I was on one of the greatest adventures of a lifetime – traveling the world, living out of a backpack, growing closer to God, experiencing things that most people will never experience…and yet there I was moping and laying in bed depressed all because my best friend back home was getting married and I wasn’t and wasn’t sure if I ever would.
This morning as my roommate and I got ready for church the Spirit began downloading an awesome revelation and as I was preaching it, it resonated so much with my life and all that God had brought me through in the last year and a half.
He revealed a woman’s greatest strength…and weakness. Obsession. In its strength it’s simply known as devotion… in its weakness it’s an unhealthy fixation.
When Adam and Eve were in the garden they were given everything that God created for their enjoyment…well everything except ONE tiny little thing – fruit from a certain tree. Other than that everything was theirs to enjoy. Before the fall Eve had one purpose – to love, serve and enjoy God and her husband (Adam). She was to be devoted to them.
Women are really good at focusing on their passion, on their obsession… At this point in time Adam and God were to be Eve’s holy obsession. And it was a good thing. Yet satan saw this strength of hers and pounced on it… he directed her focus onto the ONE THING she didn’t have… the fruit from the forbidden tree. He enticed her so well that she became fixated on it. She wanted that fruit. It looked appealing. She began wondering why God was withholding from her. It wasn’t fair. It’s all she could think about and dream about. She wanted it! She needed it!
How often do you feel that way? So fixated on that one thing that you desire most in life and you don’t have it yet… you begin to notice other people who have it and down the road of comparison you run. You start to question God’s goodness… or even if He notices you. You start to forget about all the awesome things He has already given you and blessed you with currently because that one thing is all you can think about.
What is that one thing in your life? Marriage? That used to be mine. The perfect job? Children? The ideal vacation? The latest iphone? The latest style in clothing or shoes?
None of those things are bad in and of themselves. Being obsessed or devoted to something isn’t a bad thing.. Desiring marriage isn’t a bad thing. Working out isn’t a bad thing. But when these things become an unhealthy fixation to where it’s all you think about and care about…? Well, that is when you need to ask yourself…am I gripping too tightly to this one thing?
Recently God gave me a picture of what it means to have an “open-hands” policy with Him. I had a firm demanding grip on what I wanted most in life: marriage. I wanted to be a wife and I wanted to be a mother more than anything. It’s all I prayed about. It’s all I talked about. It’s all I journaled about.
But God in His loving kindness slowly began 
to pry my hands loose – one finger at a time.
And recently I got it…I got why He did that. It wasn’t that letting go meant I would never receive it – but God knew by me holding onto it I was missing out on all the great stuff He had for me in the now.
Here’s the picture: when your hands are closed tightly onto something, they aren’t free to receive anything. You can’t place something into hands that aren’t open. But if you open them, letting go and holding onto nothing, then you give God the opportunity to put new things into your hands; gifts, blessings, etc. If your hands are closed you’ll miss out on all that He wants to currently give you. However if you let go and open up your hands, you can receive much more than you ever asked or dreamed of… you can receive good things now… AND good things in the future – perhaps even the thing you are obsessed with and desiring the most.
Are your hands currently gripped onto something? What are you holding onto? If you want ALL that God has for you I encourage you to let it go already.
Here’s a few ways God taught me to break the bondage of an unhealthy obsession and fixation…
1… TAKE YOUR THOUGHTS CAPTIVE AND REFUTE THEM WITH THE TRUTH!
Whatever lies the enemy is 
telling you, FIGHT back with the word of God! Fight back in your actions. Every morning speak out loud that you are choosing truth TODAY. Don’t worry about how you’ll feel tomorrow…just focus on the present day. TODAY, I choose life. TODAY, I choose joy. TODAY, I choose to believe God is faithful. TODAY, I choose to trust God is a GOOD and LOVING God. TODAY, I give Him what I desire trusting that He’ll turn it into something even more beautiful.
2… PURSUE COMMUNITY WITH OTHER BELIEVERS!
According to the Myers-Briggs test I’m the biggest introvert you’ll ever meet. I literally only have 1% extrovert in my personality. But introvert or not – that doesn’t give us the justification to isolate ourselves from other people – e
specially people who can speak life over us and who can edify us with positive and constructive feedback. Know yourself. It’s okay to be alone sometimes, especially for us introverts. But when that alone time becomes a pity party or a “defense mechanism” to keep yourself from getting hurt or disappointed… THAT is when you need to seek relationships. Don’t wait for people to pursue you…that’s not their responsibility. It’s completely on you to know when you need people and when you just need some personal time to recharge.
3…Get yourself a hobby, particularly an active one.
So open your hands before God. Give Him whatever it is your obsessing over and holding onto. Don’t allow the enemy to take your focus off God..don’t allow yourself to miss out on all the awesomeness in your life any longer! Devote yourself to Him – make Him your obsession and I promise you He’ll give you way more than you could have ever imagined.
Just let it go already.
