Let go, let God

Letting Go by Letting God In: A Journey of Spiritual Freedom

In our journey through life, we often encounter the phrase "Let go and let God." It's a simple saying that many of us try to put into practice, but there's a subtle yet crucial misunderstanding in how we approach it. The truth is, we can't truly let go until we first let God in.

Imagine yourself as a tall glass, filled with dark liquid representing your fears, confusion, doubts, hurts, resentments, and envy. These are the things that, even as believers, we need to be purged of. Our natural inclination is to try to empty this glass ourselves – to let go of these negative emotions and experiences. But that's not how it works. We need to let God's living water – His Spirit – flow into us first. As His presence fills us, it naturally pushes out the darkness, enabling us to let go.

This process is not a one-time event but an ongoing work of spiritual renewal. Just as the disciples were instructed to wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit even after being born again, we too need this continual filling. It's through this divine inflow that we gain the power to release what binds us.

The story of Paul and Silas in Acts 16 provides a powerful illustration of this principle. As they spread the Gospel in Philippi, they encountered a slave girl possessed by a spirit of divination. This girl, though proclaiming truth about Paul and his companions being "servants of the Most High God," was bound by a spirit that wasn't of God.

This encounter raises intriguing questions about the nature of spiritual influences in our world. The girl's ability to tell fortunes and her owners' profit from this gift suggest a supernatural element at play. Yet, we must be cautious in our interpretation and understanding of such phenomena.

The Greek words used to describe the girl's condition are fascinating. One implies a spirit of ventriloquism – the ability to project one's voice as if from another source. The other refers to a "spirit of python," harkening back to Greek mythology and the oracle of Delphi. These descriptions paint a picture of a person whose very identity and voice have been co-opted by an external force.

Paul's response to this situation is instructive. He doesn't engage with the girl directly but addresses the spirit within her. "In the name of Jesus Christ, I command you to come out of her," he declares. This moment of deliverance isn't just about casting out evil; it's about making room for the truth and presence of God.

This incident reminds us of Jesus' own encounters with demonic forces, as recorded in the Gospels. Whether in the synagogue or by the tombs, these spirits recognized and feared Christ's authority. Their reactions underscore a spiritual reality that extends beyond mere mental health issues, pointing to a realm where divine power confronts and overcomes darkness.

The Bible is clear in its warnings against engaging with divination, sorcery, and other occult practices. These prohibitions aren't arbitrary rules but loving protection against forces that can bind and deceive us. Instead, we're called to seek the one true source of wisdom and power – God Himself.

As we reflect on these truths, we're invited to a deeper understanding of spiritual freedom. It's not about our efforts to cleanse ourselves or our attempts to peer into the future. Rather, it's about opening ourselves to the transformative presence of God's Spirit.

This openness is beautifully symbolized in the practice of communion. As we partake of the bread and wine (or juice), we're not just remembering Christ's sacrifice; we're inviting His very life into ours. Jesus said, "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them." This mystical union is the key to true liberation.

The Apostles' Creed, with its affirmation of faith in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, reminds us of the fullness of God's nature. It's this triune God who invites us into relationship, offering forgiveness, renewal, and power for living.
As we approach God's table, we're called to honest self-examination. The prayer of confession acknowledges our shortcomings – our failure to love God wholeheartedly, our disobedience, our neglect of those in need. Yet this admission of fault isn't meant to condemn us but to prepare us for the good news: "Christ died for us while we were yet sinners."

This grace-filled reality empowers us to live differently. We're freed not just from sin's penalty but from its power. As God's Spirit fills us, we find ourselves capable of joyful obedience, able to hear the cry of the needy, and empowered to live in peace with one another.

The journey of letting go by letting God in is ongoing. It's a daily choice to turn from the voices that would bind us and instead open ourselves to the liberating presence of Christ. As we do, we find that the very things we struggled to release on our own begin to lose their grip.

In a world that often seeks answers in the wrong places – whether through fortune-telling, astrology, or other spiritual shortcuts – we're called to a different path. Our future isn't determined by the stars or revealed through mystical practices. It's shaped by our growing relationship with the God who knows us intimately and loves us completely.

As we navigate life's challenges, may we remember that true freedom comes not from our striving but from our surrendering. Let's not merely try to empty ourselves of what hinders us. Instead, let's invite God to fill us with His presence, trusting that as He does, what needs to go will naturally be pushed out.

In this continual process of being filled and letting go, we discover the abundant life Jesus promised. It's a life marked not by perfection but by progress, not by fearlessness but by faith, and not by independence but by intimate dependence on the One who made us for Himself.