Have you ever felt God call you to give up something you enjoy? Some might tell you to take the loss and don't ask questions. But God doesn't think that way; you're allowed to ask questions, and you're allowed to ask for replacements. In fact, you should ask questions if God tells you to give something up so that you can better understand why this thing was/is bad in Gods' eyes. Some things are obvious like alcohol or p*rn, but other times God may tell you give up something not so obvious like a show that's rated PG. Sometimes it's not the thing that is bad, but rather the way it affects you specifically. And God doesn't mind if you ask for a replacement. He may not always give you one, but it is not rude or "unGodly" to ask. In my case, He has provided some replacements. 

~~Story Time~~

Years ago God called me to stop listening to secular music. I was shocked! I gave it a try, switched to only Christian music for a few weeks and...it sucked! It was so bland. I like all music but I'm a rocker first. I also like rap and EDM, but the Christian stuff was just soft and fluffy. I told Him that if He wanted me to switch, then He needed to make some better Christian music. In hindsight, I could've been much nicer about it. But God is good and patient. Two years later I felt the call again. I was so disappointed, but I obeyed. To my utter astonishment I liked it! God really listened to my...harsh demand, if we're being honest, and created new music. New artists, rock included, and older artists updated their sounds to be more modern. It was so exciting to have all new music in every genre, and all approved by God! Since then, I have only listened to Christian music, with a few instrumental exceptions (like Beethoven). In this story I didn't really ask God, I basically laughed in His face at His music and said no. But thankfully He didn't get mad, and instead, He very nicely put me in my place. LOL! 

Not long after this, I was telling this story to my uncle and he said he'd recently had a similar experience. God called him to stop watching the shows he was watching. My uncle is a Godly man (now a Reverend) so I know he wasn't watching anything like Saw, but apparently whatever it was, God wanted him to stop. So he (kindly) asked God to show him what he could watch and God gave him Old Westerns. My uncle had never cared for those before, but told me that he was really enjoying them! So my uncle asked for a replacement and God gave him one. 

A time I didn't get a replacement was with House. I loved watching the show House as a teen. As a late 20's I decided to watch it again. I was anxious almost daily and angry, so God told me to stop watching it. See the thing is, most of the ailments in House are fake, and the doctors/interns do far more than what happens in real life. I have Health Anxiety and while I'm on the lesser end of that spectrum, watching something like House pushed me more and more into fear. What if I have that illness? Why don't my doctors go above and beyond like that? What if they're missing something? What if What if What if....So God said "Stop watching that show, it's bad for your mental health!" I asked Him, "What do I watch then?" and He said __________. I felt that maybe His silence simply meant that there are a million other things I could watch, and He didn't care what I chose, just stop watching House. So that's what I did and my mental health greatly improved.

My most recent "give up" story happened last week. I was reading a story about someone else who was called to give up secular music, and I thought "I wonder if there's anything else God will call me to give up; TV shows, movies, video games--" The Holy Spirit interrupted my thought and said "Assassin's Creed (AC)". I sat stunned for a few minutes. 

"Wait, wait, He's gonna make me give up Assassin's Creed?!"

"Yes"

"But...but...I only play AC and TR!....really?!"

"Yes"

"But...I mean...I get it...but...really?! Right now?"

"No, but the call will come."

"When?!"

*Crickets*

I sat in silence for a while mowing it over in my mind. 

"Can I have a replacement?" 

*Crickets*

"Am I supposed to make the replacement?"

I had become fed up with the fact that there were no Christian video games just 1 week prior to all this, and decided I would just make one myself. I downloaded the software and took my first class of a video game making course. But I don't plan to finish my game for another 10 years or so. To be clear, there are children's video games about Jesus or trivia, but there aren't any teen/adult games comparable to all the secular ones. I never understood why the Christian community didn't make any. God didn't answer those questions that night, but 2 days later I saw an ad for Gate Zero. It's a new Bible-based video game that actually looks comparable to secular games. Apparently there are other Christians out there that had the same thoughts I did and decided that if no one else would make a game, then they will. 

I took that as Gods' answer. I can still work on my game idea, but there will be something for me to play in the meantime. Gate Zero isn't supposed to be released until 2024 so I'm guessing I have until then to play AC before I have to give it up. Of course God didn't say that; He could tell me to throw them out tomorrow, but to my human logic it makes sense that it would be 2024. Thing is though, I started playing AC2 and was really enjoying it, then this conversation happened, then while playing again it was no longer fun. God...are you slowly changing my perceptions so it will be easier to get rid of them when the time comes? He might be, and I'm alright with that.

Point is, remember that God knows what is best for you, so if He calls you to give something up, you should listen. But don't be afraid to ask for a replacement, because He might just give you one. God Bless! :-)