Have you ever held onto something longer than you knew you should? Maybe it was a toxic relationship, a disappointment, a mistake, a negative thought, or even words somebody spoke over you…

Letting go can be hard.

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” -Reinhold Niebuhr

Wow. “The serenity to accept the things I cannot change.”

How often do we waste our mental and emotional energy on things we can’t change? We worry about the future, regret the past, feel insecure about ourselves, and hold onto painful decisions other people have made.

…but what would happen if we just let it all go?

Luke 12:25-26 say, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”

Our anxious thoughts accomplish nothing! In fact, they can paralyze us from moving forward. They can make us feel discouraged, victimized, alone, unworthy, angry, depressed, insecure, untrusting, and fearful.

We may think the emotional baggage and toxic thoughts we allow ourselves to carry will protect us from getting hurt again, but they don’t. They only keep us from embracing the freedom and blessing God has for us right now.

So how do you know when to let go? And once you’re ready to let go, how do you actually do it?

To identify whether it’s time to let go of something in your life, start by asking yourself:

→ Is it based in LOVE or in FEAR?
→ Does it line up with the Word of God?
→ Does it apply to the present?
→ Is there anything I can do to change it?
→ Is it going to hold me back from obeying God?
→ Has it already held me back?
→ Is it affecting my emotional well-being?
→ Is worrying about it going to make a difference?

Things we need to let go of come in all forms and fashions. They can be mind-sets, people, situations, hurts, sin, and fears. If you’ve identified something toxic in your life that you need to release to God, here are three places to start:

1. Pray.

Ask God for the strength and wisdom to proceed. Give it to God! Letting go of things that are holding you back is an exciting process because it will free you to live the life you want to live, but it will also require emotional growth to get you there.

God will give you the peace and grace to make the hard decisions!

2. Get a new vision.

Start renewing your mind to what God says about your situation and focusing on what He says is true, not on what past experiences have trained you to believe. If you are dealing with a fearful or harmful mind-set, this is especially crucial. It’s hard to let go of the past and embrace the future when we’re living in fear.

Start thinking God thoughts and discover the confidence to let go of the things that aren’t meant for you!

3. Make a change.

If you’re dealing with a toxic situation in your life, you may need to make a physical change moving forward. Sometimes the best way to ensure we won’t return to the negative situations in our lives is to draw a clear line in the sand. It may require setting boundaries, separating yourself from the situation, or having an honest conversation with a difficult person.

In order to move on, identify the actions you need to take to let go once and for all.

When we let go of the things that aren’t God’s best for us, we find something so much better!

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It’s time to break free, be the best you can be, and live the life God wants for you! Click HERE to request your copy of Love Encounter 2017 on DVD and learn powerful principles and tools from speakers like Drenda Keesee, Terri Savelle Foy, and Bev Mortlock that will re-ignite your passion and jump-start your dreams!