Casandra Martin

What does it mean to hang on to something? When we say that we are hanging on to something it indicates an unwillingness to let it go. We are determined to hold it and cling to it. We protect it, guard it, and fight to keep it in our grasp. Hanging on is a picture of tenaciousness. It reveals what our hearts value and hold most dear.

What do you hang on to?

“And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on to his words.” – Luke19:47-48

The actions of the people at the temple with Jesus literally jumped off the page at me. This is who I want to be. I want to be someone who hangs on to His words. I don’t just want to listen and walk away untouched and unmoved. I want to let His words attach themselves to my heart. I want to hold them, cling to them, and make them stick to my soul.

I tend to hang on to junk. Stuff that doesn’t matter. Stuff that means nothing. Stuff that speaks more to my pride, selfishness, ingratitude, and misaligned priorities. I hang onto my questions, my doubts, my timing, and my way of doing things. I hang onto my desire for comfort and my need for control.

I love the impact that hanging on to Jesus’ words had on the authorities seeking Jesus’ life. They couldn’t get to Him, they couldn’t attack Him, they couldn’t get a foothold because the people were hanging on to the Word. The same is true in our own lives. When I hang on to God’s Word, the evil around me is less likely to find a way to attack, pull down, or destroy me. His Word rescues me, protects me, and shields me as I tenaciously cling to it.

My Jesus Resolution today is to hang on. I am going to hang on to His Word. It is the sweet voice of God in my ear. I am going to cling to His grace. I can’t survive without His mercy. I am going to hold on to His hand, stick to His side, and embrace His character. His love is my lifeline and His faithfulness is my shield. I am going to let go of the stuff that needs to go and be one of those people who hangs on His every word.