No Take Backs!

This week some things are happening that are requiring me to rehash some events in my life--my past--events that I let go and handed over to God. When I handed them over I didn't neatly fold them in an organized pile and give them to Jesus. I threw them, messy and ugly---knowing I had to throw that part of my life away---quickly, immediately, not a second to lose. No time to organize it---it needed throwing away--over---out of the house---gone.

Really gone---yes, gone.

I have had to learn what that means. I have had to really truly search God's Word to understand the concept of handing something over to the Lord. When we release something to God, we don't get to take it back.

There is a no take back rule.

We try. Remember on the elementary playground. We are being nice. We give our ball to a friend. We want to give it away. But 5 minutes later we want it back. Our friend says No Take Backs. We can't have it back. So we sulk and try to convince them to give it back. Our focus becomes on our self because we want it.

God says to give our burdens to him. Matthew 11:28-30 "Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle at hear, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."

But the familiarity of it all comes back to us. The burden seems habitual. The self punishment seems the way of life. The beating your self up is easy. It is easy to take it back upon our self and be our own judge.

God says you gave it to me. No Take Backs. He says to me...you confessed, repented, turned away---now don't take it back. Stop. Stop. Stop.

Yesterday God challenged me to examine what it means to have a life that is completely yielded to His will and purpose for my life.

Couldn't God just challenge me to keep my bathroom clean this week???? Because that has been a challenge this week......

But NO! God loves me too much. I have prayed that He will teach me how to draw closer to Him. I have begged God to help me walk in a life that has purpose. So I shouldn't be surprised when God challenges me in this way.

As I prayed and asked God what a life completely yielded to Him meant, I sensed him showing me these four things: constant pursuit of truth, total forgiveness of myself and others, love overflowing, and complete trust in God.

Constant pursuit. Forgiveness. Love. Trust.
COMPLETELY.
YIELDED.
COMPLETELY!

A prisoner of Jesus Christ.

Jesus takes our stuff and cast it from the East to the West. Psalm 103:12 "He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west." It is gone.

When I fully understood the way Jesus took our "stuff" when we are willing to hand it over---key words being willing and hand over!

One morning while I was in a church sanctuary, I saw our loving Jesus standing there in the front of the congregation. I walked up to Him and "willingly handed over" this burden, sin, stronghold. Jesus didn't just lightly hold out a hand and take it. His arm literally extended from His heart and His eyes, wet from sorrow that I held on so long---lovingly took it all. His hand drew back in to his heart and he took the burdens from me. He transferred it to himself.

That is the image that I need to remember and understand as I go through this time of trial in my life. Jesus doesn't just take it. He takes it on to himself and we he never gives it back. It is us who grabs and yanks and rehash and try to get it back...why do we do that? I ponder that question today.

I confessed. I repented. I turned away. I handed it to Jesus---willingly---forever---and He took it. It is gone. I am done with it.

Jesus says NO TAKE BACKS. And of course I kick and scream and try to be disobedient while I want to beat myself up and punish myself all over again for things I gave over.

Lord, help me to be completely yielded to you.

Remind me that I gave this to you.

Comfort me in the battle to take back.

Thank you Jesus for transferring my burdens to yourself. Please help me not to try to grab it back.

No take backs....never, ever...

We are free by His blood. The battle has already been won.
Praise Jesus.
Love, Teresa