Practice Relinquishment for Powerful Results
I learned a principle many years ago that I practice quite often. Hopefully, you will learn the same principle from this article and practice it as well. It is a simple principle that anyone can use if they choose to do so.
The principle is "Practice Relinquishment." In a theological sense, it is voluntarily giving up your self-will and letting God take over without any help from you. I learned about it when I was reading a book by Catherine Marshall called Beyond Our Selves. The practice relinquishment principle is among other principles, but that is the one that has worked well for me for many years.
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Relinquishment: Definitions
To relinquish something is to put it aside. You do not have to give it up completely or permanently, but you need to stop focusing on it until God works it out for you. Relinquishment is the act of letting go of something that troubles you. When you relinquish something, you release it. You no longer let it consume you.
Some people use the catchphrase, "Let go and let God." They say it without actually doing what they say. However, practicing relinquishment goes much deeper than merely saying the phrase.
About the Principle of Relinquishment
Many times our prayers to God are not answered because we tell God what we want and when we want it. In other words, we command and demand God to do certain things even though He knows what's best for us. We put ourselves in God's place and we act like He should take our place. The irony in telling God what to do and what not to do is simply keeping God from working on our behalf. He will not compete with us to get things done. As long as we are in the driver's seat, God will honor our free will. He will not interfere while we are in the way.
We need to pray and then take our hands off the situation. We pray, but we keep talking about our troubles. We keep picking at it without actually relinquishing it to God and allowing Him to work miracles in our lives without our help. Keep in mind that if we could have changed things, we would have done so long ago.
Jesus is a great example of practicing relinquishment. He did so in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of His arrest. He prayed to His Father when He was about to be crucified. After praying, He turned His situation over to God by saying, "Yet not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42).
The moment we surrender everything to God, He will take over and it will be the turning point for change to take place. It won't happen as long as we are trying to control the situation.
Catherine Marshall (September 27, 1914 - March 18, 1983)
Photo via Catherine Marshall
About the Author
Who was Catherine Marshall and how was she equipped to give sound advice about practicing relinquishment?
Catherine Sarah Wood Marshall LeSourd was the wife of the well-known minister Peter Marshall. She was born on September 27, 1914. She died on March 18, 1983, at the age of 68 of congestive heart failure.
Catherine was an American writer of fiction, nonfiction, and inspirational books. She wrote more than 30 books, and about 16 million copies have been sold nationwide. Beyond Our Selves is one of her best-selling inspirational books.
Catherine was totally convinced that practicing relinquishment can work for others just as it worked for her throughout her life. I am also convinced that it will work for others just as it has worked for Catherine and for me.
About "Beyond Our Selves"
In her 266-page book that was published in 1994 after Catherine's death, she provides guidance on topics explained in a clear way to help many readers. The author gives personal examples of how she practiced relinquishment that will also work for others. She discusses such topics as forgiveness, commitment, prayer, meditation, suffering, and surrendering to God.
I have read Beyond Our Selves at least seven times and the chapter on relinquishment more times than that because I stand by what Marshall says about the principle. Of all the topics to advise people about, practicing relinquishment is at the top of my list. My wish is that you will give the principle a chance to work in your life just once. Then you will see what it is like to relinquish your most severe problem over to God and let Him work it out His way. Won't you give it a try?
Comments
Jack Jenn from Living in hope on planet earth. on January 08, 2020:
Hi Magaret,
Another inspiring article and if I'm honest, I have to admit that I'm also guilty. It's so easy to fall to this 'thing' that affects everyone of us to some degree - thinking or saying I'm above that it'll never happen to me but in fact it does. Particularly the last part - it won't happen to me. How many of us can say that we can and DO see ourselves as others see us? That is real blindness.
Most of us are just looking in [to ourselves] when we should be looking out [for others] - how many of us can say we aren't guilty of that. And that is self-centredness and if we're honest with ourselves we could all say that.
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