Let Go of The Reigns

“I, [only] I, am the Lord,

And there is no Savior besides Me."

- Isaiah 43.11 // AMP

Reigns are a communication tool between horse and rider - the follower and leader. They determine the direction, pace, and, posture and responsiveness of the horse. They determine how, when, and where the journey leads.

We are currently in the middle of a pivotal shift. You may even be feeling the aches and pains of the threshold demons that try to throw everything at you to keep you from crossing over. Although they can't stop you from crossing over, they can get you to forfeit (disqualify yourself) or be ill-prepared, or rob you of joy on the way (perhaps even a combination of all of these). This often happens through distractions, getting involved in old patterns/habits, getting weighed down by discouragement or fatigue, or becoming entangled in sin, offence, bitterness, or worse, unbelief (this list is not extensive).

Whatever stage you're at, it is SO incredibly important that you LET GO OF THE REIGNS!

Control is your enemy here. Isaiah 43.19 (AMP) says:

“Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing,

Now it will spring forth;

Will you not be aware of it?

I will even put a road in the wilderness,

Rivers in the desert."

If God is doing a new thing, what you knew before will not work. It can not work. It will require Him, and it takes humility to accept this (and Him). You see, one of the reasons why this pivotal shift is so big is because, if you lock in, God will be seen through whatever He does in your life, and this requires your full obedience and allegiance. A major part of obedience is relinquishing control, and all that you know, and adopting what God says as well as following His directions. That means staying in the Word when you feel like giving up, and praying when you feel like having a tantrum or outburst (you know the ones...); it means giving up what you thought your life would be, and locking in with the life God had written in the book of your life before the world was made.

What if I told you that nothing belongs to us? That all we have belongs to God? Your experiences, resources, gifts, money, your story.. it all belongs to God. What if I told you that the area you are most attacked in is usually the area (or a hint of the area) that your life is meant to make a difference in? What if I told you that you holding on to God and giving Him the reigns means that He gets all the glory, you get to see Him as KING in a way so deeply personal, and that someone watching all of this gets to finally meet their Saviour? I can tell you one thing for sure - if I had given up, you would not be reading this journal post, and if I do give up in the middle of this pivotal shift, I am also giving up on a testimony that could lead to someone's breakthrough or personal Jesus encounter. This is what keeps me hanging on, and I hope it keeps you hanging on, too:

If I give up on myself now, I am giving up on God, as well.

God is holy. He is King, and He is coming back. He is worthy of whatever it takes on this journey of serving Him. This pivotal shift has a lot to do with preparing the way for Him to do what He alone can do, and ultimately, for His return.

The Word tells us that God will never leave us nor forsake us. He's inexplicably more invested in our lives than we are. He has been there through it all, and has given His Word to speak truth into and guide us along the way. So, if you give up now, or if you hold on to the old habits - the snares that entangle, the control, the temptation, etc. - what is on the other side that you are giving up? Who is on the other side?

Letting go of the reigns isn't only about relinquishing control. It is about trusting God - the author and finisher of your life - to guide, guard, and lead you. I'm currently reading the bible from the beginning, and currently now reading Second Kings. The one theme that keeps coming up since Genesis is the rejection of God as King and lack of the fear of the Lord. I've often wondered what on earth the Israelites were doing behaving the way they did (I encourage you to read your bible from Genesis, too). They saw His physical manifestation! Then, it hit me - the conviction from Holy Spirit as He showed me how I had done the same with every choice I made without Him, every decision I made against His Word or will, and every moment I lived trying to control my own pace and outcomes. If you're feeling the pivotal shift, it's so easy to get caught up in the breakthrough or commissioning involved right before, in the middle of, or at its culmination. Stop for a moment and see it for what it truly is. This shift is your opportunity to cross over into your 'promised land' (whatever that looks like), but this time with every idol (including control) out of sight and with God as King in your life. This shift is about preparing the way for His return. The shift is about making a stance like Moses did in Exodus 33.15-16 (AMP):

And Moses said to Him, “If Your presence does not go [with me], do not lead us up from here. For how then can it be known that Your people and I have found favor in Your sight? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we are distinguished, Your people and I, from all the [other] people on the face of the earth?”

Wherever you are right now, take a moment if you will to adjust your focus. Refuse to back down, be distracted, or be led away into old habits or temptations. Let go of what you thought you once knew because this next shift is going to require you to lock eyes with your King. Like never before, read the Word, limit who you listen to (including me) and focus on His voice. Ask Him what He wants you to do in this hour, and wait on Him. Yahweh is such a beautiful Father and King who gives so generously, so ask Him for wisdom, trust, and be still.

Yahweh alone is God. There is no Saviour besides Him. He will lead and guide you - He is the only One who can - but you must let go, otherwise, you'll be like a car in a roundabout going in circles not knowing when to exit. Or worse yet, you'll be like a car in a roundabout that takes the wrong exit and confidently proceeds on a road that it was never destined to take (there's usually a dead end at the end of those).

I'll leave you with this from Proverbs 3.5-6 (AMP):

"Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart

And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.

In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him,

And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].

Hold on, my dear. You're almost there. You've waited too long. It's time to let go and lock eyes with Yahweh. Your King is working in the background, His timing is coming, and He sees you. He is levelling the playing field for those who have been pinned down for so long, except that His way of levelling the playing field is to put your foot on the head of the serpent. You have authority over that which you overcome, and He designed you to overcome (I'm especially talking to the ones that have made up their minds to be the person all generational curses and familiar patterns end with). While you wait, let go of the reigns.

All this is in preparation of the King coming back. Are you ready?

Prayer:

Dear Father, Though it feels as if everything is taking too long, I know You have a plan. Help me to wait for your appointed time. Your Word will not return void, and I know You will not delay. I trust You. Please help me to let go of my control in any and every way. Holy Spirit, please help me to keep my eyes on Jesus. Help me to hold on so that God gets all the glory and so that His purpose for my life is fulfilled in its entirety so that He gets the glory and so that I may bear witness to the world around me that Yahweh alone is God, He saves and that He is GOOD!

Amen.

Prayer if you don't know Jesus and would like to:

Dear Father,

I admit that I am in need of a Saviour. Thank You for giving us Jesus, who died on the cross and became my Saviour. I'm done doing life my way, and I want to do life Your way. I choose to believe in Jesus and to accept the gift of eternal life that comes through Him and Him alone. Please forgive me of my sins, and make me brand new by the power of the Blood of Jesus shed on the cross for me. I thank you that as I accept your Son and choose to follow Him, You give me Your Holy Spirit to help me on this path that I have chosen. Thank you for loving me.

Amen.

(HEY! If you prayed this prayer, YAY! We're officially family in Jesus! Welcome home! Please email hello@lwap.com.au so we can help you get connected with a local church or fellow believers.)

Quick note: I am no expert on this or any spiritual topic for that matter - nobody is (no matter what they tell you). All knowledge and insight comes from God's Holy Spirit. Anyone given knowledge or insight has the sole duty to steward what they are given, and to do as God says to do with it.

Quick caution: not every voice out there is holy. Take everything (and I mean everything - even this) to God and read your bible - the source of truth. Discernment is key and that comes from God through Jesus (alone) by the power of His Holy Spirit only.

If you need help praying for or about something, please click here and fill out our prayer request form. If you'd like for us to pray with you over the phone, please leave your phone number and request a phone call in the comments.

LWAP is a community, so let's do this together. Comment your thoughts below.

Jesus loves you [.... so do I].

- Pamela.

Jeremiah 29.11