What's your why?
Begin Exodus 90 with a clear intention. Why are you embarking on this spiritual exercise? What's the underlying motivation that brings you to this point?
Many Exodus men are seeking a new level of freedom to better love and serve their families, communities, and God. They are enslaved by attachments such as: sports, social media, podcasts, videos, email, work, television, video games, food, alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, smoking, pornography, money, stock trading, news, homework, public appearance, power, control, hobbies, gambling, materialism, laziness, activism, and narcissism. This list is by no means exhaustive but is meant to help you reflect on your attachments.
Take time to look over this list. Be honest about what you need to be freed from. Be honest with yourself, with your brothers, and with the Lord. This honesty is a vital step toward freedom.
Naming the specific dependencies or attachments from which you desire freedom is enough to get you started on this spiritual exercise, but it won’t be enough to get you all the way to the end. For that, you will need to acknowledge something more, and someone more. Specifically, you’ll need to name someone you love for whom you are willing to do whatever it takes to be free. Love is powerful. Love can motivate a man beyond his usual limits—even to the point of death. Look to the cross; the cross says it all.
Writing your "why"
Your written "why" should:
Name a dependency or attachment that you hope to be free from.
Name a person (or people) you love that you want to be free for.
Explain how your freedom will be at the service of those you have named.
State how the freedom you desire will aid you in living out God’s plan for your life.
Here's an example of a "why" that meets these criteria:
“I want to break my attachment to endlessly scrolling social media for my wife and children so that I can be lovingly present to them as the Lord has called me to be in my role as husband and father.”
When you consider your dependencies and attachments, many things may come to mind. Do your best to narrow them down to just one or two. This will help you to stay focused on what’s most important for your freedom and keep you from becoming overwhelmed. Furthermore, identify the biggest and most consistent obstacle to your freedom. If there is a habitual sin that could be considered grave, this should be what you write down in your "why".
Once you have your written "why", save it in a place that is accessible to you daily, or in the Exodus app in the section entitled, "My Why".