All things are permitted, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted, but not all things build people up.

1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭23‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

Do you have sticky things in your life? Things that fall into the margins? Maybe they don’t fit what we think of as sinful, but we know they aren’t something we feel good about.

Those are the things I’ve been thinking about lately. I’ll give you an easy (not so easy) example: sweets. This is a number one sticky thing for me. Sweets are permissible, they don’t threaten my salvation, but they do weigh me down, figuratively and literally. In the moment sweets are blissful, but they are deceptively empty and secretly cause me harm. I don’t want to give them up, and I can’t let them go. But sweets sabotage my long term health goals.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

It is impossible for me to give them up. Short term I can manage, but eventually I give in and I’m right back where I started. This sticky thing, I can reason and I can justify, but I can’t let go and give it to God. I enjoy my sweets and want to keep enjoying them, just without the negative consequences. Right?

The truth is: God is patient. He never pushes us up the hill. He wants to be our desire.

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

Psalms‬ ‭37‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT

I have more sticky things. Things that take my focus away from God. Things I haven’t been open to letting go. Things that hinder me.

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

If there is anything keeping me from singing, “I surrender all,” then I still have a sticky thing.

Heavenly Father,

I want you in all areas of my life, my goals, my health, my relationships. Every aspect. I want to run the race looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of my faith, (Heb.12:1-2) delighting in your plan and purpose for me. For I know in surrender there is help to get unstuck.

Amen

Grace & Peace,

Sandy

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