Tag Archives: surrender

September 27, 2011 · 7:59 pm

Unraveling.

There are seasons in our lives when it seems the world is caving in around us.  There are days where anything that can go wrong, does.  There are moments we are sure that one more blow is going to take us completely out.

So, we begin unraveling.

Piece by piece.  Thread by thread. 

Until, we hit our knees.  And, the tears begin to flow.

I have those moments, too.  Just like you.

And, then the thought of throwing my hands in the air and surrendering it all to God just seems too easy.  Sometimes, it’s my pride that gets in the way.  Because, if I surrender my feelings, my day, my season to Him, then, I have nothing left to hold onto that says, “I am stressed.”

“I can’t do this anymore.”

“I have had all I can take.”

Whoever said God will not give you more than you can handle was wrong.  Way wrong.

He will. 

Because, He wants you to need Him.  He wants you to depend on His strength.  That’s why Paul says he was thankful when he was weakest, because, that’s when God was strongest. 

Tonight, I began unraveling.  So, I let go of my pride.  I let go of my stubbornness to hold onto something that really doesn’t belong to me. 

I threw my hands up in the air.  And, I told Him, “God, this day is Yours.  This season is Yours.  I can’t do this without you. ” 

And, He took it from me.

Perhaps, you are unraveling, too.

Surrender.  Let Him into your mess.  Call out to Him.  And, know that His power works best in your weakness. 

He will not fail you.

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.  2 Corinthians 12:9

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November 3, 2009 · 6:00 am

She Gave All She Had.

The Holy Spirit doesn’t always work in us the way we think He might.  When I decided to surrender this pride thing, I was surprised how God chose to deal with it.  One very large way He has operated, if you will, is by breaking my heart for others in need.  Giving in the past has always been easy.  Even a no-brainer.  It was easy to write a check and make things better for someone in need.  And, it wasn’t that I was without compassion.  I just didn’t truly have an understanding of what it means to be broken for people less fortunate. 

I was reminded of the story where Jesus is teaching at the temple in Jerusalem where He witnessed the rich men’s donations.  But, it was one widow who gave two mites that caught His attention.

The others gave out of their abundance.  This widow gave everything she had.

And, not just financially.  She surrendered her whole self and everything she possessed. 

This especially went to straight to the heart of Christ.  Because, in a few short days, He would give everything He had on a cross.

I don’t want to just give out of my abundance.  I want to give out of my want.  Out of my hurt.  I want to give no matter what place I’m in.

That’s what Christ modeled for us.

I’m still learning to live a life fully surrendered. 

Are you?

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October 26, 2009 · 6:00 am

Refining.

I had been frustrated with God for few days.  He wasn’t answering my prayers.  He didn’t appear to be moving on my behalf.  And, I reminded Him a time or three of my faithfulness – my investments into the Kingdom and into others.  ‘Cause, clearly, it’s all about me. 

I.Got. Nothin’.   

I probably should’ve gotten a “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth” speech.  I deserved it.

Hello, God.  Are you there?  Is this thing on?  Testing one, two, three. 

I did all of those things I know to do.  I even read and re-read “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)  I just added my own “Hmph” to the end of it.

Then, a light came on.  I was sitting at my kitchen table watching John Henry complete a few make-up assignments, and I repeated my “Hmph.”  And, the silence ended. 

He spoke. 

So, I asked….

“What are You wanting to teach me through this?”

Kind of changed my perspective a wee bit. 

Sometimes, we go through difficult situations brought on by ourselves, others, or just life circumstances.  This, we know.  What we, or I, seem to forget is that God can and will use these times to refine us.

You see, friends, we may be created in His image, but we aren’t Him.  And, He wants us to be more like Him.  So, He’ll refine us. 

Because, He love us.

And, that’s a good thing.

As the days passed, God began to make me painfully aware of some areas in my life that weren’t completely surrendered to Him – one particular area that didn’t resemble Christ in any way. 

So, I let Him begin doing some heart surgery on me.

Refining, if you will.

Tomorrow, I’ll share what that one thing is.

Do you feel God refining an area in your life?

For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver.  Psalm 66:10

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March 12, 2009 · 6:00 am

Letting go.


There are times that I tell God that I want whatever He wants for me.  Sometimes, I even mean it.  Other times, I’m afraid to tell Him I want what He wants, because…

Well, because, what if He doesn’t want what I want?  For real.

So, to play it safe, I steer clear of surrendering a thing or two.

But, that’s not playing it safe.

It might even be rebellion disguised as a “I’m not ready to give that part of me up just yet.”

I’ve had a little something something in my life like that.  This week, I gave it all to Him.  I said these words to God:

I want whatever You want for me. 

Wherever you want me to be.  Whatever you want me to do.  THAT’S what I want.

And, I meant it.

His ways are higher than our ways.

His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.

He even loves me more than my mama.  And, that’s sayin’ a lot, folks.

When is the last time you told Him you want whatever He wants?  And meant it?

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January 15, 2009 · 6:00 am

Lessons in surrender.


Some things I’m learning in my little….okay, big surrendering of all of me to Him:

It’s a conscious effort every single day. 

Sometimes, I’m afraid of what He might want for me.

The whole, “I want what God wants, BUT….” isn’t gonna work.

Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.  (Proverbs 19:21)

He is concerned about me.

He knows what’s best for me.

Jesus knows what it feels like to surrender – “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”  (Matthew 26:39)

He will give me the desires of my heart.  And, in this process, MY desires become HIS desires. 

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Psalm 37:4

What is God teaching you right now?

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