Looking Back After God Told You to Let Go
By: Charlene Fate
Tags: Religion, Spirituality, Life Lessons, Christianity, Gambling

Have you ever felt the need to let something that you enjoy go after being warned by God? It appears harmless but underneath the surface, the seemingly harmless activity is cracking your spiritual foundation. Blocking your blessings.

Lot’s wife looked back

The story of Lot’s wife is told in Genesis. Two angels were invited to spend the night at Lot’s home. Lot refused to turn them over to the wicked men of Sodom. The next day, Lot’s visiting angels urged him to get his family and flee because the city was about to be destroyed. The command was given. Flee for your life! Do not look behind you, nor stop anywhere in the Plain; flee to the hills, lest you be swept away. While fleeing, Lot’s wife turned to look back and was turned into a pillar of salt.

Lot’s wife disobeyed the command and looked back to the world she was leaving behind

Image by CCXpistiavos from Pixabay

What has God commanded you to let go but you continue to return to it time and time again?

For me it was gambling. I feel that God put it on my heart to give up games of chance even as entertainment.

There are no direct biblical commands declaring gambling a sin. So, it is easy to overlook the downside of gambling. It’s just a game. It’s just entertainment we tell ourselves. It’s legal. As long as we’re not pawning the television for money then it is not a problem. For me, money wasn’t the problem.

Gambling promotes covetousness. It encourages greed and gluttony. No matter how much you win, you always want more.

I enjoy playing slot machines but I do not enjoy the feelings it creates. Such as always wanting to win more.

Then there is the path of materialism that manifests from dreaming about what to buy if I won the jackpot.

Bigger. Better. More. It’s never enough.

So, I did not gamble for about a year and I felt free. Like I had broken chains of bondage. Then I decided I could just go once or twice for some entertainment. I quickly was right back in the cycle of being in an environment that was just not healthy. Wasting valuable time.

I felt like God told me to leave it behind and instead of moving forward, I went back like Lot’s wife. I was holding on to my old life.

“He replied, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.’” (Luke 11:28, NIV)

We can idolize anything

An old acquaintance recently posted a testimony about essential oils on Facebook. Essential oils aren’t sinful but what they had become to represent in her life made them sinful.

She shared how she had replaced prayer and leaning on God with essential oils. Instead of turning to God first, she turned to her oils. That’s when she says that God spoke to her and warned her about replacing him with oils. She felt compelled to share her testimony, to warn others about falling into the same trap.

Whether it’s just one lottery ticket, essential oils, eating too much, spending money, a treasured collection, or work. Anything can become an unhealthy addiction.

When we start to idolize and turn to habits instead of God then it becomes a problem.

God doesn’t want us to fall into the trap of living a worldly life. I strive for a simple life of service and gratitude. That is where peace resides.

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3, NIV)

If you are unsure if you are doing the right things then pray to God for discernment. Ask God to let his will be done. Be still and listen. He will give you the answer.