| The book stores are filled with aisles and aisles of | | | | Letting go and letting God guide our lives seems like |
| self help and personal development books. Topics to | | | | it should be a no brainer. But we value control too |
| help you be motivated, achieve success, how to | | | | much. Letting go is scary, even letting go and giving |
| combat depression, anxiety, improve self esteem, | | | | our lives over to God. We have learned that |
| abound. If you are seeking help to improve in an area | | | | relinquishing control comes with a price in the material |
| of your life, you'll most likely find a book on it. | | | | world. I believe we take this same fear into a |
| My book shelves are filled with these "helpful" books, | | | | relationship with God as well. Perhaps we don't feel |
| even spiritual and Christian books on the subject of | | | | deserving. Perhaps we are comfortable even if we |
| improving our spiritual walk. I am a voracious reader, | | | | are miserable in our current state. Any change can be |
| soaking up as much as I can. The more I've been | | | | difficult. |
| reading, however, the more empty I have felt. This | | | | Our culture is very fast-paced and days are filled with |
| week I finally discovered why. | | | | endless tasks. It is so important to be still and to set |
| Last night I attended a Bible study where we | | | | aside quiet time every day. Connecting to our Source |
| discussed 2 Corinthians 5:16-21. Paul talks about how | | | | of Wholeness means spending quiet moments in |
| all things become new when we discover Christ. "In | | | | meditation, prayer, contemplative writing and reading |
| Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not | | | | Scripture. |
| counting their trespasses against them, and | | | | There are always key points or crossroads in life |
| entrusting the message of reconciliation to us." Simply | | | | when decisions are made. Change can only occur |
| stated, God accepts us and allows us to experience | | | | when we make a decision. At some point in the |
| wholeness just as we are. God loves us in all of our | | | | journey to wholeness, we need to quit trying to take |
| brokenness and lack of perfection. By definition, | | | | control. |
| reconciliation means to restore or to save. | | | | On the spiritual path we encounter phases that look |
| Our constant striving to improve, which seems like an | | | | something like this: Awareness, Forgiveness, |
| admirable goal, is really a distraction from our spiritual | | | | Acceptance, Love and Letting Go. |
| walk with God. The paradox lies in our strong need in | | | | First we become aware of our lives and our souls |
| discovering who we really are while at the same time | | | | not being right. We forgive ourselves for making bad |
| finding ourselves in God, where true peace exists. | | | | choices and forgive others that might have harmed |
| We need to surrender our brokenness to God so | | | | us. We accept our situation and move on. We |
| that we can be made whole. | | | | experience God's true love and are able to love |
| I know that it has taken me a long time to discover | | | | ourselves and others in return. Finally, we let go and |
| my soul and who I am. Having done all kinds of work | | | | let God lead us on this journey. |
| on ridding myself of past harms and false self | | | | I encourage you to find some quiet time every day, |
| actions, it seems wrong to have to let go. But letting | | | | even if it's just ten minutes. Read your Bible. Read |
| go is precisely what is needed. I have heard quoted | | | | your self help books and personal growth books. But |
| many times that we must die to self. To use the | | | | in the end, accept yourself for who you are, make |
| paradox word again, that is the paradox, | | | | peace, then let go and let God give you the |
| self-discovery but at the same time dying to self to | | | | restoration which is waiting for you. |
| be transformed by God's love. | | | | |