Surrender

Power of Surrender

Key Scripture; “Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him…Fix your attention on God, you’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you...God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” Romans 12, 1,2 The Message

Power Point: Okay, we’ve all been there. It was a powerful meeting. The music was wonderful, the sermon tore right at your heart and convicted you of things you hadn’t even thought of doing yet. And then they play, “I Surrender All”. Here come the tears, and here come the vows to do better and to give everything to Him. Everything. Right. And you really mean it at the time; until the cold light of morning. You sit down and open your Bible and the first thing the ladies see is ‘Wives submit to your husbands as unto the Lord.” WHAT? Hold on, I’m certainly not submitting to that guy. Have you seen how ____ he can be at times? I am so much more spiritual than he is Lord. Anything but that! And guys? “Live with your wife in an understanding way.” Lord, we all know that is impossible! She is WAY past understanding.

Get the picture? Yes, Lord, I surrender all. Except that. And that. Oh, my goodness, certainly not that! Lord you couldn’t expect me to give up THAT, it would be very uncomfortable. I know you don’t want me to be uncomfortable.

You want me to give up my right to be right? Argh! You want me to walk in faith not fear? You want me to step out into the unknown and follow you without a road map and clear directions?

Okay, see the bad thing is God heard your vows to surrender “all”. And He immediately starts working from that perspective. And believe it or not, He is not at all concerned with your comfort. In fact, getting you OUT of your comfort zone is one of His greatest pleasures. Trust me on this one. After years of long drawn out tugs-of war over my surrendered items, I always lost in the end. And after my surrender, I always knew I would have been much better off if I had given in earlier.

You already know what the next thing is He’s working on to free you from. How about just saying “yes”? He knows exactly how to bring out the best in you, and grow you up at the same time. Give it a try.

Oh, and by the way, the next time they start singing “I surrender all”. I suggest you zip your lip!

Power Talk: Papa God, I really do want transformation in my life. I know there are so many ways that I am conformed to this world. So, I will yield up the next thing you ask of me, with joy, and expect you to set me free from myself, and all that pertains to the old man in me. I am a new creation. I intend to live like it.