SAYING GOODBYE

Our Christian journey begins with saying goodbye to a life separated from the  Lord. Choosing to love Jesus Christ is a wonderful experience of embracing the presence, power, and provision God gives to His children. Joy and freedom imbue us as we gain access to everything we need for living a godly life by God’s divine power and every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms when we are united with Christ (2 Pet. 1:3; Eph. 1:3 NLT). You may feel like a college freshmen – eager to learn, yet apprehensive of effectively and efficiently fulfilling the academic requirements, while building a new social network of friends and community. It’s a life-changing stage of life filled with high expectations and the much-anticipated freedom to begin achieving an abundant life. Likewise, as new believers, we are eager to embrace the goodness and blessings of God, yet apprehensive of our ability to obey the tenets of Scripture and enjoy life. The good news is God helps by indwelling each believer at conversion with the Holy Spirit and the ability to keep His rules and obey them (Ezek. 11:19-20). We say goodbye to the old way of life.

For me as a new believer, it was thrilling to become a member of God’s body. Growing up in a Christian family who attended church regularly, I was a part of a local body of believers. But when I accepted the call and received Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, it was official – I was no longer an invited guest, but I had a seat at the table in God’s kingdom. I said, “goodbye” to belonging to the evil one and “yes,” to belonging to Jesus Christ.

Did you sense the shift in ownership? Was your mindset redirected to godliness and not worldliness? For some, becoming a Christian was a one-day experience and it was back to life as usual. For others, it felt as if they had been catapulted to another dimension and saw everything through a different lens – God’s point of view. There is a  difference between saying goodbye and merely welcoming another perspective. It can be like trying a new recipe, but adding another ingredient without measuring it or understanding how the chemical nature of that ingredient will interact with the original recipe. God and Satan do not mix, like light and darkness are counter to one another. We must daily choose to follow the perfect plan God has designed, command by command, without attempting to mix light with darkness.

God is light, and there is no darkness in Him at all.

So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God

but go on living in spiritual darkness;

we are not practicing the truth.

1John 1:5,6

Saying goodbye to things, people, attitudes, desires, and even goals is a process. This has been the longest and persistent part of my spiritual journey; because as I walk with the Lord, He continues to shape my character, redirect my thinking, and strengthen my commitment to no longer speak, think and reason as a child, but to grow in my understanding of righteousness and holiness and put away childish things (1 Cor. 13:11). Unfortunately, it took many unnecessary years to understand that the secret to staying the course and avoiding the traps of temptation and worldliness was to develop a deep, abiding relationship with the Lord. Growing up I heard about having a relationship with God, but it was never fully explained, nor did I see it applied. As a child, I never saw my pillars of the faith read the Bible or pray outside of church except to bless the food. So, I believed that going to church, being a good girl, and reciting my nighttime prayer was enough and God would do the rest. It was only after graduating college, getting married, and having my first child did I realize that the most integral part of my spiritual life was missing – daily intimate communication with God - not just a quick prayer in the morning before I rushed out the door. So again, I had to say goodbye to prioritizing the outward obligations of Christendom, which I loved, and usher in God’s ultimate, satisfying and gratifying way of life as a follower of Jesus Christ – time alone with God praying and studying His Word daily. I give credit to two individuals who demonstrated a love for God and the Bible, a Sunday School teacher and a national preacher. These saints inspired and challenged me to understand who God is, how to accurately interpret scripture, and how to apply His Word practically every day. Now, I make it a priority to enter into God’s Presence each morning, so He can do the work that must take place in my mind and my heart to be aligned with His will.

After twenty-five plus years of abiding in the Lord, studying the Scriptures, and serving Him, I still need to say goodbye. One would hope that after all those years, I would always make the right choices, do all that God asks me to do, and think only of things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely and commendable (Philippians 4:8), but sadly I don’t, which is the reality of living in a fleshly body and among the realm of Satan. Being conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ is a daily work God does to a surrendered will. God constantly chips away at things that are not sinful, but are not beneficial for His saints. See, I have committed myself to be set apart for and to God. As I sit in my space that I have devoted to being with him, I hear my Lord speak. Then, I have a choice to make. Will I let go and set aside those things that weight me down and rob me of the life and experiences God ordains for me or will I hold on as if worldly pleasures can satisfy the deep yearning of my heart that He placed there and only He can satisfy? So again, I’m saying goodbye to something that God  no longer wants to be a part of my life.

Let us strip off every weight that slows us down;

especially the sin that so easily trips us up.

And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

Hebrew 12:1

I hope sharing my journey encourages you to welcome saying goodbye to the things, attitudes, places and people that God may have you set aside in obedience to Him. Every believer’s spiritual journey is unique; therefore, don’t compare what you do or don’t do to other believers. Let your way of life and choices be the result of a surrendered, intimate relationship with God. He will direct your path!