The promises of God are not meant to be visited on a Sunday morning; they are part of our every day lives. God has given us new life, and he wants us to let go of our old one. In Matthew 10:39 Jesus tells us that, “if you give up your life for me, you will find it.” Getting something new empowers you to get rid of something old.
I went clothes shopping recently because I was in desperate need of clothes that fit. I then realized I would need to clean out my closet to make room for these new clothes, and it’s a good thing I did. You don’t realize how much stuff you hold on to that just sits on a hanger and serves no purpose.
This can translate into our lives as well. We hold on to so many things that we should be letting go of and then wonder why there isn’t room for more. You can’t hold onto anger and expect to get peace-it just doesn’t work like that. There are unnecessary things we need to release over to God in order for him to produce the right kind of fruit in us and through us.
“Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy”-Ephesians 4:24
You can’t “put on” love if you are still wearing resentment. Some things must go in order for you to live a renaissance, or a new, life. Draw near to God and he will reveal the things that need to be removed. And as Pastor Steve reminded us, we are able to deny our old selves by the power of the Holy Spirit.
A renaissance life is conceived in the act of letting go.