Release

A Devotional by Len Petroff

We were all challenged by Jamie during one of his sermons to focus ourselves during this new year on our ‘star’ word. So, I’m basing my devotion today on that challenge.

Last year, I got the word ‘craft’. I’m not much of a crafty guy, but I do brew and like craft beers. I was also remodeling our basement and I had a spare room that I decided to morph into a ‘craft’ room for Sheryl’s crafty projects, and for brewing my craft beers. So that star word kind of worked out.

This year I got the word ‘release.’ I kind of knew what that meant, but I went home and looked it up. Its actually a complicated word with many meanings and is much more mentally challenging than working on my basement project. Most of which can help to guide us through our days in 2023.

Release can actually be used as both a verb and a noun. As a verb, it can be used as a means to set free from confinement or physical constraint. It can also describe how to set something free from obligations or commitments; or to issue something for sale or distribution; or to surrender a right.

As a noun, release can be used to describe a deliverance, or discharge, or relief from suffering. It can be described as letting go of something held fast, or a locking mechanism, or the issuance of something (like one of my new craft beer releases).

I think we all have times we need to release ourselves from things that confine or obligate us to not follow our responsibilities to serve our church, our neighbors, our family, and our Lord. We can all release things and thoughts that bind us and ‘let them go’. And in this way my star word can serve as a reminder to free myself and allow more opportunities to help, and love.

Please pray with me:

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Romans 2:12 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

And All God’s People said: ‘Amen”