All it takes is a one word prompt and we write brave and free.
Such is the liberty of joining in for #fiveminutefriday
Or do we? Sometimes words stall in our heads and get left unexpressed. We feel blocked or broken inside.
Deep pondering and marinating are not how we operate in this creative writing endeavour.
Giving in to the moment, going with the flow and eschewing perfection is what it’s all about.
But some words stir deep, unsettle and unleash a flood rather than a drizzle.
Such was the result for me of beginning to write about this week’s prompt:’Release’.
I thought a bit, prayed, set the timer and wrote.. and wrote.. and wrote long past the limit. A poetic rambling and prayerful cry too personal to share.
Because this word hits too close to home to give an easy answer to. I’m living change, transition and release. Begging for it while I draw back scared.
Part of me craving an alteration and part of me resenting the effort it will require before lasting change can take place.
Staying the same isn’t an option once God puts His finger on an area requiring change. He will never give up wanting the very best for us.
So we yield easy, or fight our way up like drowning swimmers gasping for air. I’m fighting, and slowly learning how to surrender restfully.
This morning I didn’t set the clock or expect to participate in any writing exercise.
I woke earlier than usual and sensed a holy call to climb out of the covers. I obeyed reluctantly at first, having had a restless, wakeful night and with a body crying out desperate for sleep.
But I’m glad I obeyed. I met with God as He whispered words I needed to hear and felt prompted to share in the hope of blessing you too.
Prayer Whisper:’Release’
“Re-lease your life into My care. You are not your own; you were bought with the price of My redeeming Love and sacrificial blood. I paid the price to set you free so that you could learn to become fully yourself as I intended you to.
Release ~ the weight of guilt, burden of sin and shame, turmoil of anger, resentment and unforgiveness. It poisons your body and mind to hold on to such things.
Release ~ your hopes, dreams and desires so that they can be sifted and purified, right motive and purpose given, and all submitted to My will and authority.
Release ~ the past, present and future. I see the end from the beginning. I am Alpha and Omega. Trust Me to take care of it all and pave the way for you to walk steadily with Me, moment by moment.
Release ~ all that chains and tethers you to earth. My desire is to make beauty from the ashes, bring hope out of despair and joy from adversity. Let loose all that prevents you from living freely in body and in mind.
Hand over all that you are, have been and will be. You are no surprise to Me. I know you inside out, and will provide the best way for you to grow strong, be fruitful and live compassionately to impact the lives of others for good.
As you release you will find true freedom because I take it all and give back to you only those things that fit who you are and prepare you for My purpose, all that brings joy, peace, rest and ease because you trust in Me.
Letting go takes courage and faith, but it will bring you so much more than those things you cling on to with tight clenched fists. They become stumbling blocks and strongholds preventing forward momentum.
Open your hands, release and ready yourself to receive, My child. I am waiting to give back to you.”
Linking here with Lisa-Jo, Laura and Mel. You are very welcome to join in.
Poetry Joy 
My tears flow as I read this post. You have so spoken the tuggings in my heart. This release… “Begging for it while I draw back scared.” And what precious comfort in your meeting with God! Thank you for sharing this hope of blessing, Joy.
Trudy, tears are a soul’s release and often a sign of God at work deep within. We don’t seek them but they flow of their own accord. I am honoured and humbled to have played a small part in God speaking to “the tuggings” in your heart. Those meeting times with God when my soul stills long enough to listen well are precious indeed. God bless you, friend. 🙂 x
Beautiful, Joy. I know you can’t take credit for all the words, but you can for having the sense, stillness of heart and wisdom to hear and record them. Thank you. Sorry this was a painful word for you, but so glad that the Lord spoke into that pain because you gave it up to him. Release indeed. Bless you.
Thank you, Keren. I love the way God speaks so powerfully to us in our times of duress and provides not only nourishment for our own soul but manna to share with others. I’m still very much a beginner in this listening attentively type of prayer, but God encourages my heart greatly with words such as these. May you find comfort and peace as you release your deep troubles, cares and daily concerns into His loving hands. Bless you, my friend. 🙂 x
So very beautiful.
Thank you, Denise! I am blessed by your visit too. 🙂 x
Joy, I’m sorry to hear you’re battling some tough stuff right now. It sounds like this writing prompt really stirred some things in you. Beautiful words.
Thank you, Ree. I appreciate you stopping by to encourage me! Yes, writing prompts tend to do that with me. I have often been transported back to the past with a single word. And it is a healing thing to write out our story of life and faith, no matter what has inspired it. Bless you for reading and leaving a lovely, thoughtful comment. 🙂
It is all about releasing our innermost self to God. Obeying and listening to his words, is the key to a peace within that only comes from our Saviour. Beautiful thoughts and words to ponder on today, Joy. Put all the impossible things we cannot carry, and put them in a package. Tie the package up with a bow, and hand it over to him. We can watch him walk away with whatever we put in His care.
Nells, I love how you have expounded on the ideas here. Releasing all to God is a process that can take years. Now I can remember these words, “..hand it over to him..watch him walk away with whatever we put into His care” whenever I have “impossible things” I cannot carry by myself. Thank you! 🙂 x
Beautiful, beautiful, Joy, and so helpful too! To encourage other Christian poets and writers to hear this, I highlighted your post on the Christian Poets & Writers blog – http://christianpoetsandwriters.blogspot.com. Thanks and blessings.
Mary, I am so pleased this spoke to you and delighted to have it highlighted on the Christian Poets and Writers blog! Thank you, and bless you for your continual support and encouragement to us all. 🙂
Oh, Joy, this spoke to me too – and I know that it will have touched many hearts. For me it’s about opening my hands, tightly clenched into fists, and releasing to our Father the things I’m don’t want to let go of. Letting Him have my long- held hopes and dreams and asking Him to teach my heart to let go of them too. There was a line in a song I heard for the first time lately that said, ‘…but will we trade our dreams for His?’ and it made me cry. Your post reminded me of it. Am I prepared to lay down my dreams? If I don’t release the things I’m holding so tightly, my hands won’t be open to receive what He wants to give to me…
Thank you for your beautiful, haunting post full of wisdom.
Helen, I share your reluctance to let go of it all. This releasing is a lifelong process where fists gradually relax their tight grip, unfurl slow and finally open up willngly to the Father. Your very desire to release, coupled with His desire to take burdens from you, will eventually bring you to a place of freedom. It can feel like a hard grace to ask us to trade in our dreams, until we remember He laid them on our hearts and will only exchange the good for His best. You encapsulate the dilemma and the solution so beautifully with these words, “If I don’t release the things I’m holding so tightly, my hands won’t be open to receive what He wants to give me.” Amen! Praying and learning right with you, my friend. God bless you 🙂 x
Hi Joy! I’m a bit late to the FMF party, but I’m glad I stopped by today.
Release and get lighter, that’s the goal. But I find that I have to do this every day of my life because as much as I release, I take back. It sounds crazy, but there it is.
I like all the ways you laid out to release. It is definitely what I need to do! And I pray that when you support us in your writing, we all remember that it’s so worth it!
Blessings,
Ceil
Hi Ceil. It’s good to see you! Oh, I can identify with, “because as much as I release, I take back.” Yes, it can be a painful thing and necessary to repeat, even on a daily basis. Praise God for giving me the ‘prayer whisper’ and revealing His wisdom through it! We are all here to help and support one another on the journey of life and faith, and I pray to be a blessing and encouragement to others as I write mine out here. God bless you, my friend. 🙂 x
Hi Joy, Your entry, prayer- whisper: ‘Release’ is totally beautiful and has already touched many hearts, including mine. I’m glad you waited and listened to what the Lord wanted to say to you. He blessed you and He blessed us as well. Now that I am winding down on my journey, I can see how difficult it was and how long it took for me to release all the things I held on to…I guess I actually busied myself with the act of ‘taking care’ of all of those things that I had ‘to address, resolve or make sense of” for myself and for those I loved. The Lord has since quieted my heart so that I can focus solely on Him and what He needs me to do. I remember something my dad said to me when I was in my early to late 40s: ‘You always say that you put everything in God’s hands…but you keep on taking it back.’ I had to learn…and it has taken me almost a lifetime to get it right. I thank God for His lovingkindness, patience and tender mercies for seeing me through. He will see you through because you are His child and He loves you.
Carole :)x
Hi Carole, thanks very much for sharing your own struggles in this area of releasing all to God. Salvation is an instantaneous process, but surrender and sanctification take a lifetime. We do learn an element of resting trust, a slowing down of hectic thoughts and a giving over of anxieties and cares the longer we walk the road with God. I love that you’ve come to a place where you can, “focus solely on Him and what He needs me to do” because that’s a place of peace and freedom. How thankful we are to God for His “lovingkindness, patience and tender mercies” that see us through each and every day! Thank you so much for stopping by to offer insight, blessing and encouragement. I really appreciate it. 🙂 x
Joy, May I mention also, the beautiful picture of the butterfly on your hand? It is so perfect because it reminds me that once we are able to release all of those cares, we kind of have wings because we are free… thank you, Joy and God bless you and your every word. 🙂
Carole
Carole, I love butterflies and the freedom they represent; a freedom wrought through struggle and transformation from the inside out, much like the Christian life. This is a borrowed image as it’s quite a challenge to capture a shot like this! God bless you for your sweet encouragement, friend. 🙂 x