Friday Fight 50 - Renewing, Returning, or Releasing

Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help me fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF50.

How often have we looked at a relationship in our lives and wondered if we were holding on too tightly or if it is still part of God's will? We all go through seasons with friendships, but what if God was trying to remove someone from our lives, and we unknowingly prevent it?

Renewing, Returning, or Releasing:

God will bring people in and out of our lives for many reasons in different seasons. But, if we look at our relationships outside of our significant others, how do they appear?

Look at low times in our lives when suddenly, in our loneliness, a new friendship develops and fills a void? It is beautiful when it is the work of the Holy Spirit. We have friends that are like family and will be in our lives forever. Then we have close friends who are mutually renewing, but we always need to be mindful that God will bring people into our lives for a season to plant seeds for later growth, though we may never see that growth closely. God has already ordained others to come behind us to plant more seeds, just as we did. What happens if we keep returning to these friendships from which God is trying to release us? What seeds are not being planted by others because we are desperately clinging to a relationship?

Darkness will work cleverly to have us hold onto friendships that stop our spiritual growth. These relationships, at times, may feel like we are pouring into a bottomless glass. Pray and ask God if you are to release them. It does not mean you are no longer friends, but instead, it may mean that God will now use someone else to walk alongside them while also bringing someone else to walk alongside us.

All of us have varying degrees of friendships; however, this lesson is to bring our awareness and attention to those that may be unhealthy, one-sided or shifting so we can continue to grow spiritually. Through prayer, the Holy Spirit will reveal the answers. Pray for those that renew, those we return to, and those we should be releasing.

Pastor Shannon

New Life Calvert