I changed my cell phone number a couple of weeks ago. I know. Not the most exciting intro, huh? Well stick with me; it gets at least a smidge deeper. I awakened one Thursday morning and busied myself with my morning routine. Out of blue I heard, “change your phone number.” I immediately knew it was God, because it definitely wasn’t me.
For those of you who know me, you know I had somewhat of a secret love affair with my phone number. LOL! I’m laughing, but it’s SO true. I’d had the number for 14 years. That’s a huge amount of time in mobile phone years, especially since the mobile phone itself really isn’t very old. It was probably the longest, ongoing relationship I had (outside of my family). I had come to be, in some ways, identified by it. I know this all sounds really weird, but these are all things I really learned in hindsight.
The number represented the city I loved and “grew up” in. I never thought I’d leave Atlanta. Although I’ve left a total of 3 times since moving there originally in December 1995, I never let go of that phone number. It’s been from North Carolina to Tennessee and all stops back in the ATL in between. It truly had become a part of my identity. However, what I failed to realize all these years, was what part of my life the number truly represented.
On the day I changed my number, the Lord was gracious enough to explain to me why He commanded me to do so. You see, my identity during the bulk of the years I had that number was entangled in someone else, someone who didn’t know who he was at the time either. The number was symbolic of that past, a former me, a mere shell of who I truly was and who God had created me to be. I was so incomplete back then, didn’t even know I needed to be set free.
Freedom has finally come. PRAISE GOD!!!!!! The Lord confirmed for me that my time in Atlanta is finally over (at least for this season). Will I ever go back? Who knows? I go where He sends me, but for now, I’m residing in my land of promise and my life is finally tasting like the milk and honey that flows here for me. SWEET!!! So, I needed to let go of anything tying me to my past, and that phone number was the last little string that I had given not a second thought.
I know what you’re thinking. “But it was JUST a number.” Let me help you out with that. Several years ago, when I lived in Tennessee previously, I received a phone call. One evening, out of the blue, my phone rings. Who’s on the other line? You guessed it. That blast from my past. How could he reach me? Because the number was the same as it was so many years ago when we were in a relationship. That number was the tie that binds.
My life is SO beginning to gel right now, and I don’t want anything to hold me back, tying me to my past. If you’re tied to something you either can’t move at all or you move very slowly. I’ve been tied to this number, a symbol of my past, for a good 10 or 11 years BEYOND the testimony(meaning beyond the end of the relationship that was not of God). WOW!
It’s funny how something that simple could be so powerful and how changing it could be so scary. Yep! I was nervous, folks!! Looking back, I’m so glad I was instantly obedient to the voice of the Lord. I knew it was time. Hasta la vista BABY!!! I don’t know, but I think I just may have opened a GRAND door to my future by closing that tiny little crack to my past. I’ll keep you posted. 😉 In the meantime, what’s tying you down. Doesn’t hurt to check for strings every now and then….you know….just in case. 🙂
I love it!! Sometimes we just don’t know of the things “that so easily beset us” Hebrews 12:1. The Lord brought this scripture to me and it is so befitting. In its fullness it says “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off EVERYTHING that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles us” or KJV “easily besets us”. Sometimes you have to take “inventory”. Like you said.. check those strings.
I remember going through all of my stuff after I got married and throwing away all old pics, letters, etc from old boyfriends. That in and of itself was freeing, clipping those old memories allowed me to really be able to soar in my marriage!
Loved it! 🙂
Oooh I left off the most important part of the scripture – “… and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Oooh can’t you just run a little faster when you are little lighter??? 🙂
Amen sista! Preach!!! LOL! Seriously, great word.
Monica!
This is a great post! I begin to think even as I was reading you share about getting rid of the phone number and I thought about how I need to clean up my inbox letting go of the past! Wonderful!!!! LOVE IT!
Angelia
This is so good! I know I have a few ties to cut myself…thanks for the encouragement. 🙂
That is awesome. Sometimes it’s something so small and we don’t realize it’s significance….until He teaches us something so amazing and we just stand in awe of Him 🙂
Thanks for joining our link up! I am thrilled to get to know you through your bloggy!
Christy
Exemplify Singles Channel Editor
Great Post. Obedience always has it rewards.
I just wanted to tell you that this comment…
“I had to take my dream, my promise from God, to the mountain and trust that He would provide an alternate sacrifice or that He would resurrect the promise.”…that you posted on the post How dreams become Idols, really touched me! Thanks for sharing.