Not many people can say they had an alligator as a pet. But I did. For a short time. My dad worked off shore and one of his returns for time off he brought me a baby alligator. I might have been three. We put it in the bathtub and I could hold it by its tail. We took that alligator with us when we came to Arkansas to visit family. My dad turned it loose in a nearby pond. I can’t say I missed this pet because even though it was barely 6 inches long, it had a ferocious bite. My dad said many times, “Do not try to pick it up.” But I would of course. And then it was interesting to figure out how to let it go without it nipping me. Now my dad loved me, but he didn’t let me keep that dangerous pet, knowing it would quickly outgrow the “look at it, it’s so cute” stage. We’d end up with a monster on our hands.
Oh beloved, God wants you to know this morning that He sees your struggles. There are things you want to keep holding onto even if it’s causing you pain. He is a loving God and He gives good gifts. But He’s not going to let you worry, fret or pet anything that will harm you. Whether it’s people, places or things, His loving Fatherhood knows best. While He is speaking to your heart, “Let it go”, He isn’t trying to give you heartache. He’s loosing you from something, even though it may be better than an alligator, to give you His best. The enemy wants you to think you can’t live without it, but he also wants to kill, steal and destroy you. God always acts in love, because His nature and His character are pure love. “God is love”. You can keep whatever it is, God will let you. But beloved, there is something wonderful ahead for you if you can manage to just let other things go. You destiny is to live with such loose open hands of faith that God will be able to quickly move you into His next gift without you having any pain.
God loves you and He’s for you. Even if you didn’t want to be rid of something, someone, someplace, it’s okay. You are blessed and your life is hidden in Christ. Nothing else matters except letting God love you, letting Him lead you and letting Him choose the best for you. Run to Him this morning and live with passionate freedom in the Light of His plan for your life!
Psalm 139: 23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.”
Psalm 143: 10 “Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”
I Thessalonians 4: 1 “Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more.”
John 10: 4 “When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.”
Psalm 73: 25 “Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.”
Psalm 18: 32 “It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.”