Tuesday, June 15, 2010

keep on hangin' on

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A couple of months ago, in early spring when the trees were just starting to bud, I was lying in the hammock looking at the beautiful expanse of sky all around me. We have some rather tall trees in our backyard and as I looked I noticed one leaf very high up in a tree.

The next day it was still there and the next and the next week. In fact, it hung on so long for dear life that it was finally enveloped by the growth of this year's leaves.

I like to live in a frame of mind so that I can take even the smallest incidents or events and apply them to my Christian walk hoping to glean something from the day, to grow to be a better person and Christian along this journey.

I asked God to show me any areas where I was "hanging on"--where I was in danger of being engulfed by new growth that would leave me far behind. I have found in my life that anytime I am wanting to grow and willing to look deep in my heart for areas God would like to purge, He is ready, willing and quite able to point out areas of improvement to me.

It is my desire to grow in Him, to not "hang on" to the things of this life and this world that would hinder that growth. And sometimes we hang on to good things, when God would like to bless us with the best things.

Oh, Lord, release the clutching of my hand for the good things and may I reach out to You for the very best that you desire to give me--things that will enable me to serve and minister for Your Kingdom in a more Godly way that will impact eternity.





Isaiah 43:19

See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.

I long to let go of the old and embrace the new things that our Lord, the Ancient of Days, longs to accomplish in me. He is not the new, but He does do new things from time to time and I long to be open to them.

5 Comments:

  1. What a thought provoking post, Dianne. There have been a couple of areas in my own life where God has been doing that very work in me. The conviction is yielding to submission to His will...to His best. Thank you for sharing.
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  2. There a time to hang on and a time to not...:)

    I need to be hanging on to the one who sustains me.
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  3. Yes, we always hang on to our dear Savior--no letting go of Him--He is not the new--He is the "ancient of days"--always has been, always will be--but I want to be willing to let Him do a new thing in me--

    thanks for making that point so I could clear thing up!
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  4. Dianne... this speaks directly to my heart...

    My kids youth pastor said something similar several years ago, and I never forgot it... sometimes we sacrifice the BEST for what's "good."
    There are lots of good things, but they are not always the best things...

    so very true.

    My house need purging of "good stuff" it is so difficult to let go and live a simpler life... This is my heart's desire, but my 'sentimentality" keeps me "hanging on"

    Thank you for these confirmations dear ♥
    *I hope you are all well*

    ~Maria
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  5. Thank you for posting this encouraging message...and that scripture is one I'm hanging onto. I feel He's doing a new thing..I feel it inside....☺
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