I was talking to a friend this morning and as we chatted and caught up on life, a phrase came out of my mouth and the Lord said, “this is what my people need to hear”. Here is what was said, “We have to let go to lay hold!”

Jesus said, “If you lose your life you will find it, but if you save your life you will lose it.” This has a Dr. Seuss riddle vibe to it, but since it was Jesus it is wrapped in so much truth it will take us time to unpack the depth of its meaning.

We as people are so riddled with fear, the idea of letting go of anything, let alone of our life, is not desirable at all. The root issue is fear, and fear blinds us to the promise of letting go of our lives. Until we are willing to let go of our lives, we will never lay hold of the life God has for us.

Christians will say they have let go of their life, but if the stock market crashes, if a war breaks out, if a doctors report is bad, if a child goes haywire, if a relationship ends, they live as though the sky is falling. This is because we have been baptized in a gospel of fear and not one of faith.

The life the Lord is inviting us to let go of is a life of fear, of control, of survival mode, of pride, but we can’t let go because we are so fearful. The root of fear is pride and pride is a stronghold that is hard to break loose from.

Jesus is inviting us to let go of our life so we can lay hold of His life. You can’t live a double life and call it Christianity, at least not biblically. The kingdom of God is at hand and the first order of business for the church and Christians is to let go of their life, which is rooted in pride and fear, in order to lay hold of the kingdom life that is rooted in faith, hope and love.

Friends it is long past time we let go, because the time is upon us where we are being invited to lay hold. Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org