and Christ above all."
Matthew 10:39 "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
In recent conversations, bible studies, research, and reading, the topic of "surrender/surrendering" has come up more than enough times to really catch my interest...
The questions have been circling through my head.......Are there things that can and have kept me from surrendering?
How often do I lust for MORE? Do I cling to the hope of gaining something I don't have? Does my world revolve around popularity? New clothes? Do I have "addictions" that I'm unwilling to give up? Am I content with what God has given me? What do I have to surrender? How do I surrender? Am I willing to SURRENDER in order to glorify God?
It all comes down to.....
> What am I holding on to?
1. Status; Who are we?
"Who am I? I know I'm more than an athlete or a brain, an outcast or a rebel. but that's not the reality of high-school I'm supposed to be discovering myself, finding myself, but somehow I've been given a labial It feels like everyone is watching, expecting, waiting for me to fail. I feel so desperate, alone. invisible misunderstood face. All I've ever wanted was to be excepted, but now I regret some of the things I've done. And I'm tired; I'm tired of trying to be who everyone want's me to be.
God,
I know it shouldn't matter what others think, but its hard not to. I know you want me to be real, to be who you made me to be. But its easier to be that way at church, than it is other places. Lord, help me understand that what really matters is what You see, and who you designed me to be. God, give me courage; give me strength because I cant do it on my own. Help me to be me!"
- Surrender Bible study
By Francis Chan
Finding my status. Knowing who I am. Why is MY status important to me?
Everyone struggles with this. I know that I have!
I remember asking God to help people like me. I was always afraid that I would do something stupid or embarrassing or foolish in front of my friends, so I would pray every morning that God would help me not to make any of those" mistakes".......I wanted people to see how great I am! I would do/say things to show people that I really was cool.
I would hang out with the popular kids, because popular kids didn't become popular by hanging out with the outcasts. And I was proud of all the "friends" I had made.
But really I cant fallow God and fit in! I can't pursue God, and everything he wants me to be and still look like everyone else!
You cant have the World and Jesus too!
I always used to think that if I became like the outcasts, if people stopped liking me.....then my life would end.
But Jesus says that the "only way that you will truly live is to fully surrender you life to Him."
Being caught up in the pride of "popular life" we forget about those lonely, poor, hurting people who may not have friends, or might get made fun of a lot, looked down upon. We ignore people like that, and maybe even belittle people like that.
That is the apposite of what God call us to!
The issue of "status" is Pride.
In the world today......"surrendering" implies defeat....
and defeat implies weakness....
Showing weakness may hurt your "pride"
and PRIDE....well, it just happens to be something that God hates....even Abhors!
Proverbs 16:5" Everyone who is proud is an abomination to the Lord;
be assured, he will not go unpunished."
In 1 John 2:12 it says that "Pride is the mother of all evil" and from it springs all other sins!
Count others more significant than yourselves (Philippians 2;3-9)
Surrendering your status is the perfect example of what Jesus did!
Let go of your status so that you can LOVE <3
"Brake my heart for what breaks yours"
2. Sin; resist and break free.....
There are things that God commands us to stay away from. And when we do them...it called SIN.
At Gods heart He says "I know what is best for you..so, get AWAY from sin...because it is going to destroy you" Sin is an argent thing!
Galatians 6:7 "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."
Your not going to fool God. Every time you sin, there will be a consequent's! There is no period of time when it is "okay" to sin! You may think "well, its not hurting anyone/anything" but really......you are! You are hurting your relationship with God!
Sin seems to stick around......the same sin!
You feel like you cant get rid of it.
Its terrifying...
Its frustrating..
Temptation of sin is so REAL. And it hits us every day!
You cant run away from it.
But what you can do is run to Jesus! And resist!
I look at the sin in my life and I say " God, I'm sorry about that, but I know...I know, that you can put that to death!"
I Corinthians 10:13 " No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
God promises! He can help you...it is possible! Don't listen to the lie that you cant do it. Because with God you can do all things. Satan is going to throw crazy temptations right in my face. He is going to temp us with things that we like.
But God will always give us a way of escape! That doesn't mean it will be easy.....
God gives us the power to overcome sin through Christ Jesus!
Temptation leads to Sin, and sin leads to death.
The longer you wait to get out of this cycle the harder it is!
"Today, while it is still today. today is the day of your salvation, today is the day to get away from your sin while you still have the chance." Confess, be healed, Surrender!
3. Self; Sacrifice......
I don't know about you......but when I hear "Surrendering self" I usually only think of the act of relinquishing possession and control of my life to God. "Handing over the wheel."
And that is exactly what it is!
Surrendering is saying "God, its not about me, I give all for you, no matter what I do......its all for you!"
But I think we can take it a step further...
One of the best ways that you can surrender, is by sacrificing yourself for others! Giving of yourself!
"Others above self,
and Christ above all!"
Surrendering Self IS giving the control of your life over to God! It's also giving up your life (your "me" time) to glorify HIM to do His good works!
Helping others! Doing charity work, or volunteering to do something that might cut into some fun plans that you had made. Giving up a day at the mall to go visit older people in their homes. Canceling your spa day, hair cut, or manicure so that you can help rebuild or replace damage to a house. Maybe even going through your cloths and finding nice items that you can give to a family who has real financial problems.
The prevailing message of today is "more more more, and me me me" And we are all born under Satan's influence! Our natural tendency therefore is to fallow the ways of the world!
But as Christians, we know deep down that we cant live our lives that way.....
In Romans 12:2 it says "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Colossians 3:2 "Set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on this earth."
Ask yourself these questions;
* Do I see that I am totally rich in Jesus?
* Will that be enough to bring me to surrender?
* Maybe even Contentment?
* Would I give up anything because God promises that He has something better?
* What might there be that is better?
All of these thoughts keep bring me bake to a song;
--
Surrender by Marc James
I'm giving You my heart
All that is within
I lay it all down
For the sake of You my King
I'm giving You my dreams laying down my rights
I'm giving up my pride
For the promise of new life
And I Surrender.. All to You, all to You
And I Surrender.. All to You, all to You
I'm singing You this song
I'm waiting at the Cross
All the world holds dear
I count it all as loss
For the sake of knowing You
For the glory of Your name
To know the lasting joy
Even sharing in Your pain
--
Blessings <3
There are things that God commands us to stay away from. And when we do them...it called SIN.
At Gods heart He says "I know what is best for you..so, get AWAY from sin...because it is going to destroy you" Sin is an argent thing!
Galatians 6:7 "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."
Your not going to fool God. Every time you sin, there will be a consequent's! There is no period of time when it is "okay" to sin! You may think "well, its not hurting anyone/anything" but really......you are! You are hurting your relationship with God!
Sin seems to stick around......the same sin!
You feel like you cant get rid of it.
Its terrifying...
Its frustrating..
Temptation of sin is so REAL. And it hits us every day!
You cant run away from it.
But what you can do is run to Jesus! And resist!
I look at the sin in my life and I say " God, I'm sorry about that, but I know...I know, that you can put that to death!"
I Corinthians 10:13 " No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
God promises! He can help you...it is possible! Don't listen to the lie that you cant do it. Because with God you can do all things. Satan is going to throw crazy temptations right in my face. He is going to temp us with things that we like.
But God will always give us a way of escape! That doesn't mean it will be easy.....
God gives us the power to overcome sin through Christ Jesus!
Temptation leads to Sin, and sin leads to death.
The longer you wait to get out of this cycle the harder it is!
"Today, while it is still today. today is the day of your salvation, today is the day to get away from your sin while you still have the chance." Confess, be healed, Surrender!
3. Self; Sacrifice......
I don't know about you......but when I hear "Surrendering self" I usually only think of the act of relinquishing possession and control of my life to God. "Handing over the wheel."
And that is exactly what it is!
Surrendering is saying "God, its not about me, I give all for you, no matter what I do......its all for you!"
But I think we can take it a step further...
One of the best ways that you can surrender, is by sacrificing yourself for others! Giving of yourself!
"Others above self,
and Christ above all!"
Surrendering Self IS giving the control of your life over to God! It's also giving up your life (your "me" time) to glorify HIM to do His good works!
Helping others! Doing charity work, or volunteering to do something that might cut into some fun plans that you had made. Giving up a day at the mall to go visit older people in their homes. Canceling your spa day, hair cut, or manicure so that you can help rebuild or replace damage to a house. Maybe even going through your cloths and finding nice items that you can give to a family who has real financial problems.
The prevailing message of today is "more more more, and me me me" And we are all born under Satan's influence! Our natural tendency therefore is to fallow the ways of the world!
But as Christians, we know deep down that we cant live our lives that way.....
In Romans 12:2 it says "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Colossians 3:2 "Set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on this earth."
Ask yourself these questions;
* Do I see that I am totally rich in Jesus?
* Will that be enough to bring me to surrender?
* Maybe even Contentment?
* Would I give up anything because God promises that He has something better?
* What might there be that is better?
All of these thoughts keep bring me bake to a song;
--
Surrender by Marc James
I'm giving You my heart
All that is within
I lay it all down
For the sake of You my King
I'm giving You my dreams laying down my rights
I'm giving up my pride
For the promise of new life
And I Surrender.. All to You, all to You
And I Surrender.. All to You, all to You
I'm singing You this song
I'm waiting at the Cross
All the world holds dear
I count it all as loss
For the sake of knowing You
For the glory of Your name
To know the lasting joy
Even sharing in Your pain
--
Blessings <3
No comments:
Post a Comment