GIVE IT UP

“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come. These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us. But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you His Spirit, and all of you know the truth.” 1 John 2:15‭-‬20 NLT‬

This is a lot to take in and a lot to give up. So many things in the scripture call for us to give up everything that binds us to our selfishness and pride. It is so easy to conform  to what we see as success, to take pride in accomplishments that increase our status by the standard of the world. Can I forsake my accomplishments, being released from the identity of worldly success, and embrace what God says will bring true happiness and joy?

Lord, let me not find myself looking for the approval of man. Help me set my eyes on the things that have real meaning and purpose. Let me love my neighbor, my work colleagues, my family, my friends, and every other person you bless me to cross paths with enough to share the gospel that will make an eternal impact on their life and the lives of those around them. Let my conviction to tell the truth about who You are be what guides my conversation. Father, I pray this prayer is not idle talk and that You help me put action to words.