What Is It Costing You?

• By candidasullivan
• July 21, 2026
• No Comments

What is it costing you?

Sometimes, in order to move forward in our lives, we have to be willing to let some things go or change things. Holding to things that are standing in our way could be preventing us from moving forward with God. We can’t hold on tightly to the world while living for God. It takes both willingness and action from us. 

In every decision, I have to ask myself: Is this helping me follow where God is leading, or is it pulling me in another direction? I can often sugarcoat my choices and try to justify them, but when I examine them honestly, I can see exactly where I am. 

Last weekend, I was sick. I lay around and rested. So I had plenty of time to scroll on my phone, and I did. But by the time Sunday rolled around, I was over it. I felt horrible mentally. Drained. Overwhelmed. Sad. 

Instead of rushing past those feelings, I sat with them and explored them a little. I saw a little glimpse of what it is costing me. And I didn’t like it. 

I could have read a book and learned something new. 

I could have read my Bible more. 

I could have spent time listening for the voice of the Lord. 

But all I could hear were different sounds, opinions, complaints, and advice from people I don’t even know or don’t know well. I allowed hundreds of people to influence me, whether I wanted to or not. Every time we give someone our attention, we give them an opportunity to influence us. That’s why we need to be intentional about the voices we repeatedly allow into our minds.

It all opened my eyes and reminded me how dangerous it is to drift through our days. I feel like it puts me in survival mode. When all I am trying to do is just make it through the day. 

To continue living that way costs too much. It steals my attention from God. And that’s not what I want at all. I want to be fully connected to my Lord. 

John 15:5 KJV

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Therefore, I want my thoughts to abide in God. I want His word to be what runs through my mind. I want to break free from the world’s strongholds and from the connections that are harming me. 

While I don’t know exactly what is standing in my way, I want to explore it with the Lord through prayer and journaling. I want to be honest with myself and to understand the costs of my actions. After I have explored it all, if I want to continue with certain things, that’s fine, but I want to fully understand the cost. 

The sickness reminded me of the cost of not exercising daily and being more lenient with my diet. I hurt my hand and was giving it time to heal properly, so I have not been exercising as frequently, and I feel it in my body and my mind. 

When we understand the cost, it’s easier to make the difficult decisions.