23. SURRENDERING TO GOD.

Why, What, How, When Surrendering to nature is an understanding we all have. When it’s cold we cover-up, when it’s hot we peel off, this is automatic. At a very early age we learn through our own or someone else’s experience to surrender to the law of gravity. We have to surrender and cooperate with the law of economics if we want to succeed in business. If we truly want to succeed in our relationship with God, we have to surrender to Him. This too has to be learned, and it will take longer for some of us than others. I believe this is a direct result of our self reliance, we don’t think we need God’s help, but we do; One of the first things a new Christian has to learn is His/Her reliance on God, because that is the anchor of Faith. Jesus said--”Without Me you can do nothing.” Contrary to some thinking, surrendering to God is wisdom, rather than weakness. Only a fool would resist God, because it’s a fight we can’t possibly hope to win. Understand this, it’s in surrendering to Him that we are empowered to succeed in what He has called us to do. Therefore surrender is empowered by demonstrated obedience. It is saying “Yes Lord” to whatever He asks. To say “No Lord is a contradiction. In Luke 6.46. Jesus speaking says “How can you call me Lord and refuse to obey me?” Peter demonstrated true surrender when Jesus told him to try again, he didn’t say “I know what I’m doing, I’ve been a Fisherman since boyhood, I know these waters there’s no fish running today.” What he did say was “We have toiled all night and caught nothing, nevertheless at your word I will let down the nets.” We have to have that “Nevertheless at You word” attitude. So, whether Fisherman or Airline Pilots, Single Mums or Doctors when He says try again, take Him at His word. When Peter did that, “They caught a great number of fish.” There is a great deal to be said for taking Jesus at His word. After all it is the Word of God!, He is usually concise and to the point, that is why when writing I, like many other writers quote straight from Scripture, I believe Scripture says what it means and means what it says so, there can be no mistake. Surrendered people obey God, even when it doesn’t make sense. Abraham followed God without knowing where he would be taken...Hannah waited on God without knowing when....Mary expected a miracle without knowing how... Her husband Joseph trusted God’s plan without knowing why circumstances happened as they did. Each of these people and many other ordinary people just like ourselves learned to be fully surrendered to God and they came out on top. Surrendering means giving up the driver’s seat and moving over. (And not being a back seat driver.) How will we know when we are fully surrendered to God? This will only happen when we rely on God to work things out for us, instead of trying to Manipulate circumstances or other people, Forcing our own agenda, or attempting to Control situations. We don’t have to be in charge, we simply let go and let God have His way. It goes something like this, “Dear God I’d really like that lady for my wife, or that Job, House Car etc..----and leave the matter with Him (Surrender it) this has a double effect, 1. it will stop coveting and 2. the problem will belong to God, because you have surrendered it to Him first. If you do that with everything you have you will own nothing and God will own everything in your life. (Sounds silly?, it is, but it works!!) Jesus said “Cast ALL your cares on me because I care for You.” Take Him at His Word. I did and that’s how I know. When we start doing things God’s way instead of our own way, we experience great benefits. First we have peace. Job Ch 22 v21 says “Submit to God and you will have peace and things will go well with you.” Second we will have freedom...Psalm 119. v45. “I will live in freedom because I follow your orders.” Thirdly..We will have Power.. James 4. v7. “Submit to God resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Stubborn temptations and overwhelming problems are defeated by Christ the moment we surrender each area of our lives over to Him. It’s impossible to surrender everything at once, but one or two things at a time, and one day you realise, You and all you own belongs to The Lord. The freedom, peace and power that comes with that realisation is an out of this world experience. As Joshua, the General of the Israelite army approached the walls of Jericho he encountered God, he fell down and worshipped, surrendered his plans and said to Him “What does my Lord say to His servant.” Joshua Ch5.v14. Joshua’s surrender led to a spectacular victory. Here’s a paradox, victory comes through surrender. Surrender doesn’t weaken us it actually strengthens us. When we surrender to God we don’t have to fear surrendering to anyone or anything else. William Booth founder of the Salvation Army said, “The greatness of a man’s power is in the measure of his surrender. Eventually everybody surrenders to something, if not to God it will be to the opinions and expectations of others, to money, to resentment, to fear, to our own lusts or ego. We are free to choose whatever we surrender to, but we are not free from the consequences of that choice. Stanley Jones said “If you don’t surrender to Christ, you surrender to chaos.” The supreme example is Jesus Christ himself, the night before His crucifixion, surrendering to God’s plan for the Salvation of the human race saying “Your will and not mine be done.” and He is our example. Have you ever noticed how much energy it takes to keep a tight grip on something, Come on! We all know what we are holding on to, are you in turmoil because you can’t control the people or circumstances in your life. My advice is release your grip. Go ahead, surrender it to God, you’ll be amazed at how much more energy you’ll have and how much easier life will be. Once you’ve made the choice to surrender to God; your hardest days will become your easiest days. A.W. Towzer wrote “Father...my coward heart fears to give up its toys, I cannot part with them without inward bleeding and I do not try to hide from you my terror of the parting, I come trembling but I do come, please root from my heart those things which I have cherished so long and have become a very part of my living self, so that you may come and enter there without a rival.” When I first started writing this article some time ago, I had one question, Surrender what? God gave me a list, so I’ll give You what I was given, 1. YOUR POSITION As John’s wife I found my security, my identity and my commitment was all in Him. This seems very commendable, and virtuous but, This is not what God wants, He wont tolerate a rival, He has to have first place or no place. (that took a bit of working through) but now I truly understand what surrender really means. 2. YOUR PLANS We have to plan wisely but be ready for God to rearrange things and also be prepared for Him to take us along paths that may become uncomfortable. Nothing this side of heaven is permanent including relationships. Enjoy the time we have with our loved ones, in the knowledge that they first belong to God, and one day we will be separated for a little while before being reunited. Understand this and avoid the temptation to cling. 3. .OUR ANXIETIES If our emotions are wrapped around some issue, involving a possession a job a particular expectation or a relationship, we are not fully relying on God. NO we are still clinging to lesser things. STOP we have to let it go, although this is not easy or comfortable and in fact sometimes down right hard, but I can’t tell you the freedom it brings, knowing that God Almighty has everything about you and your life under His personal control, is truly worth every sacrifice you may make because now, He can trust you with all the blessings and surprises He has waiting for You. Think of Abraham, only when he was prepared to lay his most treasured possession on the line did God, not only give him back his son, but so much more and called Abraham his friend. The more we give to God, the more He will give us, why? Because He will not be outdone in generosity. Slowly I started handing my possessions over to God, then my habits and entertainments hobbies etc. He didn’t take everything off me at once, but somehow stuff didn’t hold the same attraction for me any more, and some He hasn’t removed. However, there was a certain satisfaction in knowing those things didn’t have the addictive hold over me any longer, some things were quite easy, others more difficult. And I had to remind myself that God was doing a work in me. However, when it came to my children, my friends and relationships, He showed me how much more He could do for them and me than I could do for us, and the bonds among us have grown even stronger. I now understand not only what God wants from us, but why He wants it, He wants the surrender of our hearts, our minds, our wills and eventually our whole beings, because only then can we be tools in the masters hand. When you relinquish your will to God, you live in a peaceful atmosphere, your dependence is on Him, and He takes care of everything. Yes, you will still go through the highs and lows of life but, He will be there with you and will see you through your darkest as well as your brightest times. He said “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you.” This comes through a strongly committed prayer life, the more we are committed to regular communication with God, (that’s what prayer is) the closer we are to Him and His Kingdom. Therefore, that too has to be cultivated. Prayer can’t be rushed, it is not a ritual nor can it be an add- on to our daily routine, that’s not putting Him first, No, praying is acknowledging God first, sitting in a quiet place with Him, listening and waiting in silence for Him to speak to you,.You will learn the sound of His voice, feel the closeness of His presence and experience the depth of His love. You will understand how communication with God becomes second nature to you, prayer like that, will then be something you can’t get enough of. Putting God first and spending quality time with Him each day in my opinion, is the only way we can develop a good, strong Faith relationship with Him Thank you for reading my thoughts on Surrendering our lives to God, There may be many restrictions on what we can and can’t do and where we can and can’t go these days, but, nobody can control our greatest weapon, (Prayer) so load up and fire at the installations that are aimed at us and we will see God’s hand at work as His army grows.. May God bless us all Phaline.