. God had provided the answer – even before the struggle existed. He is amazing like that! I believe that God brings things into my life because He wants me to share them with you. Today’s post will mean something different to each person who reads it. I wonder what God has today specifically for you? That I do not know – but what I do know is that He wants each of us to ask ourselves, “What are we holding on to?”
You know, before we accepted Jesus as our Savior we were holding on to our sin. We were a part of the world and we were holding on to worldly things. Then we heard the gospel. We learned about this perfect Heavenly Father – who sent His perfect Son – Who lived a perfect life – and became the perfect sacrifice for our sins. We realized that God was offering us grace – amazing grace. This grace was a free gift that He had for us. We did not have to earn it – we only had to receive it. But…we could not receive this gift because our hands were already full. So in order to receive this free gift of salvation we had to set down what we were already holding on to. Can you envision that? We knelt before God and we laid down our sin, we surrendered our self and we agreed to receive His precious gift by inviting Jesus into our hearts.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8
Every day as we live our life we find ourselves back in that same position. God has a gift for us – but our hands are full…so full. So…we struggle…we hold on. As we struggle…we need to learn to ask ourselves what it is that we are holding on to. Are we holding on to our fears, our disappointments, our success, our circumstances, our battles, our relationships, our failures, our hurts, our illness, our anger, our wants, our mistakes, our loneliness, our dreams, our habits, our career, our control issues, our comparisons, our bitterness, our sin, our weaknesses, our guilt, our self and/or on and on and on? What are we holding on to today? I challenge you to answer that question and be bold enough to say it out loud.
God promises in Jeremiah 29:11 that He has a plan for us – but we cannot receive it if we are holding on to our fear and insecurity and unbelief that we are able to do all things through Christ who gives us strength. (Philippians 4:13)
God promises in Matthew 11:28-29 that when we grow weary or burdened we can come to Him and He will give us rest, relief. But to receive His rest we must let go of the burden we are holding on to.
God promises in Philippians 4:19 to supply all of our needs. He will take care of us. Yet, we hold on to fear and worry and doubt – so we cannot receive His gift of security.
And Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you.” Peace – peace that passes all understanding is a gift – when we trust in the Lord. But we cannot hold on to our fear and our dread and our control and receive this gift of peace.
What are you holding on to? Let’s stop! Let’s lay it all down at the foot of the cross. Let’s let it go. The only thing worth holding on to is the One who proved He is trustworthy. He came for us. He died for us. He lives for us. He waits for us.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
Let us be found holding on to Jesus like never before. Today’s troubles will pass away. In Romans 8:18 Paul – who had suffered much - says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
I am holding on to Jesus because I Peter 1:3-9 says…
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith – the salvation of your souls.”
No matter what my circumstances may be, I am holding on to Jesus…trusting - believing – rejoicing – for all He had done and all that is to come!
(You know I am not sure why God called me to write this blog - but I am so thankful that you take the time to read it. Please feel free to share it with others. Click "like". Share it on social media by clicking an icon below. To subscribe - copy this link into your browswer - http://masterwhatmatters.org/subscribe/#sthash.1wPbFDIC.dpbs. I also have a Facebook page "Pam Pegram" I would love for you to like. It's a great way to stay connected and focused on what truly matters.)