I am taking you back to October 2020, our first Ladies' Day. We were in a state of lockdown due to COVID-19. We had our first virtual meeting. Our theme was "Withholding Nothing" - Living Surrendered.
Scripture: Romans 12:1
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God which is your reasonable service."
MSG: So, here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him.
Withhold – refuse to give (something that is due to or is desired by another)
Nothing – the absence of anything
Withholding nothing: to give everything, with no holding back
Becoming a living sacrifice means that we are to live a life that reflects the stance that we gave up everything we have for Christ's sake – doing all for the glory of God. Anything we do for God must be our best.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 22:37, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your mind." All our heart, soul, and mind, or in other words, our total being, must be in our worship. We are to be so surrendered that we are like clay in the Master's hands – where we allow Him to make us into whatever vessel He desires for us to be. Only He knows where we fit and what shape He needs for His Master plan/building. Not every job requires a circle or a square; some of us must be willing to be stretched and molded into just the right shape or posture for the Kingdom. Remember we are Kingdom-focused, not self-focused.
Surrender is a battle term. It means giving up all rights to the conqueror. For us, it means laying down our lives and allowing God (our conqueror) to take full control of every aspect of our being. God wants total surrender, all of us, not parts. His terms, not ours. A surrendered heart yields to the will of God. God wants to do something great with each one of our lives, but He can only do so if we are willing to get out of our own way, stop doing things our way, and are willing to surrender all our wills, plans, and desires to Him. Andrew Murray said, "God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him."
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
We can choose to follow our own path. But if we want the blessings of God upon our life, then we must choose His way. Following God leads to true fulfillment, peace, and life. However, following self brings destruction, disillusionment, and ultimately spiritual death.
For God to transform your heart and your life, you must fully surrender to Him. It is your choice, He will not force Himself on you. Once God has hold of your heart, He shapes it to how He sees best. He begins to mold you into His image. God says in His Word, “Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.” Deuteronomy 30:15–20 (NLT).
What would our life look like if we really learned the meaning of "living surrendered"?
What would your life look like if we were dressed and prepared for battle each day?
We are at war, and this is only the beginning. Do we have what it takes? Are we prepared for what is ahead? Are we dressed for battle? We are supernatural beings; we do not fight a natural war. Choose to let God be God in your life. Only God can be all things to all people. We need not take on that job. Our job is to surrender our hearts and let His Spirit work through us! Are you ready to surrender your heart fully to Him?
Prayer: Dear Lord, please help my sister to trust You. Help her to remember that You are El Roi - the God who sees her and the God who knows her. Help her believe what You have promised in your word that You will never leave or forsake her. Help her to know that You love her unconditionally. Help her know that You have already won and worked out every battle she will ever face. That You love her fully. That You love her gently. That You love her unconditionally. Help her each day to rest and breathe in Your peace - recognizing that You have already conquered all of her struggles.