Dare To Be Derek

This year for Christmas, I gave my family some challenges. I gave them some vague ideas of what I wanted, but mostly I wanted them to choose the gifts that they bought me. As part of that, I asked my parents to buy me a necklace from The Giving Keys, but I asked them to pick the word. The picture above is the necklace they chose and for the last week it has been challenging my ideas of the future.

As this year is coming to a close, I find myself preparing for something new to begin. Every year there is a moment that happens; one simple moment that I seem to expect to magically change everything. But doesn’t this seem just a tad illogical? Can anything fully change in one moment or do I simply trick myself to believe it can? I am not sure for everyone else, but I want to share what has been on my heart.

One of the things I have been learning over the last year is that while moments may begin the process, the time that comes after that initial moment is just as powerful as the moment itself. Often I find myself longing so greatly for the moment and the change that I think the moment will bring, but I completely ignore every other beautiful and magical moment in between. So this year I am approaching the New Year with a different attitude. This year I am letting go.

I read an article on the Storyline Blog about letting go of what is holding you back from healing earlier this week and it confirmed some of what I have been feeling. For so many years of my life I have held on to expectations for so many things and I have been angry about those things not going the way I wanted them to. This past year has begun a journey of learning to let go and I believe that this is one of the things my future will be defined by.

Please don’t get me wrong, I am not giving up or giving in, but I am letting go. My hands have been full of worry, doubt, fear, anger, bitterness, and the like and I can’t carry them any longer. It’s not just that I can’t, it’s that I don’t want to.  For me to truly become the man God has made me to be, I must be willing to receive the things He has for me.

For me to fully allow myself to receive anything, I need to release what I have been carrying. So here it is, I lay down the things that I am used to, I give them up, I am letting go. But this isn’t a one time deal, this is a daily, moment by moment, release to let go of what hinders and to receive all that the Father has for me.

If you follow me on any social media outlet, you have probably seen the hashtag I have been using lately which is #HolyAndWild and that is how I intend to live my letting go life. I am letting go of all of the preconceived ideas of who other people think I am supposed to be and I am going to allow myself to be wild and holy. I want to have more adventures and I want to grow deeper in my walk with the Lord. I want to release the control that I have held on to and give Holy Spirit space to move in my life. I want to be all that He says that I am and I want you to come along with me. So for the last time I will say it, I am letting go, and I hope that you will join me this New Years Eve and fully allow yourself to let go of whatever is holding you back!