Let Go Already!

 By Allison Flowers

While working for a horse trainer, one day I was tasked  with helping train a young colt. For this particular day of training, the method was to have the horse harnessed up like it was about to pull a carriage. But, instead of an actual carriage I was to act as the carriage and walk behind the horse holding the reins. 

The spirit of Satan (kidding!) got into that young colt, and it took off at a full gallop around the corral. I was jerked forward, tripped, and was being dragged by the horse! I knew all I had to do was let go of the reins, but I determined I would win against this horse.Obviously, that didn't happen, and I ended up finally letting go of the reins. 

There I lay in the dirt, dust flying everywhere, and my hands blistered from the reins. My boss walked up to me after he finished laughing and asked me, "Why didn't you let go of the reins?" I wondered the same thing myself. Did I really believe, in that scenario I could've reclaimed control over a 2,000 pound horse? Instead of letting go, I ended up dirty and bruised.

So, my question to you is, what are you holding on to? What do you refuse to let go of? There are times in life when we know sin is present in our life. Yet, we blatantly ignore the Holy Spirit's prodding, all for the sake of holding on to what we think we can control. You're stubborn and adamant, just as I was with the horse, that you can manage your sin or salvage yourself if things go south. 

 

Take it from me, your sin will control you and leave you bruised and dirty if you refuse to let go of it. Unconfessed sin is prohibiting God from using you to your greatest ability, and in order to be used by God in the greatest way, you must break free from the sin you foolishly cling to. After the purging of sin from your life, God is able to use you for His Kingdom work! 

 

Isaiah's Example 

In the book of Isaiah, God picks a chosen prophet, named Isaiah, to go and speak to the people of Judah and Jerusalem. However, God does four things before calling Isaiah to his ministry. In order to be used by God in the fullest way, you need to recognize the power of God, repent of your sin, remove your sin, and THEN answer God's call!

1. Recognize the Power of God

• Isaiah 6:1-4 NKJV
  
  "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke."

God needed to remind Isaiah of how powerful He is. Therefore, God gave Isaiah a vision that hints at the all consuming glory of God. God desires us to acknowledge His power. When you treat sin casually you're ignoring the very character of God! 

God is holy, perfect, and unable to condone sin. Once you begin to remind yourself that we're interacting with the Creator of the universe, you also become aware of His authority. You have to understand the magnificence of God to become aware of your need for God.

2. Repent of Sin

• Isaiah 6:5 NKJV "So I said: 'Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts'."

In verse 5, Isaiah quickly acknowledged how unfit he was to be in the presence of God. Isaiah, once recognizing how powerful God is, experienced the gravity of his human nature and sin. As the process of repentance and sin removal takes place in your life you need to know right off the bat how great your sin is. When you realize your constant need for God's presence in your life, you begin to put God back in His rightful place. 

God once again becomes your primary focus as you're reminded of how much you need Him to be your Savior. You become humbled at how much God loves and cares for you. When you are humbled you become most useful!

3. Remove Sin

• Isaiah 6:6-7 NKJV "Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: 'Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.' "

In verses 6-7, we read that an angel took a hot coal and touched Isaiah's lips with it. This act symbolized the removal of Isaiah's sin. The sin in Isaiah's heart was purged, made clean. The more changes you make to restore your relationship with Christ, just as the hot coal on Isaiah's lips, your life may burn and sting for a while. You'll understand just how deep the consequences of sin are from the choices you made. Don't despair in those moments.

4. Answer God's Call

• Isaiah 6:9-10 NKJV "Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?' Then I said, 'Here am I. Send me!' And He said, 'Go, and tell this people: Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.'"

After the purging of Isaiah's sin God called Isaiah and used him to prophesy to a nation! God desires to use you for great purposes. Make the necessary changes so you will be able to hear and answer His call for you. God has to work in you before He can work through you.

 

So, let me ask you again. What are you holding on to? What do you refuse to let go of?  

Surrender the things you so desperately hold on to and trade them for a powerful, forgiving Savior who wants nothing more than to love you and use you. God is preparing you for something greater than yourself; He is preparing you for His Call!

 

 Allison Flowers is a young lady who desires to serve the Lord wherever He leads. She lives in the South where you’ll find her reading, playing with her dogs, or going for a hike.