Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever looses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.†Mark 8:34-38 (NIV)
‘Surrender’ is the part of repentance that even after 13 years of never-turning-back commitment to Jesus – I still struggle. To surrender means I relinquish control. What does that mean in context of a relationship with God?
And God spoke all these words: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.†Exodus 20:1-3 (NIV)
God says it is His way and only His way. That may sound harsh but do we not say that to our own children as we are walking in a crowded mall or busy street? God is a good Father. His desire is that we live with Him, whole and healthy. When we choose to walk away from Him, we will live unwisely. Jesus gave us the beautiful parable of the Prodigal Son. (Luke 15) The son chooses his own way. He finds the error in this and calls it sin. He feels he is “not worthy†to come home to the Father. He finds the Father waiting with arms open. The son had only to turn to the Father and say, “I’m sorry for doing it my way†and “Yes†to the Father’s plan for his life.
Choosing to live my life on God’s plan means talking to Him about my dreams and hopes. It is also listening to Him about what opportunities He is opening for me. It is a day-to-day relationship that grows because it is alive!
God is faithful to show His love for me. I see Him opening doors and inspiring me with what I need to function in these new opportunities. Let me give a short, persona l example/testimony:
When Henry and I knew it was time for me to go back to work, God opened the door to two places I would never have chosen. For the last four years I have worked in places that some would say I was overqualified to work. I was not sent there to impress anyone with my great nursing gifts. I was sent to both of those jobs to minister and sow God’s seeds into people I would not have met in my daily life. I have earned a living, prayed with people, and surrendered my plan for God’s plan.
I SURRENDER ALL
All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him, In his presence daily live.
I surrender all, I surrender all; All to thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.
All to Jesus I surrender, Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken, Take me Jesus, take me now.
I surrender all, I surrender all; All to thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.
Words by Judson W. Van DeVenter, Music by Winfield S. Weeden, 1896
