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What do you need to get rid of?

What do you need to get rid of?

Last updated on: February 18, 2019 at 7:00 am by Ann White

What do you need to get rid of? 2019-02-15T15:56:49-05:00 Ann White

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Are there people, places, or things in your life that keep you from embracing God’s best? Are you clinging to toxic relationships, holding onto a dead-end job, or afraid to let go of possessions that are no longer needed? Does your hesitation to get rid of old things keep you from accepting new opportunities God has for you?

Let go

There is a time to hold on and a time to let go. A time to realize when certain people, places, and things are no longer helpful, useful, or necessary. In Ecclesiastes, God reminds us of this important reality. But, we often find safety in our routine settings and it can be difficult to step out of our comfort zone and let go of what’s familiar and predictable.

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven…. A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away.” Ecclesiastes 3:1, 6

Spring cleaning

Spring is in the air! But while winter is far from over, we can still get excited about the warmth and new growth spring will bring. God wants us to also get excited about new growth in our personal lives. But — we must first eliminate the old things that clutter our lives and hold us back — to make room for the new things God has in store.

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

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God never intends for us to stop growing. We are a continual work in progress — both physically and spiritually. He never wants us to accept unhealthy relationships, destructive habits, or dormant spiritual lives. He tells us we’ve become a new person, a person embracing a new life that is striving to look more like Christ day after day.

Embrace new life

In God’s Word, He tells us He has something new for us, we may not see it coming and we may not understand, but something we need to make room for and be prepared to embrace.

“But forget all that — it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18-19

God calls us to get rid of the old and put on the new (Ephesians 4:22-24). Forget the past and look forward to the future (Philippians 3:13-14). Take inventory of our lives, our surroundings, and ourselves so we can clean up our hearts (Psalm 51:10), transform our thoughts (Romans 12:2), put on our new self (Colossians 3:10-12), and pursue God’s will.

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2

Will you join me and take inventory of your life today?

Take out a piece of paper, prayerfully ask God to help you identify people, places, and things you need to get rid of and write them down. Then write a prayer to God asking Him to help you let go and to help you prepare for the new opportunities He has for you.

There’s no better time than now!

About Ann White

Ann White is the Founder, Executive Director of Courage For Life in Marietta, GA. She is an internationally known author, speaker, and passionate Bible teacher. Ann founded her global ministry out of a calling to share with others how God and His Word brought restoration to her life and marriage. You can read more about the author here.

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