Give Me More of You, Lord…
Part II of a three part series

Do you have areas in your life that need to be released? If so, keep reading! Because…

Last month we began a three part series, titled—“Give me more of You, Lord.” Together we discovered that each one of us has false fill-ups and sappy substitutes in our lives that keep us from experiencing the freedom and abundance available in our relationship with Jesus Christ. To refresh your memory, or catch you up to date if you’re just joining us, let me give you a quick summary.

False fill-ups and/or sappy substitutes are anything and everything that gets in the way of God’s plans, purpose, and will for our lives. These many “things” may not necessarily be “bad” in themselves. However, if done instead of God’s will, they can do more than distract us. They can actually damage us. These false fill-ups can be divided into two categories:

1. Little bits of something: Those activities that are not really sinful but if done excessively, can quickly become our “everything.” Almost anything can, if not contained, fall into this category.

2. Bigger bits of nothing: These are just what the description states. Things or behaviors that are most certainly not good for us, and definitely not from God. Sin, bondage, and idolatry accurately characterize these nasty nothings.

Our goal last month was to dig deep and evaluate any sin in the form of any person, place, thing, or activity keeping us from God’s best in our lives. It was our job to recognize these false, sappy, and sinful substitutes, so we could move to our next step in the process, which is to release them and leave them at the foot of The Cross where they belong—below the feet of Jesus. Amen!

Before we go any further, I’d like to remind you of a very important fact. Our Lord and Savior loves each one of us with an everlasting and unceasing love. A love that cannot possibly be measured by our limited human understanding. Considering we are human beings, we all have sinned (missed) the mark in our lives. I’d like to share a little secret with you. I’m not perfect. Not that you thought for a moment I was! The truth, well, I lived a very destructive and dysfunctional life before I allowed God to help me recognize, release, and experience the renewal that only He can bring.

I was carrying around a large “bag of burdens” filled with my many sinful choices, bondages, and sour emotions. Even as I began to recognize, and started releasing those false fill-ups, I still had a number of negative emotions I had to deal with. Until I learned to let go of these feelings, I trudged through my life carting this overflowing bag of burdens. It was one heavy load--too heavy for me--or any other person to carry. I tried countless counselors, therapy, meetings, and treatment centers, not to mention some pretty whacked out spiritual remedies that only added gas to an already raging blaze.

With God’s help, we can stop our internal fires from growing to uncontainable levels. When we release our sour emotions, God then renews us. Our thoughts become new thoughts and the old passes away. Are you ready? Let’s go.

1. Release anxiety and worry: Do you lie awake at night worrying about bills? What about past poor choices? Sin? Tomorrow? Yesterday? You get the picture. The old saying “when we worry about tomorrow, or spend time in anxiety over the past, it leads us to miss out on today.” (Loose translation) It’s true. God’s word tells us in Luke 12: 29-31: "Do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.” I cannot tell you how many times I have worked myself into a frenzy of worry and anxiety to later be amazed (again) at the fact that not one of my worst predictions came to pass. If only I would have ran to God. After all, it is in His presence where we truly find the peace of mind we so desperately seek, and confidence we need to face another day in these trying and turbulent times.

2. Release frustration and anger: My anger usually starts out as a vibrating rumble of frustration. As a neighbor of the United States’ modern-day-volcano—Mount St. Helens—I get bombarded with news about our grumbling local star. Just as the mountain shakes, rumbles, and develops big domes of lava, if we’re not careful, we too can find ourselves in pre-eruption status. For us frustration might be experiences such as a churning in our stomachs, a throbbing pain in our head, and we too may have a lava dome building just below the surface. But God gives us a way out of having an eruption. “Don’t let the sun go down on your anger,” He instructs us. Do we listen? Sometimes… The consequences of holding on to anger are none too pretty. Not to mention the uncomfortable physical symptoms, we can also experience obsessive thoughts, and a temporary disconnection from our Chief Power Source—The Holy Spirit. Anger and unforgiveness block God’s blessings from entering our lives and keep peace outside the door of our hearts. Anger in itself is just an emotion. But, when we refuse to release it at the end of the day, we are disobeying our Father’s loving command to let go and let Him. Ephesians 4: 26-27 reminds us: "Be angry, and do not let the sun go down on your wrath, or give place to the devil.” Maybe Mount St. Helens will again make the headlines, but we don’t have to. Release your anger and frustration today, before they grow into a far worse malady: Bitterness.

3. Release resentment and bitterness: Our bodies were not created to carry around days, weeks, months, years, or even decades worth of sour emotions. When we hold onto our anger, refusing to release it into God’s capable hands, something horrible happens. We become resentful and eventually bitter men and women. Bitterness is ugly. It blocks God from doing His masterful work in our lives because we have decided to run the show and play God by hanging onto what God asks us to release. He died so we wouldn’t have to be destroyed by bitterness. The Bible refers to this state of being (or rather state-of-dying) as having a “bitter root.” And what do roots do? They grow. And they grow. And grow. No matter how calm and cool you may thing you are on the outside, don’t be fooled. A bitter person can be spotted a mile a way. In this condition we have probably had several full scale eruptions over the years, and currently we just spew an endless spray of hot fumes and ash. Friends, we have to let go! Bitterness has been compared to acid. Picture how acid can eat away at our skin—completely. So it is with bitterness. It eats away at our very heart and soul. When you’re still fighting a battle that ended 10 years ago, you are wasting your time. Surrender now. Get that white flag up high and let God see it. He is ready to restore you and give you back what the “locusts have stolen.” Your mountain of bitterness need not ever erupt again.

4. Release Dissatisfaction: We live in a world that tends to get really hung up on what is wrong rather than right. Sadly many of us get caught in the three C’s—criticize, condemn, and complain. Another way to describe this state of mind is the “if only’s.” If only I could lose weight… If only my dog hadn’t died… If only I had more money… If only, if only, if only. You get the picture. I admit, when life gets hard, which this side of Heaven it will, I am tempted to give in and to the three C’s/If Only mantra. How about you? Are you content in all things? Totally trusting God? Satisfied with your life? If you are, praise God! Keep it up. Most of us, as humans, feel dissatisfaction more than we’d like to admit. I try to remember what Paul said in Philippians 4:11-13 MSG—I’ve learned how to be quit content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.” Most of us won’t ever experience the horrors that Paul did, but we can learn a great lesson from him. No matter what, our hope, if it’s built on the Rock of Jesus, can survive and even flourish in the midst of trials, tragedies, and temptation.

What about envy, jealousy, depression, hopelessness, fear…the list of emotions for us to release is endless. But more “endless” is God’s eternal love and forgiveness for you and me. We do not have to carry our “bag of burdens” another step. Right now—today—tonight-- this very minute--we can release every negative thought, feeling, and action to the only One able to handle our deepest darkest emotions—Jesus Christ. He died to save us. Saving is more than our eternal destiny; it’s about our daily life right here, right now. He died to set us free from the bondage of sin and death, so we could have life, and have it abundantly. So, what are you hanging on to? What secret sins (little bits of something, or bigger bits of nothing) do you need to release? How’s your emotional state? Let’s pray and give our excess baggage to Jesus right now. He’s been waiting to fill us with more of His love and life. Let us receive it.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We love You. We need You. We release to you every false fill-up, sappy sinful substitute, and sour emotion that we have kept in our own personal “bag of burdens.” You, Lord, died to set us free. We choose in this moment to release to you anything and everything that is not of You. Cleanse us and make us as white as snow. Fill us to overflowing with Your perfect love, peace, and power. Make us vessels that You can use to set other captive free. But most of all, we just want more of You, Jesus. Give us more of You, Lord. In Your Incredible Name we pray. Amen.