There are so many people out there struggling to move forward and leave their past behind. Whether it's a bad habit, or an unhealthy relationship, it's never easy to leave the things you're used to and start again. I struggled with moving forward for a while, but can truly say that it's worth the journey. In order to reach the place that God has for you, you HAVE to be honest with yourself. It's necessary that you evaluate who and what you've allowed in your life, and determine if they're pushing you closer to God, or pulling you away. Just like trees have to let go of their leaves when the seasons change, we have to let go of some of the things we're attached to when we're changing. Roots of jealousy, unforgiveness, fear, or worry cannot remain in our lives if we want to develop into the person God has created us to be. Mark 9:43 says:
43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. [44] [a] 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. [46] [b] 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where“‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’[c].
So many times I come across people who say they're Christians, but live life to please their sinful selves. Instead of allowing God to shape their mentalities, they leave it to their friends, music, and whatever else to determine what's right and wrong. They don't read their bibles, or make an intentional effort to stay close to God, and as a result, they're blown around like the wind when their faith is tested. There's a song that sings "If your soul's not anchored in Jesus, you will SURELY drift away," and it's so true. If you have people or things in your life that are constantly leading you to sin, the bible tells us to cut them off. It's better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with no friends, than have 100 friends and be thrown into hell. Things start to get difficult when you have let go and move forward, but trust that whenever God asks you to do something hard, it's only going to make things better.
There have been plenty of times in my life, that instead of getting rid of toxic people, I took a break from them. I kept the door open just in case things miraculously changed, and because of this, it made it very easy to go back when opportunities presented themselves. Instead of being honest with myself and looking at the big picture, I kept my eyes on how I felt instead of focusing on how God felt. I continued to feed relationships when they should've been dying, and because of this, I wasn't even close to becoming the person God had called me to be. I had to understand that if I kept turning around, I would never move forward. I realized that the freedom God offered was free, but I HAD to put in effort to maintain it. It's just like with weight loss. A person has to stay close to the things that push them towards their goal in order to maintain their progress. It doesn't matter how much weight they lose, if they neglect their good habits, they'll end up right back where they started. In the same way, it's not enough to just seek God on the occasion that you're struggling, but it has to be a constant effort. It's the enemy's job to distract you from your purpose, and when you don't spend time with God, it ALWAYS leaves room for him to get his foot in the door of your life. Your freedom is free, but you MUST put in effort to maintain it. The bible says RESIST the devil and he will flee (James 4:7), so when he speaks to you, it's your job to shut him up. Breakthrough doesn't come when you entertain the enemy's thoughts, but when you fight back. Once you make the decision to be done with the things that pull you down, you have to stand your ground. God has given us His word as a weapon, and it's during those times of temptation that we're supposed to use it. That's why knowing scripture is so important. Learn it, fight back, and watch God back up what He says. He is a healer, and a deliverer, and if you call on Him, He will never leave you empty. He will ALWAYS be there during difficult times, to pick you up when you've fallen.
My hard times were what pushed me closer to God, and without them, I don't think I'd be where I am today. When you're struggling, and wonder why things are happening, just remember that ALL things work together for your good (Romans 8:28). You may not understand it now, but God will reveal it in the future, and you'll be blown away. My obedience has been the piece to so many people's puzzles, and often times I ask myself "If I wouldn't have trusted God, what would my life look like?" Realize that times will get tough when you're in the process of moving forward, but God needs your obedience so that He can use you. One of my favorite quotes by Joyce Meyer says "Whenever God asks you to do something hard, it's only going to make things better," and I promise it's true. Make an intentional effort to become who you were created to be, and you'll set the world on fire.
Have a great week, beautiful people :)
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