5. letting go
Being the first newsletter of the year, I want to wish you a very good 2025! I pray it has been a blessed year so far.
As I sit down to write this newsletter, I've been questioning how effective it has been for me to set goals. Did you know that 88% of people quit their New Year resolutions by January 10?(it's affectionately known as Quitter's Day!)
At the end of each year, I reflect on the year gone by and dream about the coming new year. I realised that in the last quarter of 2024, I accidentally achieved more than what I could have ever imagined! I lost over 8% of my body weight in 3 months.
I think unconsciously in previous years, I’ve put pressure on myself during the last few months of the year when I felt disappointed with what I hadn't achieved so far that year.
However, in 2024, something different happened. Perhaps because I had such an intense 2024, I dropped all my expectations of anything good coming out of that year. Or perhaps I had just come to the end of my own limits and was so desperate to give anything I go. I was at a point where I was tired, discouraged, lost, and didn't have the mental or emotional capacity to work my own way out of where I was at. I let go of doing all the thinking myself, and simply followed a system created by experts.
As ironic as it sounds, could it be that perhaps one of the reasons why I achieved so much is because I didn't try to?
I let go of expectations.
I let go of overthinking.
I let go of thinking I know best and trusted in proven systems.
Upon deeper reflection, it has been times when I let go of my limiting beliefs and trusted others with an open mind that I have gained some of the most beautiful and richest experiences.
I still remember one such moment. Here I was, swinging on my hammock, feeling the gentle breeze as I gazed out into the view, catching glimpses of light bouncing off the still water. I was following a guide and after taking a few deep breaths, I closed my eyes and thought of something from the prompts. In what felt like eternity, I opened my eyes less than 5 minutes later and felt so refreshed, so rested, so at peace. I couldn't believe it. I hadn't paid heaps to go on some glorious overseas holiday far away, I was right at home!
That was the beginning of my weekly sabbath practice. What started off as a 4 week experiment, following a system others had benefited from is now one of the most life giving and restorative practices in my life. For over 5 years, I spend 24 hours each week to stop, rest, delight and worship God. I'm grateful for that sabbath guide and that I initially let go of thinking it was impossible to make time to rest and that it wasn't going to be worth it.
story
“Leave it… Kobe, leave it….”
My dog Kobe learned to chase balls before he was even toilet trained. In fact, I never even had the chance to use the word fetch. as he somehow intuitively knew how to chase the ball and bring it back to me.
The problem is, though, that he refuses to let the ball go. I’ve tried many things—repeating the phrase “leave it,” giving him treats—but it’s only when he sees another ball within his reach that he momentarily lets go of the current ball to grab the new ball.
It’s a classic case of FOMO—the fear of missing out—not wanting to give up what he currently has until he knows and sees that there is another better ball to play with.
I am a bit like that in many ways—not wanting to let go of something I possess unless I know there is something else better out there. I have been caught in the worldly culture to keep climbing, keep pursuing success, keep growing and getting better each day. It almost seems unwise and stupid to let go of what I have tightly grasped in my hands to make space and wait patiently. To be ready with open hands for what good might happen next.
I used to justify this constant need for more as good stewardship. I need to make full use of everything that God has given me. Not waste any of my talents. Make the 5 talents produce another 5, not just bury my 2 talents. Is it though?
I’ve seen Kobe get so fixated on the ball he has. His full attention is on that one thing, that I can’t even give him something else, even if it is better than what he currently has in his mouth.
devotional
In Luke 5, Jesus calls his first disciples. When Jesus told Simon, a fisherman, where to cast his nets after he had caught nothing all night, Simon left everything and followed Jesus (Luke 5:11). When Jesus asked Levi a tax collector, to follow him, he too left everything, rose, and followed Jesus (Luke 5:28).
A.Z. Tozer says, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.
God is not a masochist where he derives pleasure from making us give up everything and have a miserable life.
God is good and desires as a good father to bless his children with good things (Matthew 7:11).
God loves us and has sacrificed his son Jesus for us (John 3:16).
God is a wise creator who wonderfully made us for a purpose (Psalm 139:14).
God knows us better than we know ourselves, and we can trust him to lead us on the right path. This means having faith to follow him into the unknown future and letting go, relinquishing our control of running life our way.
Ephesians 4:31-32
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Isaiah 43:18-19
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
Is it possible that you are holding onto something so tightly that it might be stopping you from experiencing the new things God has in store for you?
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
quote
He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose. - Jim Elliot
question
Is there something or someone that the Holy Spirit is prompting you to let go of now? Could this be hindering you from following God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind?
prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you that you are a good and perfect Father. Thank you for loving me and always wanting the very best for me. I'm sorry for the ways I've tried to run life my own way, thinking I know best. Give me clarity to see what is hindering me from following you wholeheartedly. Please help me let go of that. Give me the courage and strength to trust you and follow your way.
Amen
Have a great week.
Love,
p.s. I'm curious to know what you are letting go of. This year I'm learning to let go of needing to do everything perfectly. For years (well actually all of my life!!), I’ve sought perfection and I'm beginning to realise how that hasn't served me so well.
p.p.s. I'm looking for people who are open to trying a 4 week challenge—to spend 10 minutes each morning and night with guided prompts to help you become more aware of God's love in every part of your day. If you're open to try this, please send me an email.