What is Next After Letting Go

"We have to keep letting go, and slowly, but surely, the great full life of God will invade us, penetrating every part. Then Jesus will have complete and effective dominion in us, and people will take notice that we have been with Him." 
“My Utmost for His Highest, Updated Edition" by Oswald Chambers

If I had read the above quote a month ago, I would have closed my heart to the words.  The last seven months have been very dark.  Through circumstances that I will get into later, I had so much built up anger and resentment towards God. Yet, He never left my side.

It was only a few weeks ago when I was with a friend, that I started to slowly come into the light and realize that I needed to let go of that resentment.  My friend said that the darkness I felt was from the devil, and I had to have Jesus help me get that devil out of my life.

“Submit yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 (NLT)

At first, I couldn’t do it.  It was that dark in my soul and my heart.  She started to pray and all the sudden I let out a loud voice, “In Jesus name, devil flee from me.”  I had to let go of the anger and resentment towards God.  I had to. It was killing me.

It didn’t just suddenly disappear right after that prayer. Yes, I immediately felt the pressure that had been on my chest disappear.  Yes, I can say that I let it all go, but there is a moment in each day since, that I realize I have picked it back up.

Every day I must have my connection with Jesus. Every day, I must keep letting go of what is not from God.  For you see, I am now, where I want the great full life of God to invade me completely and totally.  Where there was darkness, I want the light to shine.  Where there was hate, I want love.

Photo by Rene Böhmer on Unsplash

Only Light can drive out darkness. 

This month, our prayer is about what is next after letting go.  The next step is what Oswald Chambers said.  Every day, keep letting go.  Every day, and eventually, God will invade us completely.

Dear Poppa God,

Thank you for your light shining on us.  Thank you that every day we can let go of those things that are not of you.  Please invade us with your presence, Poppa God.  May each of us get to the point that people notice that we have been with you.

In Jesus Name

Amen

Laura Maxson

March Prayer Topic: What are You Holding On To?

Coming home from work, I put my cell phone on the counter in the kitchen that holds many things, keys, multiple electronic devices, mail and the such. There, sitting just to the left of my phone, a medium size brown envelope with my name on it!

"What's this?!" A smile spread across my face. I love getting real mail.

"Oh, yeah.That came for you today," was the reply.

Quickly, I tore into the envelope, to discover this beautiful, thread bound, square book called "Comparison Trap" by Sandra Stanley. As I opened the front cover, what caught my eye was sparkling gold washi tape that held a letter in place.

It was from a dear friend. "Tini," she began. "I started the year with this devotional. I found it truly inspiring and amazing. It changed my perspective in many areas. My copy is all marked up..."

Immediately, I picked up the phone and called her.

She shared with me the story behind how she discovered this 28-day devotional. How it helped her to see familiar verses from the Bible in a new light, and also, how it changed the way she lived her life.

After hanging up the phone, I nestled down into the couch and flipped through the pages of this book. It was full of beautiful pictures, hand lettering, and inspirational quotes. I pulled out my phone, downloaded the companion app and began watching the first video.

Sharing from the Word of God, what Sandra and her husband, Andy, spoke, settled down into my heart. How often do I live my life comparing? Comparing what I have and don't have, qualities, things, people? Not just in my life, but the lives of my family as well?

Andy spoke on Ecclesiastes 4:6, "Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls of toil and chasing after the wind." His question-what are the things in our lives that we grab a hold on so tightly, that we don't allow a hand to be open to God?

His picture was so clear. Two hands, faced down, with fists clenched tightly. Versus, one hand, face down holding on to tranquillity, while the other hand, palm facing up, open-ready to receive whatever God has for us.

As I listened to those words, I could see the things in my life that I held tightly to. Things that would not allow me to freely accept the good and perfect gifts from my Father.

So my questions to you is the same. When you close your eyes, what is it that you see? Things that might be holding you back? Things that can cause a life of discontentment? Things that keep you from accepting His gift so easily and freely? Or maybe it is tranquillity in one hand, and another ready to receive from God.

What are you holding on to?

February Prayer Topic: To Love

This month the topic of how "to love" seemed like somewhat an obvious topic. But for some reason, every time I'd sit down to think about what to write... Nothing.

How hard can it be, to think of how we can love others? 

Tonight, I was on the phone with a my dear sister-in-love and we were talking about this dilemma. What should this month's topic be, what should we write about, being somewhat uninspired.

That conversation didn't seem to go much further. So, we continued on to other things. I was sharing with her about how the day went.

I smiled, thinking over the events of the day as I chit-chatted with her about it. I thought about all the texts from family and friends that popped up on my phone,  funny voicemail messages, my co-worker who have become like family, getting off work early and just spending some unexpected family time together. 

Thinking back, I really felt loved. It was a perfect day. 

But, is this really love?

Tonight. In the town of Loveland, Colorado; there is a group of teenage girls and their prayer leader who are spending their Friday night volunteering at "Night to Shine."

Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom night experience, centered on God’s love, for people with special needs ages 14 and older. On one night, February 9, 2018, more than 500 churches from around the world will come together to host Night to Shine for approximately 90,000 honored guests through the support of 175,000 volunteers!

Can you just picture it, 6 junior and seniors girls with their prayer leader, taking their own time, their Friday night after a long week of school, sports, and work; volunteering for an event that isn't for them?

Is this love?

To both questions, I say "Yes." 

In these instances, others had the opportunity to express their love. Love to a friend, daughter, sister, wife,  and for these girls-90,000 random strangers.

So my problem isn't really not having anything to write about when it comes to love. It's slowing down and reflecting on my life and seeing how I am loved!

God has so blessed my life full of these things. I just needed to slow down and look at my life through His eyes. 

In His word, He promises to give us life, life more abundant (John 10:10), because He is good. But more then that-it's because God is Love.

This month I pray that you take the time to slow down. Look around. Regardless of what is going on in your life, what blessing or challenges you may be facing, He wants you to have that life more abundant, a life filled with Love. 

So...
Stop 
Look 
And know you will find Love.

Photo by Evan Kirby on Unsplash

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:4-13

~kartini r. maxson

Our Word for 2018

           At the beginning of each year, we prayed about the word that will help to define the year.  This year is no exception.  What word will God give you to help you define 2018? 

            For me, the word came early in December.  Then it popped back up in a God way the other day while I was listening to music.  My word for my 2018 is perseverance.  In looking at the definition, I realized how appropriate this word is for me during this time.

The definition in Google is the following.  This year will be, for me to be steadfast in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. This is something I need in a lot of areas in my life, personally and professionally.  How it will manifest itself in my life, I am going to enjoy finding out.

Each year, I have an expectation of what the word will mean for my life.  Yet, I am sure that God is shaking His head at me and just saying, “Laura, you have no idea what I will show you, but soon, you will see.”

            This year, I have made resolutions, and goals, like most of us do.  I don’t want to just sit back and watch my life not happen in front of my eyes.  Yet, there are areas that I do need to be steadfast, because I see the difficulties.  Sometimes they seem insurmountable.

            God will teach me to persevere with Him.  At least, that is what I need for Him to do.  I am not patient, and if something doesn’t go according to how I plan, I give up, or blame God, myself, whoever for it not going how I thought it would go.

            This year, it appears, that God wants me to remember that nothing is impossible for him.  His love is steadfast.  His is perseverance.  Especially, when it comes to me.  I know that I can be difficult at times, but I am so grateful that He is perseverance.

            I get in my own way sometimes.  There are times that I try and move ahead of God, and then I wonder why things are difficult or there are “delays” in achieving success.  When, actually, it is not delayed by God’s timing, and I cause it to be more difficult.

            I pray that all of you find your word for the year.  Pray this month that God will reveal it to you.  It will come, and you will know that it is for you.  Find your word.

            This is year four that we have been doing this.  Every January, we pray for our word for the year.  I wrote my down, and I see a pattern of growth in God, and in my self.

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My words by year:

2015 – Trust

2016 – Confidence

2017 – Openness

2018 - Perseverance

Dear Lord, I pray for each person reading this blog.  May they find their word for the year.  You want to walk beside each one of us, if only we will let you.  No matter what has happened or what we have done. You have never stopped loving us.  As this new year begins, I pray a revival in our hearts. 

In Your name, Amen

Laura Maxson