For Real This Time
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." – Proverbs 3:5-6
Laying it down sounds good, but what does it really mean? It means you do not just lay things down before God. You lay them down in front of others too. That is where real freedom happens.
One of the biggest reasons people struggle to surrender is because they do not fully trust God. If you trusted Him completely, you would not hesitate to let go. But too often, you hold onto things because they feel like your source of comfort, security, or control. Even when they are destroying you, you still cling to them because the unknown feels scarier than what you are used to.
Back when I preached the Why Not You? series, people were getting freed from things that had controlled their lives for years. They were not just saying they wanted freedom. They were laying it down: physically, publicly, completely. At our Southside campus, people threw heroin on the altar. They threw fentanyl onto the stage. Razor blades, vape pens, whatever had a grip on their lives, they surrendered it.
Last weekend, I held up a vape pen and said, "Whatever we elevate above God, there is a moment when we have to say, ‘I am finding greater comfort in this than in the God who wants to do immeasurably more within me.’” That is what it comes down to. If you are holding onto something, believing it provides what only God can give, it is time to lay it down.
What is it for you? It may not be drugs or a physical addiction, but it could be fear, control, anger, or something else you run to instead of running to God. You cannot keep holding onto it and expect to walk in freedom at the same time.
Laying it down is not just about saying a prayer. It is about taking real action. It is about trusting God more than you trust the thing you have been holding onto. When you lay it down, He lifts you up. When you surrender, He sets you free.
The question is, will you trust Him enough to finally let it go...for real this time?
Laying it down sounds good, but what does it really mean? It means you do not just lay things down before God. You lay them down in front of others too. That is where real freedom happens.
One of the biggest reasons people struggle to surrender is because they do not fully trust God. If you trusted Him completely, you would not hesitate to let go. But too often, you hold onto things because they feel like your source of comfort, security, or control. Even when they are destroying you, you still cling to them because the unknown feels scarier than what you are used to.
Back when I preached the Why Not You? series, people were getting freed from things that had controlled their lives for years. They were not just saying they wanted freedom. They were laying it down: physically, publicly, completely. At our Southside campus, people threw heroin on the altar. They threw fentanyl onto the stage. Razor blades, vape pens, whatever had a grip on their lives, they surrendered it.
Last weekend, I held up a vape pen and said, "Whatever we elevate above God, there is a moment when we have to say, ‘I am finding greater comfort in this than in the God who wants to do immeasurably more within me.’” That is what it comes down to. If you are holding onto something, believing it provides what only God can give, it is time to lay it down.
What is it for you? It may not be drugs or a physical addiction, but it could be fear, control, anger, or something else you run to instead of running to God. You cannot keep holding onto it and expect to walk in freedom at the same time.
Laying it down is not just about saying a prayer. It is about taking real action. It is about trusting God more than you trust the thing you have been holding onto. When you lay it down, He lifts you up. When you surrender, He sets you free.
The question is, will you trust Him enough to finally let it go...for real this time?
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2026
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A Prophetic EarLearning the Voice You Hear Every DayAdopted, Not ToleratedThe Same Spirit Lives in YouWhy Jesus Chose DependenceExisting Versus Truly LivingWhen God Interrupts Your RoutineConviction Calls You Up, Not OutHe Who Gets the Son Gets It AllLet the Word Get in YouThe Book You Never FinishWhen You Finally Taste What’s BetterGod Is Speaking Every Time You Open the BibleFreedom Comes from Knowing the TruthThe Holy Spirit Works with What You StoreYou Might Be the Only Bible They ReadThe Word You Read Today Might Be for Someone Else Tomorrow
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1 Comment
Man Pastor Ed. You touched on something big here. Having walked that path I feel compelled right now. I’m so glad our church has people to talk to right after service as well. I know now that God loves me so much that He will and has let me continue to do things that are bad for me. He does let me learn my lessons. When I really had enough laying it down was definitely part of it but I also had to then surround myself with others who also had laid it down. With His word. With experienced guidance on these types of lives and how to get out of them. My whole life had to change. Which would have been impossible without His help. I discovered that when I really had the sincere desire to put all that behind me I received the Holy Spirit guiding me at my every turn to take actions toward making that happen. But I had to follow that direction. Please please please reach out for help from the church if you want something better. They can introduce you to people like us who have walked this path before to help you along the way.