Snapshots: Wake UpSample

Cut Off the Supply

One day, while arriving at a friend’s house, I noticed a cat sitting near the front yard with two food bowls beside it. Later that evening, I mentioned how kind it was for them to feed the cat. To my surprise, they said, “Oh, it’s not our cat. We actually do not like it. We feed it, but we are hoping it goes away soon.”

That did not make sense to me. From the cat’s point of view, why would it ever leave if it is getting fed for free?

Later, I felt God use that moment to speak to me. How often do we do the same thing in our own lives? We say we want a bad habit, toxic thought, or unhealthy influence to go away, but we keep feeding it. We keep entertaining it and giving it space.

Then we wonder why it is still there.

We often focus on creating a to-do list for spiritual growth. But sometimes, what we really need is a do-not list. A list of things we will stop feeding and stop allowing.

Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Transformation begins when we stop feeding what is holding us back and start leaning into what God is building in us.

Sometimes the path forward does not start with doing more. Sometimes it begins with stopping something.

Freedom often begins where feeding ends.

Pause: Is there something in your life you are hoping will go away, but you are still feeding it?

Plan: Identify one habit, thought, or influence you need to stop giving attention to. Set a boundary or make a change today.

Pray: God, show me what I have been keeping alive that You are asking me to let go. Give me the courage to stop feeding what is not from You.