Let Go!

 “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” 

Luke 9:25 (NIV)

   Trying to capture a monkey is not at the top of my bucket list, but I could not put down an article detailing a unique way to catch monkeys alive and unharmed in the jungle so they could be delivered to zoos. Trappers had tried several different devices, including nets. But they were concerned that the small animals could be hurt if they became entangled in the webbing, so they devised a clever solution.

    The trappers built several small boxes and placed a banana inside each one. Each box was then nailed shut, but not before a hole was drilled on one side, just large enough for a monkey to reach in with its hand. The boxes were then placed on the ground around trees and left there.

   Once the trappers left, the monkeys quickly converged to examine the boxes. Finding a banana in each one, they immediately reached in to pull it out. They tugged and pulled on the banana, but it wouldn’t budge. The opening was just big enough for a little hand to reach in, but not for a little hand clinging tightly to a banana to come out.

   As soon as the trappers returned, the monkeys immediately tried to flee, but they could not. The reason? They would not let go of the bananas! They would scream and screech and twist and pull as they attempted to escape. Every monkey simply had to do one thing: let go of the banana . . . but they refused to do so and were captured.

    I see myself in that article. That box represents this world that we live in. And it’s not a banana that I want to hold on to with all my strength. It’s being in physical shape, or being wealthy, or owning a bigger home, or a newer car, or a more important career. It is power, and prestige, and prominence in the community.

    And all the while, Jesus is calling to me, “Let go. It is nothing compared to what I have to offer you. It’s a trap!” but I keep holding on and pulling and tugging as I convince myself that happiness exists when I have a firm grip on all those earthly things.

   Consider this: if the trappers did not come back and the monkey continued to hold on to the banana, he would soon find that it would begin to spoil and rot, and would not be anything that he would even consider eating. That is, unless he is eaten first by the wild animals around him as he holds on to nothing. So it is with me and my grip on all the empty promises of this world. 

    Holding on to what is temporary and worthless compared to that which is eternal and priceless will never have a good outcome. Just as there is a part of us that wants to yell, “Let go of the banana!” after reading the article, even more so, the Lord is prompting us to let go of the fake possessions here on earth and focus on the precious treasures He has prepared for us in heaven.

    Father, forgive me for focusing on the temporary things of this world instead of what you are offering me: life for eternity with you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• What are you holding on to in your life because you consider it to be important?

• How does it compare to what Jesus is offering you?

Apply

• Make a list of everything in this world that you consider most important in your life.

• Next to each entry, journal what Jesus offers you instead, and a Scripture that speaks to His offer.

Power

• Luke 9:25 (NIV) “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?”

• I John 2:15 (NIV) “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

• Colossians 3:2 (NIV) “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.”

 

In the Morning, Lord? But It's Too Early!

 “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.”

Psalm 5:3 (NIV)

   When my children were small, I had absolutely no time to myself. From the moment they woke up until they fell asleep at night, I heard “Mom. Mom. Mom. Mom” from three kids ages 5, 3, and almost 1. There is an old saying that having children is like being pecked to death by a chicken. I am convinced that whoever said that had three kids like mine. 

    I could not even take a soaking bubble bath without three little ones watching me and asking for a sandwich, a puppy, a drink of water, or another brother. I would give up on the bubble bath and pray “Lord give me strength – and patience – and more of both!” as I made sandwiches, got each one a drink, and explained - again - why they were not getting another brother or a puppy. There did not seem to be one minute, much less 30, that I could spend reading my Bible and in prayer.

   That is. until one day, when I was whining to the Lord that I just couldn’t fit time with Him into my “busy” schedule, and He suggested to my heart the unthinkable: get up at 5 a.m. every morning for quiet time with Him. What?! Are you kidding me?

   At first, my mind and body refused to consider such a radical idea, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized He was right. If I truly wanted to have any time alone with the Lord, it would have to be early in the morning, before anyone was awake.

   Can I be honest with you? The first week, I got up with an attitude. “This had better be good,” I would mumble to the Lord. Then I would make a cup of hot tea, grab my Bible, an ink pen, and paper, and curl up in our oversized recliner in the living room. And wait on the Lord. And wait. And wait. Then something happened.

   I began to sense that the Lord was waiting on me. I was physically up early each morning to be with Him, but spiritually I was still asleep. So I flipped my Bible open to Psalms, and it fell on chapter 5, verse 3: “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.”

   Not only was the Lord waiting to hear my voice, but He wanted to hear what my day was all about! Just as David had done countless times, I, too, should have been starting my day by sharing with God everything going on in my life and then quietly waiting on His answers. I was too busy grouching about getting up early to meet the Creator of the Universe! Shame on me.

   Now I truly know that we can’t all get up at 5 a.m. to spend time with the Lord. Different jobs and hours can make that almost impossible. But I would encourage you to begin your day – whether it’s at 11 p.m. or 3 a.m. or 5 a.m. – by talking with the King of Kings. Praise Him for his love and mercy. Share what is on your mind. Lay your requests before Him, and allow Him to speak to your heart. Quietly listen for His nudging. He will never disappoint.

   The problems you face before your prayer time may still be there after you talk with the Lord. But you will gain strength and courage to face each one just by knowing He listens and answers – even early in the morning.

    Father, forgive me for making excuses for not seeking you before my day begins. May I never forget to begin my day with you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• What are some of the excuses you have made for not spending time with the Lord before your day begins?

• Are any of those excuses more important than a few minutes of prayer?

Apply

• For one week, set your alarm and get up 30 minutes early to meet with the Lord. Make a list of activities and possible problems for each day and lay them down at the Cross.

• Ask God to speak to your heart. Journal His answers and thank Him for His faithfulness.

            Consider setting aside time for the Lord as your #1 priority.

Power

• Psalm 5:3 (NIV) “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.”

• Mark 1:35 (NIV) “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”

• Psalm 63:1 (NIV) “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”

 

The Voice of the Father

 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

John 10:27 (NIV) 

    The high school tennis match was intense and fierce. Both girls were obviously competitors, but I noticed that one appeared to slowly but firmly begin to dominate the other. Encouragement from the large crowd was all around, the voices loud and strong. Emotions were being offered up with each serve, each return, each miss. And then I heard his voice.

   It had a deep, rich sound - but I noticed something else. The owner of the voice was confident, calming, and quietly encouraging in what he was saying. “You are doing fine. You are strong. She is good, but wait until she sees your backhand and your serve. Take a deep breath. You are going to be okay.” That’s when I saw the owner of the voice.

    Words spoken softly by a father, meant only for the girl who was struggling on the court to hear:  his daughter. And hear she did. I watched her do exactly what he said. She paused, took a deep breath, and nodded ever so slightly as if to say, “I heard you. Thank you.” 

   I couldn’t help but watch the father. He was sitting in a lawn chair a few feet away from his daughter, but he was not leaning forward, stressing at her every move on the tennis court. Instead, he was relaxed, calm, and confident in what she could do. 

    He knew that his daughter had panicked and was struggling to focus on her skills, training, and ability. And he was right. As the girl listened to her father’s voice, she regained her composure and her confidence and ended up beating the other girl to win that set, the next ones,  the match, and the tournament. She knew her father’s voice. She had heard it before. She knew he spoke the truth and that he could always be trusted to lead her in the right way. 

    My heart instantly focused on God’s voice. He is never panicked, never worried, never afraid, and never rushed. Never once has God spoken to my heart to “hurry this second and do what I say or something bad will happen!” He is never wrong and has had to correct His directions for me on the journey He has me on. Not once. 

    The world, on the other hand, is full of opinions and worries and fears and bad advice.  People - sometimes even friends - will steer you toward the opposite of God’s plan for you.  And the only way you will know 100% what you should do is to listen to the voice of the Father. How will you recognize His voice in the loud craziness of this world? By being in His Word daily. By talking to Him in prayer. By asking Christian prayer warriors to hold you accountable. By ignoring the advice of the world that you can do whatever you want to do.

    The voices all around us are loud and compete for our attention. They are full of opinions and advice and worry and fear and lies. As for me, the only one I need to listen to is the Voice of the Father. 

   Father, help me to stay in your word and in your presence daily so the only voice I will listen to is your voice of truth. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. 

R.A.P. it up . . . 

Reflect

• Have you ever had a situation with several opinions and voices and you struggled to decide what to do?

• Did you pray and ask the Lord to speak truth to your heart, or did you listen to the world?

Apply

• Pray daily for guidance with each decision you have to make. Be patient. 

• Remember that God never panics or makes mistakes; wait on His answer.

Power

• John 10:27 (NIV) “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

• John 10:14-15 (NIV) “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me - just as the Father knows me and I know the Father - and I lay down my life for the sheep.” 

• Proverbs 18:10 (NIV) “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.”