From the Edges – Good Bye – Morning Devotions

From the Edges – Morning Devotions

Pastor Calvin Cook

LENT – Day 29 – Saying Goodbye – March 19, 2024

Scripture focus – Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.

This morning the first words on my heart was Good-bye and entering into a season of Good – Bye. I thought about what words for 4;30AM in the morning. Shouldn’t the word on my heart be good morning, well I did say God Morning to Gail when she promptly said, “I am going back to sleep”. Shouldn’t I be saying “Hello” — .

Here is where it gets interesting. Just like the Holy Spirit does, showed up and began to speak some truths or remind me of some truths, some important truths. So, here we go:

With every Hello there will be a goodbye, with every goodbye there should be a new hello. When we greet someone usually we hear or say – “Hello”, “Hi” “what’s up” “Hey” etc.…….. But when we leave the person what are our words to the people we hope to see again or greet with the next hello. For me, other than in phone conversations because I have been programed by history to say good-bye (make a note need to change that) we or I have tried to take a different course. I try to always say “See you later” “Have a great day” “Hope life treats you well” “Let the Peace of Christ reign in your heart” – not just Good – Bye because that becomes so final.

But this morning just as the Holy Spirit speaks – boldly spoke there are some things I do need to say Good – Bye to. I started to make a list in my journal. I have even added a “goodbye page” to remind me of the things I need to say Goodbye to. I confess the list is starting to look exhaustive – Goodbye to Depression, Oppression, Loneliness, Apathy, Anxiety, Debt, living beyond means, using credit cards, poor time management, again there is more the list is exhaustive and, in some places, personal but “I get the picture Holy Spirit”.

Isn’t this is what lent is or supposed to be. Giving up something that is not good, even evil, and replacing it with something that is honorable, trustworthy, praiseworthy, good for us. Isn’t it about standing boldly for Christ. About taking on the mind of Christ and shedding the chains of evil that bind us and control us. Isn’t it about new priorities not just in our life but in our relationship with God. Seriously are even able to be in the world without being of the world. There are definitely some things we need to re-evaluate and say Goodbye to.

Goodbye is forever or in this context maybe should be. The hello should be to those things which are or will build us up and not add to the list of things that are holding us back. Goodbye to cloudy and murky waters that we see to jump into headfirst, and hello to purity, and what is lovely, and admirable. Leaving behind falseness, fakeness, make believes and focus on what is true and noble and right.

Yes, this is the season of giving up in some cases it might even be a sacrifice, but it will be necessary for our hope in Jesus and the eternity to come. My prayer is that I and you and all of us not just use lent as an excuse for giving up something that is hurting you, but use every day every moment to say goodbye to the old and hello to the new.

May the Peace of Christ reign in your heart – see you later.