5 Minutes of Hope

Having been raised in a fairly QUIET and a fairly FORMAL Baptist church in my growing up years, when I first stepped foot inside a Pentecostal church, it was … interesting. Generally speaking, you can sense EXCITEMENT in the air. Exuberance and expectation EXUDE from the congregants. More times than not you’ll find them on their feet, worshiping, waving, and loving on God. After worship, and after the preacher has proclaimed Christ CRUCIFIED, RISEN, and COMING AGAIN, it is a common practice to have an altar call. WHAT is an altar call, you might ask?

Hello friend and welcome to 5 Minutes of Hope.

Today’s topic is: Holding on and Letting Go.

The altar call at a Pentecostal church is where … people meet God. If it’s your FIRST encounter, it’s what’s known as, “coming to Christ”, or “getting saved”, or “being born again”. If you’re already “saved” you are going to the altar for a “touch from God” a “closer walk”, a “deeper experience”. Now then, it can get awfully LOUD at a Pentecostal altar when several folks are calling upon God at the same time. It is not at all unusual to hear someone praying on one side of you, “HOLD ON” while the person on the other side is encouraging you to “LET GO”.

Holding on and letting go.

Listen to this encouragement from the Word of God: “Let us seize and HOLD TIGHTLY the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is reliable and trustworthy and faithful to his word”.

Hebrews 10:23

And, just a few words later: “As for us, we have all these great witnesses who encircle us like clouds. So we must LET GO of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into. Then we will be able to run life’s marathon race with passion and determination for the path has been already marked out before us”.

Hebrews 12:1

Hold on and let go.

Hold on … to God’s promises.

Let go … of the devil’s lies.

Hold on … to the ♫ faith of our father’s living still.

Let go … of doubt and worry.

Hold on … to God’s unchanging hand.

Let go … of being led down the path of deceit.

Hold on … to God’s forgiveness.

Let go … of ALL unforgiveness.

Like the steer wrestler at the country rodeo … HOLD ON … for dear life to all that is good and right and godly and … HOLD ON … tight because it’s gonna be a bumpy ride. With the other hand … LET GO! Throw it up in the air in an act of worship and surrender to God and His will.

Dear one, let’s find balance and victory in the HOLDING ON and the LETTING GO.

Mighty God, we thank You for Your Word which teaches us the need to HOLD ON to You and LET GO of our entire lives, placing them into Your loving and faithful hands. In the matchless name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, we pray. Amen

Friend, may you be FILLED with hope today and share it with others.