What will you Give Up?

When we give up something for the forty days of lent prior to Easter, many times people focus on a sacrifice at the surface. Maybe it’s easier or maybe they want others to see what they did – so they give up sweets, meat, volunteering, or even spending time on social media. All of those ideas are terrific because – it’s a conscious effort in the right direction. As I said before, it’s a journey which takes time. The concept of giving up can be challenging because sometimes people are hesitant to give up something that may impact their comfortable way of life.

That's OK too because it's your choice. God gives everyone free will. The concept of giving up is also central to my new book just released - it's about giving up something to find meaning and potential fullness in your life. My book will be a blessing to anyone who may be experiencing some form of suffering: like anxiety, worry, stress, illness, grief, pain from failure, rejections, the list goes on. Anyone who has been a victim of bullying, felt the sting and pain from jealousy, envy, greed, and power. These types of suffering have all of the shadowed remnants of darkness that creep into our lives. It’s evil and if you dwell on it for too long it can destroy your soul. What will you give up?

Giving up that darkness will allow you to come into the light, to give you life. I’m reminded of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (Eph. 5.8-9) “For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true.”  Giving up the darkness, means allowing yourself to heal. Therefore to heal, keeping in line with the central theme of giving up, I would like to propose that you give up “YOU” or “Self” or “ME”. Wait! What did I just say? Give up on me, but I control my life. I’m self-reliant, I’m an independent thinker, I’m the master of my own destiny and I like it that way! Are you sure that works? Listen up, I am the first to say I never enjoyed being micromanaged. In my life I have always been extremely independent and self-reliant. I handle doing things and I have been very successful trusting myself to accomplish much in my life. How can I change now – and give up on my control, my independence? Who do I propose will control and manage your life – your decision making, everything? My answer is God.

You're joking right? It's hard enough letting a person control me but now you're asking me to give up and let God control me? I can't even see Him.  Remember this is your choice. I know it isn't easy but if you give up control, give up your habit of relying on you, the decision making, and guidance in your life, you will have a different life. I went through the unimaginable – even several careers before that. I was spinning, spinning, chasing, chasing careers, goals, and God said – it’s all wrong. So he sent me a gift – a 360-degree life altering disease. Yes a gift – a blessed gift. Trust in God who will give you back your Life – You deserve it! Listen to God. Trust in God. Let God lead you in life. He will lead you in the right direction. Let God take your worries, your burdens, your pain, your suffering. He will. My books just might change your life.

These messages are in my second healing book which is about letting God lead you to healing and becoming new again. The only way to let God lead you is by freeing yourself from everything that you know then you will find the answer. If you want to learn more about how to do this along with insightful guidance and authentic stories , I have officially launched my book “Finding Life in Forty Days”. My book is also available now via my website or my amazon author page. For autographed copies or for my signature bookmarks order from my Square store.