Give it up!

Do you have the courage to give it all up?

I recently heard a powerful testimony from an actress we all know. During her journey of falling in love with Jesus, she got the kind of career break that most people can only dream of—a chance that could launch her straight into Hollywood's A-list. This was everything she had worked for since she was 15 years old. Imagine the excitement! She was about to work with some of the biggest names in the industry, including an award-winning director. She even went to rehearsals and fittings, preparing for what seemed like the role of a lifetime.

However, as she prepared for this big opportunity, she felt in her spirit that maybe this wasn't right for her. It was a strange feeling, considering everything she had worked for. After spending a lot of time praying and seeking the Lord, the Holy Spirit clearly told her to give up the job. Can you imagine? The Lord said He could give her more than this movie could offer and that He needed her right now.

God was asking her to let go of a role that could completely change her career trajectory—the role she had been dreaming about since she was 15. It wasn't an easy decision. She wrestled with it for a long time but eventually chose to obey. She gave up the role and her desire for the spotlight. Instead, she used that time to focus on her relationship with the

Lord, to grow deeper in her faith, and to strengthen her walk as a believer in Christ.

During this time, she had to relinquish her desires and completely surrender to Christ. Acting had always been her passion and focus, but now her attention shifted to God. Acting was her gift, but it had started to take over her heart—it had become an idol. So, she made the tough decision to step away so she could realign her heart with Christ.

Through this journey, she realised something profound: her relationship with God was the most important thing in her life. As she shared in the interview, she reached a point in her career where she felt like she was worshipping her craft, but there was still an emptiness inside her. It wasn't until she found Jesus that everything began to make sense. Suddenly, her life had real meaning beyond the roles she played.

And her obedience didn't go unnoticed. Today, she’s still acting, but her main focus is on Jesus—not the roles, not the money, not the accolades, not the fame, and not the awards. She’s still successful, but now she does it all for a greater purpose. She’s a light that shines in the darkness, showing others where true fulfilment lies.

This is what it truly means to follow Christ—having no idols but God and refusing to live by the world's standards. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus says, "So above all, constantly seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness, then all these important things will be given to you abundantly" (TPT).

Jesus tells us not to worry about anything—not even about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34). He reminds us that we shouldn’t let our earthly desires, like a career, a relationship, or anything else that can consume our hearts, become our focus. Instead, our primary focus should be on seeking His kingdom and His righteousness. Everything else we need will be given to us when we do that.

When we seek His righteousness and put our faith in Jesus, we receive His righteousness and are saved. And that salvation is far more valuable than anything we could ever desire. It’s a powerful reminder that our true treasure lies in Him, not in the temporary things of this world.

With this proposition from the Father, most people would have found it incredibly difficult to let go of what seemed like a guaranteed path to Hollywood success. I mean, who would want to give that up, right? Most people wouldn’t walk away from such an opportunity to follow Him. But as Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, if we seek Him first and put our faith and trust in God, we will find true success in life, which goes beyond what the world can offer.

The Apostle John also reminds us in 1 John 2:15: "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them." As believers in Jesus, we're here in this world—physically present—but we're not called to adopt its values. We

get to enjoy the blessings and the good things God has given us in this world, but we’re not meant to immerse ourselves in what the world values or chase its fleeting pleasures.

Paul put it perfectly in Romans 12:2: We are to live differently and be transformed by renewing our minds. Our hearts belong to God, and our purpose is far greater than anything the world could offer.

As believers, we're called to love God and love one another—not to love the world or its possessions. And when we talk about "the world," we don't mean the planet itself, but rather the human-centred system and its way of life, with all its distractions and values that often pull us away from God.

It's important to understand that we can’t serve both. We have to choose—either we follow the ways of this world, chasing after what it offers, or we choose to obey God and align our hearts with Him. There's no in-between; we're either devoted to one or the other. It's a matter of deciding where our true loyalty lies, and as followers of Christ, our hearts should always belong to Him.

To wrap things up, as the world gets darker and more chaotic, I want to encourage you to keep your focus where it truly matters. Keep the main thing—put Jesus at the centre of your heart and life. Let Him be the one on the pedestal of your heart, above everything else. When Jesus is at the forefront, everything else falls into place, and His light will shine through even in the darkest times.