Surgeon's Scalpel

Hebrews 4:12
For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

This verse has been on my mind since I read it last week. In reading this and contemplating it, I picture a surgeons scalpel. It needs to be sharp to do its job without damaging healthy tissue. A skilled surgeon can cut out the damaged or infected tissue with their scalpel. Often the longer we wait, or the longer the tissue is damaged, the more damage it causes. I think this is true of our attitudes and thoughts as well. The word of God is even sharper and used by the Master, the damage is limited to removing that which is not needed. The offending thoughts and attitudes are removed before they become habits that we hold on to. Unless...
I don't like change and yet there are times I crave change. I know that what God has planned is better than I can dream. He promises in Ephesians more than we can ask or imagine. But it is unknown and worry or fear or self sufficiency or any number of attitudes that get in the way of God's best for me. I find myself holding back and trying to hold on to things I need to let go. Worry and fear are two biggies for me and this month they have tried to take up residence again. It is only by allowing the Word of God to penetrate and divide that which is healthy from that which isn't that I can overcome them. Unless...
We have to give a surgeon permission before they start. So too with God, we need to submit to His will for us. We need to be willing to let go of that which is being cut away.