Letting Go: 1 Peter 2:1
Praying over the city at Caribou Coffee (757 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, MN).
This picture is from my walk last night. I’m writing this midday, but I loved that crescent moon so much. I wish I could have gotten a better picture, but there was only so much my phone could do with all the city lights.
This the second installment on “healing”. Honestly, God gave me another idea for the next one. It won’t be tomorrow though. Tomorrow I’ll be cruising along up to Duluth to teach an ethics class at the Kitchi Gammi Club. Never been there before, but I hear it’s swanky just like the Minneapolis or University Club. I’ll try to remember some pics.
One of the things that shocked me this past 9-11 was the posts blaming Bush. Ultimately, my surprise was less about who they blamed, but more about that the anger and resentment were hanging around this long. While others were posting inspirational messages about the heroes of the day or the unity we experienced, these poor folks were still fueling flames of rancor and bitterness, and all of that got me thinking about how if I hang on to the past with any sort of negative emotion, it keeps me stuck there.
As an example, what if, now more than a decade later after our divorce, I still complained about my x-husband on our anniversary—stirring up all the crap he did, or didn’t do, that lead to the end of our marriage. If I am tethered to that stuff, I simply cannot move forward. I am forever tied to that negativity, just like a kite on a string. The wind can’t offer the kite freedom while it’s anchored, just as sure as God cannot bless you with all He has to offer if we are tied to negatively from our past. It keeps us stuck—unable to really move on. We must let it go if we will ever really be free.
That same day, I came across this Bible verse…
“So, put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and slander of every kind. “1 Peter 2:1 (ESV)
These words got me thinking about something I’ve tried to even work into my thought life. We’ve all heard the saying, probably from your mother, “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say it at all.” We know lots of people who could use that one… LOL!
Kidding aside, it dawned on me that even thinking negative thoughts brings me to an unhealthy and an unhappy place. This verse says, “put away…of every kind.” This too makes it clear that even what I allow to take space, consume a place, in my mind, can keep me stuck and can block out the healing power of God’s precious Light and Love. I need to put that negativity away, let it go, so that I might be free.
Dearest Heavenly Father, You are the master of miracles and we trust you to care of me and to take care of any of the problems of our past. We cannot move forward if we are stuck in the past. It is only through letting go, that we might fulfill the Devine purpose for which you created us. When we start thinking negative thoughts, please remind us to even let those go. We have no use for them, and instead, please bless us with the vision You have of all people of the world. In Your Mighty and Holy name…
You are with me. Please share your prayer requests with me. I love you and our Spiritual connection.