GIVE UP and PICK UP

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

First and foremost, let’s remember that Jesus gave us more than we could ever give. Through His life, death, and resurrection, we have been shown the way to heaven and eternity with Him. We do not deserve it. We could never earn it! This eternal life with our Father, complete with a direct connection to Him even while on earth, is a blessing that we cannot fully understand!

When Jesus left the earth for Heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to reside in each of His believers. We are now living temples of the Holy Spirit. We have been given the command by Jesus to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Mark 12:30)

The Lord does not expect perfection. He loves us even with our flaws and is always willing to forgive us for our wrongdoings. Yet, He wants what’s best for us, and that includes boundaries and healthy guidelines for how we live. And since our bodies hold the Holy Spirit, we are asked to take care of them so that we can complete the unique work that God has called for each of us to do.

Let’s take some time to look for some habits that we may GIVE UP to find the time and energy to PICK UP some new habits that will be more beneficial. Here are a few examples:

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for Jesus and His life, death, and resurrection which provided the way to heaven and eternity with You. Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to live in us, giving us a deeper connection with You. Lord, we long to follow You. Please help us to GIVE UP what is not beneficial and PICK UP what will make a beneficial impact in our walk with You. In Christ’s name, Amen.

Journal: What can you GIVE UP? What will you PICK UP? Write a list and share it with the Lord.

Image by Tanvi Malik from Pixabay