The (HE)ART of Letting Go

(originally written July 4, 2011)

It is not easy to let go. It gets even more difficult when it requires you to release your grip over the very thing that occupies a big space in your heart – something (or someone) you hold so dear and have waited for all your life.

A man named Abraham knew this very well. He had a son: Isaac, the fulfillment of God’s promise - a miracle, a special gift! Yet, the Lord once asked Abraham to offer Isaac to Him as a sacrifice. The Bible (story in Genesis 22:1-19) tells us that the man obeyed immediately without question. Abraham reasoned that even if he would offer Isaac, God could bring him back to life.

But I feel like something is missing here: the story didn’t include a description of Abraham’s feelings. Did Abraham have mixed emotions over what God asked him to do? Did he feel sad? Afraid? Confused? Hesitant? Uncertain? Did he struggle to let go?

I think the absence of the emotional aspect of Abraham’s story is a message in itself. Obedience may demand taking your attention away from your feelings and directing it towards the character and power of God.

Abraham’s faith brought his feet to the mountain, where he would sacrifice his most cherished gift. He was so certain that God would come through for him. This certainty gave him the courage to obey.

It is lack of faith that makes letting go difficult. Unbelief teaches you to hold on too tightly to something or someone because the future is so scarily uncertain. Lack of faith and unbelief operate only on what is seen and felt. And most often, what is visible only concerns the “here and now” and what you feel keeps you from seeing, by faith, the future and endless possibilities.

Letting go becomes an act of worship when the motivation is to obey God and yield to His way. It means willingly placing anything at the altar because only God matters and you love Him above all. It is NOT dwelling on what you will sacrifice or give up. Doing so will definitely make you very emotional – to your disadvantage. The focus should be on who God is. In Abraham’s case, he experienced the reality of God as a faithful provider, at just the right place and time.

The heart of letting go is unwavering faith in God, His character and power. You let go and yes, you may feel the pain of loss for a moment. But don’t dwell on your emotions. You let go but you never give up hope in a God who is worthy of our complete trust. Abraham’s hope was shining so brightly. It was a hope fulfilled because he didn't lose Isaac and he pleased God by his worshipful obedience. By faith, he did not withhold something he loved so much from God. His hope sprang from his experiences of God’s faithfulness. His faith was based on God's character and power to keep His promises!

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for He who promised is faithful!” Hebrews 10:23

On Making Decisions

(originally written on August 6, 2011)

I see myself as more of a planner and less of a risk-taker. My steps are often calculated. I have a habit of thoroughly figuring things out and weighing my options very well before making a decision. I prefer certainty and clarity over possibilities.

These may sound like wise things to do and nothing is wrong. But as I take time to examine what’s in my heart that causes me to be overly-cautious, I see glimpses of fear and lack of faith.

When making decisions, I have been trained to pray, seek God through His word, and listen to counsel of people who love God. Recently, God has been giving me fresh insights from already classic principles about decision-making and obedience. Let me share them with you:

• “It is God who works in us to make us willing and able to obey Him” – Philippians 2:13. As we yield to God, He puts the right decision in our hearts and enables us to move forward. He is both powerful and loving – He can and will keep us in His will.

• “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105. Dive deep into the Word of God. It has all the answers.

• Thinking about deciding is not the same as actually making a decision. The latter requires faith that translates to action. “…faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:1

•  Sometimes, we just have to stop figuring things out and simply start making brave steps with the courage God gives. Always leave a big room for God to amaze us!

• Stay close to God. Any moment, He can introduce a twist. It’s important that we stay glued to His moves. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9

• Never hold on to something too tightly, except on God who always gives us a reason to hope.

• Come to God with open hands and be ready when He chooses to rearrange, take or change what we have in our hands. It will always be for our best interest.

• Obedience always brings a blessing – far more than what we can ask or imagine!

• Decisions and actions done to obey and please God will always give peace. Even if we have taken a big risk and made a difficult choice, God’s peace will flood our hearts. It transcends all understanding and any other feelings.

• “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him” Psalm 37:7. The Lord makes everything beautiful in His time. Sometimes, it will take long – wait patiently. Other times, we will need to catch the “kairos” or God’s opportune time – obey immediately. The key is BEING STILL BEFORE GOD, so we will know.

And if you would ask me what’s best about going through a process of discernment and decision-making? It offers plenty of sweet time with God and allows us to know God more and experience His love like never before! :)

"Love Affair" with Words

Note: "Love Affair" here means "something special - in a good way" - originally written on September 3, 2011

Words are one of my favorite gifts from God. I love reading, writing and conversing with people. There’s something so powerful about hearing, seeing or putting words together. They can either make or break people:

• A letter can either restore or end a relationship
• A conversation can either launch a destiny or kill a dream
• A book can either change a life or deceive a wondering mind
• A text message can either ease a worry or make one worry
• An advice can either give courage or discourage
• An email can either brighten up a gloomy day or turn a bright day gloomy
• A blog entry can either encourage a downcast soul or cause sadness
• A statement can either stop someone from getting ahead of God or push a person to disobey
• Many more :)

Countless times, I have been guilty of not being a good steward of this gift. Intentionally or not, I have hurt, discouraged, put down, or made some people angry because of my words. It pains me that in these situations, God is most sad.

We cannot underestimate the importance of using words wisely and well. Once said, we can no longer take them back. The Bible says that “out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks”  (Matthew 12:34)– so it is important to always let God search our hearts and cleanse it so that what comes out of it will be clean.

“Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, EACH WORD IS A GIFT.” Ephesians 4:29, The Message

Dear Lord, I am sorry for the many times my words are not pleasing to You and beneficial to others. Cleanse my heart and help shape my words as gifts –that by Your ever-sufficient grace, I will learn to say (and write) only those which will help, encourage and build others up. May my words always put a smile on Your face.

Aside from this important thing about words in relationships, I think I have a "love affair" with words in my personal journey. I always find it beneficial to take time to write down my thoughts and organize them with the help of words. I love turning my emotions into poetry or my random thoughts into a blog entry. This helps me sort things out. I keep a journal of my prayers and read the entries every now and then. God never fails to strengthen me and re-ignite my faith each time I do so.

And if you'll ask me what I love most about words, it's this: God uses His written Word to encourage us, right our wrongs, transform us, comfort us, give us hope, speak a promise, and birth a dream in our hearts.

Thank You Lord for Your beautiful gift of words! :)

Hopeful Heart. Open Hands. Upward Gaze.

Hopeful HEART

Morning light bursts forth,

a new day dawns;

Glimpses of the promise

caught from the horizon.

Open HANDS

A once tight hold,

clasping no more;

HIS firm grip

shows how to let go.

Upward GAZE

Source of strength,

fountain of joy;

Serenely sweet,

I look to HIM. I’m whole.

SPRING

Colors greet you,

Birds sing;

It signals a start,

A fresh beginning.

Say goodbye to winter,

It’s cold no more;

Warmth is here and near

And new hope for what’s in store.

Flowers bloom,

What fragrance they bring!

Oh you’d love to walk

On a sweet, sweet morning.

Welcome, spring! :)