Have You Surrendered?
My husband has been preaching on Romans and finally on Sunday got to the ‘THEREFORE’ – what our response should be to the first 11 chapters.
I loved it! I even took my son into créche earlier than I usually do and prayed that he would stay there and not cry so that I could hear the sermon!
Surrendering my life to God is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me – and it still is. As my husband said, ‘It is the blessed life’. It still has trials and suffering, and we have to die to ourselves.
But it has amazing joy and peace, and more real fulfillment than can be found in anything else, probably because we are growing in our love of God.
George Muller said this:
And at the end of the day, or of life really, what could be more important than that?
I just want to encourage you, if you are holding back some of your life from God, to think of what He has done for you in sending His only Son to die for you. If we had a friend here on earth who gave that kind of sacrifice, we would forever be indebted to them. How much more then, should we want to live for God?!
Here is one of my favourite hymns, which always inspires me!
I was thinking this morning about what Paul said “for to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil 4:21). I often rush past the first part to get to the part about going home to heaven. But, like George Muller stated, I can’t do the first part until I die to myself. Thanks for the post (and the hymn)!
Very true Rhoda. We are slowly learning how to submit to our Lord. I don’t know how He lets us get away with calling Him ‘Lord’ when we’re not submitting to Him. We have begun to see that we take so many things for granted, just because we are so assimilated into worldly ways of thinking that we don’t question the decisions we make about our lives. God is only sovereign when He is running every aspect of our lives. I am beginning to realise the vital need to pray that He would continue to convict us when we have made decisions based on accepted worldly-thinking, rather than being led by Him.
I don’t think Christians are ‘weird’ enough. We don’t stand out from the ungodly. You couldn’t pick us out in a crowd. Not that it’s easy to be different. It’s certainly not easy to submit. It’s downright terrifying on occasion. God has challenged so many areas of our lives, and completely ‘ruined’ us in the process. But He’s broken us to rebuild us into something beautiful – and useful for Him.
Surrendering to God can be a difficult thing to do. However, when we do, we are never disappointed! When turning away from self and turning to our Lord, we are showered with His loving mercy and grace. Praise God that He has such patience with us!
I’ve been meditating on this alot as I have been studying Jacob. His journey to surrender is very long and difficult, but I can so relate to his wrestle with God!
I remember the day that I died — that I surrendered all. It was a day to mark, definitely, and my whole heart has clearly been changed.
You offer such encouragement and blessing here. I’m so glad to welcome you to Soli Deo Gloria!
@Brooke thanks for that great point! I have been thinking about how to become more like Paul in saying, ‘for me to live is Christ’ and that makes a lot of sense that if you die to yourself then you will live for Christ a lot better!
@Alison I agree with you, that we don’t stand out enough, I think we have been too much influenced by the world.
@Joan I am also glad that God has so much patience with us!
@kd sullivan Jacob is a really interesting story. I especially like how he got rid of his idols and God took him right back as if he’d never left – He has such compassion and mercy for us.
@Jen thank you for visiting and for your link! And thanks for sharing that you also had a day you died 🙂
Nice post…looking for to visit more..thanks for sharing…blessings..
Thank you for your visit Soraya 🙂