By: Elizabeth Haarberg

Going Deeper

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.

Detaching from the world seems complicated and can look hard to do, but once you start, it’s a lot easier than we think. The first question is why would I want to detach? When we are tied to items, people, or ideas of the world, they can hinder our process to live out of the heavenly realm. We decide we want what we can see and touch more than the supernatural.

“And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’ Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”
Mark 10:21-22 English Standard Version

This obviously doesn’t mean we are all supposed to sell everything we have and follow Jesus, but it may if he asks us to, which is the key to knowing how to detach. We can’t always see what we are attached to, but God knows and when we ask, He will show us. Which is the answer to the next question, how do I know what to detach from? My answer is, everything. That may or may not mean parting from things you love. My own experience is that He hasn’t asked me to sell or part ways but to lay everything on His altar always willing to part with them.

Is it a struggle to detach? You bet! I’ve been doing this on and off for a few years, and I still pick up what I lay down. But when I lay down what I want to control or own, there is a peace that flows through me. When the world cannot own you, you are finally free. No matter what anyone takes or how much we are given, we are able to remain the same person in Christ.

Freedom resides in Christ, not the world, money, people or objects. But, the greatest of all detachments is our life.

 ^“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15:13 English Standard Version

When we totally detach from the fear of death, amazing things are able to happen through us. One of the greatest privileges is to be a vessel. Detaching from the fear of dying allows God to move through us unadulterated. Surrender your clutch on the worldly ideas and let Him lead you through detachment. You will never be the same.

Photo credit: Maggie Williams

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