We are all clinging to something to cope with or maintain control of some aspect of our lives.  In some cases it may be a vice like smoking, whatever or drinking, whatever.  But in other cases it could be obsessive behaviors like excessive cleaning, shopping, avoiding people, craving attention, over-exercising, overeating, toying with gadgets, avoiding pain, adrenaline rush activities, living in regret and the list goes on.  Surely we need tools to function, yet when used in excess they tend to do us more harm than good and typically we don’t realize we are overdoing it, unfortunately.  The effects seem to sneak up on us because we ignore the warnings that say slow down or stop!  We tenaciously hold on at the expense of our finances, relationships, happiness, sanity and even our lives.

Could we just stop, look at ourselves, think for a few moments and ask a few salient questions?  Are these behaviors moving me toward my dreams, who I want to be or a better me?  Am I being swept away by the the current of environmental (societal or cultural) pressures of who I ought to be?  Am I losing myself?  Have I lost myself?  Who am I, really?

Maybe there are strongholds on your life you need to relinquish because they are drowning you in a sea of lost identity or anchoring you to the past and its regrets.  What are you afraid of?  You need to let it go.  What are we afraid of?  We need to let it go, today.

Christ admonishes us to be free (Galatians 5:1).

 

One day I woke up

Then suddenly I had to stop

To observe where I was

And consider who I am and heading towards

 

No, it was not instant, but gradual

I lost track by life’s pace and death spiral

But, if I could relinquish my chains

I will be free to be me, holding the reins

Sometimes we get so mired in a rut or a state of normalcy that we cannot perceive an existence beyond where we are.  We assiduously strive to change but do not realize we are only jogging in place at a faster speed, lifting our knees higher or pumping our arms with more swing.  Even if we trotted forward a half step at a time, by the end of the day we would be further than we started.  Unfortunately, we seem to get overwhelmed and inadvertently bogged down by the size of the big goal.  We forget that the big goal is only multiple little goals.  Today, can’t you handle reading one more page, running an extra meter, doing one more repetition, making one more call, saving one more dollar, giving one more chance, reading one more story to your child, saying one more “I love you”?  If you are not experiencing some type of discomfort in doing one more, you probably are not moving, progressing or growing?

Understandably there are times when you may have already given that one last effort and you feel you advanced in some way – good for you.  Celebrate the victory according to the measure of success.  If you lost an extra 10 pounds do not splurge at the buffet.  Instead have one scoop of ice-cream.  But if you passed your finals for your degree or diploma, you may think about taking a little vacation.  Even if it is driving distance it would be a significant way of patting yourself on the back.

Be honest with yourself and determine what you want in life.  If you like where you are then do not envy someone else who is more successful.  On the other hand if you want to grow, do not run from the growing pains, welcome them.  Remind yourself that when it is over you will have a better physique, that qualification, car, house, emotional healing, peace of mind, promotion, wealth, no more debt or a better relationship.  If you slip, get up again, dust yourself off and make another step.  Be mature enough to accept that if you make bad decisions there will still be consequences, even if you repent.  You may get a second chance but there are opportunity costs for not getting it right the first time.

You may feel your healing, progress, growth or success is unreachable and you cannot do it on your own.  But that is why we have a God who is our strength (Psalm 18:2).  You should not only turn to him when you are stumped but maintain a relationship with Him to better understand the plan he has for you, so you could get it right the first time.  If you tripped, you can accept His forgiveness and move on.  Whom He loves, He chastises so like a coach or mentor, He may need to use more stern means to get your attention.  But trust Him because He knows and wants His best for you.

 

Today I must decide which way I want

Is it content or growth to a new front?

When I choose I must be content or do more work

For tomorrow will reflect today’s decisions of worth

 

Surely there are times when I yearn for another chapter

Yet I can’t turn the page for one more triumphant capture

So I must keep an opened line with God who is my strength

That when I call He will answer and my ear will be rightly bent