{The Release of a Floating Lantern}

"Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you!"

~I Peter 5:7~

Hello there!  Hope you're having a great week!  Praying that this post is an encouragement to you!

Floating lanterns - aren't they neat?!  There's just something very special about holding it up, letting it go and watching it disappear in space.  It's rather calming, peaceful and also a glorious sight to behold, especially when your lantern joins a multitude of other lanterns as they glimmer their light in the dark sky!

There's such a sweet correlation between releasing a lantern and releasing our cares, anxieties and fears!

I looked up the definition to "release" and loved the definitions!

1) To set free from restraint

2) To stop holding - to relieve

3) To allow to enter

I found these definitions to have such beautiful deep meaning in regards to things that I allow to stress me out, aggravate me, make me fearful etc.

When you stand still in your spirit and soul (like when you stand still gazing at the stars in the night sky) and set free your cares and burdens by not holding them but letting them go (just like releasing the lantern up high); you experience a deep peace, a calm only from God's Holy Spirit and you get to behold the glory of His love, in how He loves taking care of your burdens.  He knows how to handle them a BILLION times to INFINITY AND BEYOND more than you do! Lol - but it's true!  And just as that third definition of release says "to allow to enter", true surrender allows God's truth to take the place of the previous occupancy of your burden!  Isn't that amazing?!! And just like the beautiful sight of a multitude of lit lanterns floating away into the night and out of sight, so is the sight of the multitude of God's children living in surrender!  It's glorious to behold!  

Literally lift "UP" your burdens dear friend!  Stop holding on to it for whatever reason - out of habit, out of being so used to your burden that you're afraid of what it's like without it (bizarre as it sounds - it's so easy to think that way - I know!), out of fear that makes you clench to it in a death grip, out of distrust or disbelief that God can do something with it.  Whatever the reason, release it to the ONE WHO knows how to handle it!  To the ONE WHO made the night sky and every star in space that decorates it!  To the ONE WHO made you and knew every burden that would ever weigh you down.  To the ONE WHO takes the deepest pleasure in being involved in every detail of your life and Who loves holding you!

Matthew 11:28 "Come unto Me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Psalm 55:22 "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee:  He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."

1 Peter 5:6-7 "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time:  Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you!"

Isaiah 41:10 "Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee:  be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God:  I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness."

Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Psalm 62:8 "Trust in Him at all times; [ye] people, pour out your heart before Him: God [is] a refuge for us."

Blessings to you!!!!!!

~Bri