What are you willing to give up to follow Christ and the Holy Spirit's leading? I have been challenged by this phrase through the book "Forgotten God" by Francis Chan.
Living in the twenty first century, it is pretty easy to be a christian. I have all my needs met with the addition of technology at my fingertips. With everything so easily attainable and within reach, its hard to imagine what it was like for Paul, Timothy, or the other disciples to give up their very livelihoods to follow Christ. I mean, I am hardly able to give up my phone just to shower! But each of those men (and women in the Bible!) gave up their lifestyles, their comforts, their families, etc to follow the Holy Spirit's leading. I am hardly willing to give up my phone to take a shower, and that's not even for God! That's for my own cleanliness!
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As I reflect on Easter, Jesus was willing to give up his entire life for each of us, but I am often too selfish and comfortable to give up even the littlest of things. Through recent obstacles in my own life, I am seeing the importance of being willing to give up things to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. The thought of it is extremely challenging, I don't want to give up any of my stuff. Well except for maybe that shirt I never wear, I guess I could give that to someone in need. These are the type of thoughts that dominate my thinking, but I have to consider the other areas of my life. If I am truly desiring God, I need to be willing to sacrifice. So that is what I am going to try and do this Easter season.
What areas of your life are you willing or not willing to sacrifice to follow the leading of the Spirit? Your boyfriend? Your car? Your job? Your clothes? Your phone? Your time?
