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| Monthly Devotion November - December 2007 Surrender |
Well,
Hello again Beloved! I pray that you are all enjoying the holiday season. In the
midst of the business, the family gatherings, and the shopping don’t forget to
stop and thank the Father for the most amazing gift of all…His son Jesus.
This year we discussed the Keys to Becoming Whole in a Broken World. The
first key was knowledge, the second key was obedience, the final key is
surrender. The word surrender is not used in the bible, but the theme of
surrender is taught over and over. What does surrender mean? It means:
• To yield to the power, control, or possession of another upon compulsion or
demand
• To give up completely or agree to forgo especially in favor of another
• To give over to something
• To give oneself up into the power of another – to Yield
I want you to notice that surrender is a verb. It requires an action on our part.
We must be the ones surrendering or yielding…so in short it is a choice. To
become a follower of Christ, you must surrender your life to Him. You must
acknowledge that you can not save yourself, only His work on the cross can do
that…you must choose to follow Him. After we give our life to Him, we are filled
with the Holy Spirit, our counselor, who guides us in how to live our lives. BUT
we have to choose daily to lay down our will, our desire, and even our feelings to
His leading. If we choose our will over His then we can be full of the Spirit, but
not controlled by the Spirit. Jesus described what surrender looks like in a
believer’s life in Luke 9:23 – 25:
“Then he said to them all: If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life
will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a
man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?”
NIV
To come after means to be a follower of. To deny one’s self is to lose sight of
yourself and your own interests. Jesus says, “Child, if you are going to follow
me, you must choose every day to lay aside your own will, your own agenda, your
own desires so that my will for your life can be realized.” That commitment must
be renewed as Jesus himself says, DAILY. It is our daily act of faith to get up in
the morning and say God this day is yours, I am yours and today I want to follow
you…I want your will for my life.
That isn’t always easy is it? There are many times when I want something…I
want it now, I want to it my way, I don’t want to wait on God…that is not
following God, that is not surrendering to Him, that is living life on my own
terms…we all do it…but here is what happens…we block the Holy Spirit from
directing our lives. AND we miss out – we miss out on His best for our lives.
What is His best? That we become more like Him. That His characteristics
become more evident in our lives…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. (Galatians 5:22) See
surrender results in transformation. When we surrender our lives to the Lord,
1. We immediately become a new creation (2Corinthians 5:17).
2. We have the ability to be transformed by the renewing of our minds
(Romans 12:2)
So really, we immediately start a process of renewal and growth. God through
the process of surrender wants to take every area of your life, every part of your
heart, your thoughts, every situation you have encountered or will encounter and
use those to grow your faith, refine your character, and reflect His glory.
(Romans 8:28, Psalm 139:23). But we have to be a willing participant in this
process. God won’t take it from you…no He’s a gentleman and would never
force us. We must surrender it…no matter what “it” is.
For example, some of you have been holding on to bitterness and unforgiveness
for years. You are angry or hurt and you are hanging on to it…instead of daily
asking God to help through it. Some of you, you have not received healing from
something that happened in your past because either it is too painful to think
about, or because you are ashamed…whatever the reason…you keep beating
yourself up for a mistake you made that Jesus has already paid for on the cross.
Why…because you have not given the mistake to Him…it is almost as if you
think you have to punish yourself. You don’t. Let it go, give it to Him…let Him
do His job. Let him work in you…let Him give you beauty for ashes. (Isaiah 61)
Some of you are mad at God. You have given Him your life, trusted Him for
your salvation but life has not gone the way you think it should go. Maybe since
becoming a Christian you have experienced heartache, loss, etc. Beloved, do
you know that God has a plan for your life…even in the midst of your suffering?
(Jeremiah 29:11). You may be thinking, you have no idea what I have been
through…no I don’t. But God does…I believe that in the midst of your suffering
and pain…he is right there because He is near to the broken hearted. I don’t
understand all the reasons things happen to us in our lives…I don’t understand
evil, I don’t understand sickness, I don’t understand betrayal. I could on…but
when those things happen I do understand that God is there. There are times
when I can only cry out His name…Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. There are times when I
yell, there times when I question why. But in the midst of my fear, and through
my tears…I hear his gentle whisper…
“Come to me my weary Child, bring me your burdens, for I know they are too
heavy for you to bear alone…I see your pain, I know what’s happening, and I’ve
got you…I’ll not let go...I have promised never to leave you or forsake you. And
that means I will not allow your circumstances to overwhelm you…but you must
allow to work through your circumstances with you. Won’t you surrender them
to me? Won’t you let me carry you through this? Sit here with me for a
while…let me comfort you with my love. Let me encourage you with my words.
Let me strengthen you with my power. Trust in me, lean on me; know that I am
working for your good, even when you can’t see it. I am loving and
compassionate toward all I have made and my purposes for you will stand. Long
before you were born, I knew this day, and I made provisions for you. Let my
love enfold you…lean back into my arms…I delight in you daughter…you are
precious to me…you are my treasure…my passion…trust in my love.”
Beloved, what do you need to surrender? Don’t you think it’s time?
God, help me…help me to let go of ______________ and trust in you. I want to
surrender all of me to you. I don’t want to hold back…but sometimes the fear,
sometimes the hurt and frustration get in my way. I am only human…I am weak
and frail…and I need your help. Thank you that even though I can’t see it, I
know you are here working it all out. Help me get my eyes off my circumstances
and on you. Let me feel your love, send people to encourage me. Lord if there
is any area that I have not fully surrendered to you…please show me, and help
me give it to you. I love you.
In Jesus name - Amen
If you need prayer please don't hesitate to ask. Our prayer team prays daily for
every request submitted to this ministry. Just click on the prayers request link
at the top of the page.
We Love you guys – Merry Christmas, and may the God of all comfort shower
you with love and with His peace.
Hello again Beloved! I pray that you are all enjoying the holiday season. In the
midst of the business, the family gatherings, and the shopping don’t forget to
stop and thank the Father for the most amazing gift of all…His son Jesus.
This year we discussed the Keys to Becoming Whole in a Broken World. The
first key was knowledge, the second key was obedience, the final key is
surrender. The word surrender is not used in the bible, but the theme of
surrender is taught over and over. What does surrender mean? It means:
• To yield to the power, control, or possession of another upon compulsion or
demand
• To give up completely or agree to forgo especially in favor of another
• To give over to something
• To give oneself up into the power of another – to Yield
I want you to notice that surrender is a verb. It requires an action on our part.
We must be the ones surrendering or yielding…so in short it is a choice. To
become a follower of Christ, you must surrender your life to Him. You must
acknowledge that you can not save yourself, only His work on the cross can do
that…you must choose to follow Him. After we give our life to Him, we are filled
with the Holy Spirit, our counselor, who guides us in how to live our lives. BUT
we have to choose daily to lay down our will, our desire, and even our feelings to
His leading. If we choose our will over His then we can be full of the Spirit, but
not controlled by the Spirit. Jesus described what surrender looks like in a
believer’s life in Luke 9:23 – 25:
“Then he said to them all: If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life
will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a
man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?”
NIV
To come after means to be a follower of. To deny one’s self is to lose sight of
yourself and your own interests. Jesus says, “Child, if you are going to follow
me, you must choose every day to lay aside your own will, your own agenda, your
own desires so that my will for your life can be realized.” That commitment must
be renewed as Jesus himself says, DAILY. It is our daily act of faith to get up in
the morning and say God this day is yours, I am yours and today I want to follow
you…I want your will for my life.
That isn’t always easy is it? There are many times when I want something…I
want it now, I want to it my way, I don’t want to wait on God…that is not
following God, that is not surrendering to Him, that is living life on my own
terms…we all do it…but here is what happens…we block the Holy Spirit from
directing our lives. AND we miss out – we miss out on His best for our lives.
What is His best? That we become more like Him. That His characteristics
become more evident in our lives…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. (Galatians 5:22) See
surrender results in transformation. When we surrender our lives to the Lord,
1. We immediately become a new creation (2Corinthians 5:17).
2. We have the ability to be transformed by the renewing of our minds
(Romans 12:2)
So really, we immediately start a process of renewal and growth. God through
the process of surrender wants to take every area of your life, every part of your
heart, your thoughts, every situation you have encountered or will encounter and
use those to grow your faith, refine your character, and reflect His glory.
(Romans 8:28, Psalm 139:23). But we have to be a willing participant in this
process. God won’t take it from you…no He’s a gentleman and would never
force us. We must surrender it…no matter what “it” is.
For example, some of you have been holding on to bitterness and unforgiveness
for years. You are angry or hurt and you are hanging on to it…instead of daily
asking God to help through it. Some of you, you have not received healing from
something that happened in your past because either it is too painful to think
about, or because you are ashamed…whatever the reason…you keep beating
yourself up for a mistake you made that Jesus has already paid for on the cross.
Why…because you have not given the mistake to Him…it is almost as if you
think you have to punish yourself. You don’t. Let it go, give it to Him…let Him
do His job. Let him work in you…let Him give you beauty for ashes. (Isaiah 61)
Some of you are mad at God. You have given Him your life, trusted Him for
your salvation but life has not gone the way you think it should go. Maybe since
becoming a Christian you have experienced heartache, loss, etc. Beloved, do
you know that God has a plan for your life…even in the midst of your suffering?
(Jeremiah 29:11). You may be thinking, you have no idea what I have been
through…no I don’t. But God does…I believe that in the midst of your suffering
and pain…he is right there because He is near to the broken hearted. I don’t
understand all the reasons things happen to us in our lives…I don’t understand
evil, I don’t understand sickness, I don’t understand betrayal. I could on…but
when those things happen I do understand that God is there. There are times
when I can only cry out His name…Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. There are times when I
yell, there times when I question why. But in the midst of my fear, and through
my tears…I hear his gentle whisper…
“Come to me my weary Child, bring me your burdens, for I know they are too
heavy for you to bear alone…I see your pain, I know what’s happening, and I’ve
got you…I’ll not let go...I have promised never to leave you or forsake you. And
that means I will not allow your circumstances to overwhelm you…but you must
allow to work through your circumstances with you. Won’t you surrender them
to me? Won’t you let me carry you through this? Sit here with me for a
while…let me comfort you with my love. Let me encourage you with my words.
Let me strengthen you with my power. Trust in me, lean on me; know that I am
working for your good, even when you can’t see it. I am loving and
compassionate toward all I have made and my purposes for you will stand. Long
before you were born, I knew this day, and I made provisions for you. Let my
love enfold you…lean back into my arms…I delight in you daughter…you are
precious to me…you are my treasure…my passion…trust in my love.”
Beloved, what do you need to surrender? Don’t you think it’s time?
God, help me…help me to let go of ______________ and trust in you. I want to
surrender all of me to you. I don’t want to hold back…but sometimes the fear,
sometimes the hurt and frustration get in my way. I am only human…I am weak
and frail…and I need your help. Thank you that even though I can’t see it, I
know you are here working it all out. Help me get my eyes off my circumstances
and on you. Let me feel your love, send people to encourage me. Lord if there
is any area that I have not fully surrendered to you…please show me, and help
me give it to you. I love you.
In Jesus name - Amen
If you need prayer please don't hesitate to ask. Our prayer team prays daily for
every request submitted to this ministry. Just click on the prayers request link
at the top of the page.
We Love you guys – Merry Christmas, and may the God of all comfort shower
you with love and with His peace.
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