Power In Release

False beliefs are powerful. My small group is studying this topic, and it's amazing to me how much our beliefs about who we are shapes our decisions, our dreams, and the scope of our God-given vision. The ladies in our group have helped to give me insight into grasping the depth and breadth of this issue.

We take credit for things that are NOT ours - gifts, skills, resources, talents, professional success and personality traits. We often find our safety, happiness and value in these things. And we beat ourselves up about other false beliefs - insecurities, limitations, emotions, personality traits and lifelong behavior patterns. We often define who we are by these things. But neither one is of God!

False beliefs lead us to walk in the flesh, rather than by the spirit. That's why they are so powerful.

Flesh is about trying to meet our needs on our own, apart from God. To live an abundant life in Christ, our identity, independence, safety, happiness and value must come from God.

As we are learning in our group, these patterns are often cast in our lives early on, beginning in the environment we grew up in, how our parents (particularly our fathers) treated us, and then subsequent life experiences. All these things speak into our flesh.

I've seen this play out in my own life in a radical way, as my entire life was shaped by not having a relationship with my biological father. It has effected every single love relationship I've had with a man, and I only came to realize it in the past year. Healing from that and coming to terms with it has released a powerful new dependence on God as my father.

For the past 20 years, I've been experiencing God as my husband. Now, God has introduced a powerful new dimension of Himself into my life - his role as my Father. To let go of false beliefs, and the actions associated with them, means unleashing a powerful new freedom in our lives. Finally, we can acknowledge our complete and total dependence upon God to meet our needs, and rest in the hope that He is orchestrating our lives because of His love for us.

Releasing Circumstances

How often does our happiness depend upon our circumstances? Sadly, a lot of the time. I'm in a good job, have a good marriage, have great kids, every material thing I would want......the list goes on and on. If we're not in a good place, we say "If only.......would happen, I could be happy." This kind of happiness is elusive, because it's not based on God's truth.

Paul gives us a master class in contentment in Philippians 4: 11-13: I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Currently, I have some challenging circumstances going on in my life. My false beliefs try to whisper that I should have fear, or push through and take control, or even somehow manipulate opportunities to work to my advantage. Yet, my goal is to continually abide in Him, which means that the answers will come at exactly the right moment. My pain, though very real, is temporary and is being used to mature my faith.

The true power is not in taking more control of my circumstances, it's in releasing them so that God can show HIS power, which is so much more incredible than my own.

Releasing People

Ah, this is a tough one, and a raw place for me right now. As believers, we all belong to God, not to one another. I am a connector and people person, so that has been a difficult lesson for me to learn. My heart wants to hold close to people who, at times, need to be let go so that God can work freely in BOTH our lives. Letting go of people I want to hold close.

Wow. That hurts sometimes. Because hanging on provides a measure of comfort, happiness and security - how can I ever let that go?! But their is power when two believers can navigate a relationship (whether friendship, dating, marriage or family relationship) in a way that allows BOTH PEOPLE to grow closer to God.

This can be hard. There are tears, prayers and most of all, a complete dependence on God to meet our needs when we abide in Him. But this dependence breeds hope.

Release Yields to Hope

When we are able to let go of the circumstances and people we are hanging on to, we give God the freedom to work even more powerfully in our lives. In the midst of it, it's a moment by moment choice to abide and trust. I'm in the process of doing that myself this week. But understanding who God is, and who He created us to be (in a way that's based on His truths, and not of false beliefs) - THAT brings ultimate hope.

He knows the desires of my heart. He created me in this way, with this wiring, so that his glory could be fully realized in my life. His only request is that I release it all to Him, and trust that He has my best in mind.

Reflection - Do you have circumstances or people YOU need to release to God? If you get on your knees, you might just unleash a move of God in your life you never thought possible!