Letting Go: Embracing Freedom for a New Year

Devotional

Day 1: Courage to Release What Holds You Back

Engaging in honest self-reflection is crucial for personal growth and a better year. It requires identifying the things we hold onto that hinder our progress. These burdens can be habits, relationships, or secrets that weigh us down. Letting go of these burdens is not just about personal freedom but also about improving our relationships with others. It takes courage and transparency, often involving others in our journey of letting go. [00:53]

"For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor." (Galatians 6:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific burden you are holding onto that you need to release? How can you involve someone you trust in this process today?

Day 2: The Trap of Clinging to Harmful Things

The metaphor of a monkey trapped by its refusal to let go of a banana illustrates how we often trap ourselves by clinging to things that harm us. This self-imposed bondage prevents us from experiencing true freedom. The call is to let go and run away, freeing ourselves from these traps. This act of release is not only about personal liberation but also about aligning ourselves with the life we are meant to live. [03:20]

"Do not be deceived: 'Bad company ruins good morals.' Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame." (1 Corinthians 15:33-34, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one harmful thing you are clinging to. What practical step can you take today to begin letting it go?

Day 3: Love and Relationships: Breaking Down Barriers

Holding onto burdens affects not only us but also those we love. It creates barriers and prevents us from experiencing the fullness of relationships. Letting go is an act of love for ourselves and others. By releasing these burdens, we open ourselves to deeper connections and a more fulfilling life. This act of love aligns us with the life God intends for us—a life of abundance and true freedom. [05:15]

"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling." (1 Peter 4:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a relationship where you feel a barrier exists. What is one step you can take today to begin breaking down that barrier?

Day 4: Obedience to God as True Freedom

For Christians, obedience to God is not enslavement but freedom. It liberates us from the complications and consequences of sin, aligning us with God's will and leading to a life of righteousness. Sin, defined as anything that harms us or others, leads to death—death of relationships, careers, and peace. In contrast, obedience to God leads to righteousness and freedom. [16:43]

"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." (Galatians 5:13, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to practice obedience to God? How can this lead to greater freedom for you today?

Day 5: Recognizing the Sacredness of Life

Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, making us and those around us sacred. Recognizing this sacredness compels us to honor God by honoring others, letting go of anything that diminishes our dignity or theirs. This understanding should compel us to let go of anything that diminishes our dignity or the dignity of others. By doing so, we align ourselves with the life God intends for us—a life of abundance and true freedom. [19:25]

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: What is one way you can honor the sacredness of your life and the lives of others today? How can you let go of something that diminishes this sacredness?

Sermon Summary

As we step into a new year, many of us desire for it to be better than the last. However, achieving a better year requires honest self-evaluation and the courage to let go of things that hold us back. The central question to ponder is: What are you holding onto that's holding you back? This question challenges us to identify the burdens we carry, whether they are habits, relationships, or secrets, that weigh us down and prevent us from moving forward.

The metaphor of a monkey trapped by its own refusal to let go of a banana illustrates how we often trap ourselves by clinging to things that ultimately harm us. The call is simple yet profound: let go of the banana and run away. This act of letting go is not just about personal freedom but also about the impact on those we love. Holding onto certain things can create barriers between us and the people who care about us, and it can prevent us from living the life we are meant to live.

For those who follow Jesus, the message goes deeper. We are reminded that we already have a Master, and being enslaved by anything else is contrary to our faith. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, emphasizes that offering ourselves to anything other than God is akin to slavery. Sin, defined as anything that harms us or others, leads to death—death of relationships, careers, and peace. In contrast, obedience to God leads to righteousness and freedom.

Paul's teaching invites us into a new way of living, where our bodies are seen as temples of the Holy Spirit. This perspective elevates the sacredness of our lives and the lives of those around us. We are called to honor God by honoring others, recognizing the immense value God has placed on us through the sacrifice of His Son. This understanding should compel us to let go of anything that diminishes our dignity or the dignity of others.

Ultimately, the challenge is to identify what we are holding onto that is holding us back and to have the courage to let it go. This act of release not only frees us but also aligns us with the life God intends for us—a life of abundance and true freedom.

Key Takeaways

1. Self-Reflection and Letting Go: To have a better year, we must engage in honest self-reflection and identify what we are holding onto that holds us back. This requires courage and transparency, often involving others in our journey of letting go. [00:53]
2. The Monkey Trap Metaphor: Like a monkey trapped by its own refusal to release a banana, we often trap ourselves by clinging to things that harm us. The call is to let go and run away, freeing ourselves from self-imposed bondage. [03:20]
3. Impact on Relationships: Holding onto burdens not only affects us but also those we love. It creates barriers and prevents us from experiencing the fullness of relationships. Letting go is an act of love for ourselves and others. [05:15]
4. Obedience and Freedom: For Christians, obedience to God is not enslavement but freedom. It liberates us from the complications and consequences of sin, aligning us with God's will and leading to a life of righteousness. [16:43]
5. Sacredness of Life: Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, making us and those around us sacred. Recognizing this sacredness compels us to honor God by honoring others, letting go of anything that diminishes our dignity or theirs. [19:25]
** [19:25]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:11] - A New Year, A New Beginning
[00:53] - The Question to Ponder
[01:32] - The Weight of Holding On
[02:48] - The Monkey Trap
[03:36] - Let Go of the Banana
[04:47] - Impact on Relationships
[06:13] - Mastery and Slavery
[07:17] - Paul's Letter to the Romans
[09:23] - Sin and Its Consequences
[11:26] - Sin Kills, Obedience Heals
[14:33] - A New Pattern of Living
[17:10] - Your Body as a Temple
[20:29] - You Are Not Your Own
[24:19] - Honor God with Your Body
[25:37] - What Are You Holding Onto?
[30:32] - Ask for Help
[32:36] - Take Hold of the One Who Bought You

Sermon Clips

What are you holding onto that's holding you back? What are you holding onto that's holding you back? What are you holding onto that actually, if you're honest, has a hold on you? And what are you holding onto that has a hold on you that the people around you who love you secretly, or maybe not so secretly, wish that you would let go of? [00:01:00]

Let go of the banana and run away, okay? I would like for all of us at all of our churches to say this out loud together, ready? - [All] Let go of the banana and run away. - It is that simple. Now, if you're not a Christian or not a Jesus follower is the way we describe it here, if you're not really following Jesus, you're not a religious person, however you describe yourself, that's pretty much all I have for you, okay? [00:03:45]

By holding on, you are actually holding off. By holding on, you are actually holding off the people who love you the most and the people that you love the most. And as I said, they kinda know something's up. And they may have tried to talk to you about it before, and you got so defensive and you got so defensive that they haven't brought it up, so you think they've forgotten it or you think they don't notice it. [00:05:04]

He says, "Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone," or something, "when you offer yourselves to someone" or something, "when you offer yourselves to someone," or something, when you offer yourselves to someone" or something, "as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey." That is when you stuck your hand in there and get tied to, roped to, chained to something and you refuse to let go, you are obeying that thing. [00:08:28]

Sin, in the New Testament, is so simple to understand. In fact, it is so easy to understand that we almost don't want to understand it on purpose, because sin in the New Testament is anything that hurts you, and anything that hurts the you beside you, and anything that hurts the yous that you live with and the yous that you're raising and the you that you married and the you that you're dating and the you that you hope to marry, and the you that you work with. [00:09:44]

Sin kills things. Sin kills relationships, sin kills careers, sin destroys what and who you see in the mirror, sin kills your confidence, sin can kill your health. Sin can actually kill your financial security, right? If you have a bad habit or you're just irresponsible, or you just ignore what she said and what he said, and all the good advice and just did whatever you wanted to do, right? [00:11:55]

This is a pattern for living. This is a new way of seeing the world. This is a new way of seeing yourself. This is a new way of seeing your family. This is a new way of seeing every you, you are ever eyeball to eyeball with. This is a new way of seeing God. This is a new way of understanding forgiveness. This is a new way of viewing your stuff, your money, your time, your future, your career. [00:15:19]

Obedience, this is what he's saying, obedience frees you, obedience to God frees you. It doesn't enslave you. Obedience to God frees you from the complications and ultimately the consequences of sin. Now, Paul knows that we're reading this, 'cause I'm kind of teasing it out and adding to it, but if you read it quickly, it's kinda like, okay, I think I understand, but I have some questions. [00:16:37]

Do you not know that your bodies are temples, why? Because they're filled with the Holy Spirit, who is in you. This was breathtaking, they had to set it down and think a minute, like, "Wait a minute, if this is true, then you are sacred and you are sacred and you're sacred and you are sacred," and you go, "Yeah, yeah, I'm not sacred, you have no idea. I don't even have enough hands to tell you how many bottles I'm hanging onto and dragging stuff around." [00:19:16]

You were purchased, you were purchased with the blood of God's Son. God's Son gave his life, don't miss this, you've heard it, but don't miss it, God's Son gave his life for you. Question, what has the thing you're clinging to offered for you? What has the thing that you won't lot go of sacrificed for you? What price has this paid in order to benefit you? The truth is, it's costing you. [00:23:11]

Therefore, in all your behavior, in all of your relationships, every decision you make, I want you to honor God with your behavior. I want you to honor God with your body. What does that look like? It's very simple, we honor God by honoring those that God honors. You honor God by honoring those that God honors. When you're hanging onto something, clinging to something that demeans you, that creates a lack of dignity in you, or expresses a lack of dignity or worth in other people, you have to let that go. [00:24:40]

If you really wanna have an awkward but powerful start to this year, just ask someone. Am I holding onto something that's holding me back? Because the people closest to you and the people that love you most, they know the answer to this question. If you're married or if you're engaged, or if you're in a relationship where you feel like it's moving in that direction, am I holding onto something that's holding us back? [00:30:40]

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