Showing posts with label surrender. Show all posts
Showing posts with label surrender. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Kingdom surrender
Our surrender (or lack of) today will affect our freedom for tomorrow.
I recently heard this line in a song and can't seem to get it out of my mind because it carries such a powerful truth.
The question that begs to be asked is who or what do we surrender to? Everyday we are faced with situations when walked through reveal our true hearts allegiance.
Everyday we are asked to surrender to kingdoms not always ruling with our best interest in mind. Wall Street sets the tone for financial kingdoms; Hollywood for moral kingdoms and Washington for political kingdoms.
There is another kingdom that tends to get lost amidst the struggle and pulling of theses others--yet this kingdom is the only one with true power and authority. This kingdom works in direct opposition of the others, it's values are in direct opposition of the others, it's longevity will outlast any and it's throne will only ever have one ruler.
This kingdom admonishes its dwellers to give when the others say amass your wealth; give unending forgiveness when the others keep score; demands undivided loyalty while the others encourage prostitution of oneself to gain the world. This kingdom is ruled by love when the others are ruled by greed; gives its dwellers power and authority to move obstacle-mountains while the others create obstacle-mountains with its power and authority.
This kingdoms guidebook never changes while the other kingdoms have no clue which version they are currently following.
Do the other rulers realize when they gather together the ruler of this kingdom is present and privy to all theirs plans, spoken and unspoken? That he has the power to override their decisions and actions and often does.
This kingdom has no end while the others will one day come to an abrupt ending. This kingdom is the only one that gives true freedom at the cost of undivided surrender.
This kingdom is called the Kingdom of God and is here, now, invading all other kingdoms. It's inhabitants have opportunities every day to infiltrate and wreck havoc in the other kingdoms rulings...but do they? Do the inhabitants of this kingdom really take seriously the promise of its ruler, "whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these...You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it" (John 14:12, 14 NIV) or fully understand, "It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies"? (Zechariah 4:6 NLT)
United we stand, divided we fall was the battle cry of our country's early patriots. It is the battle cry today of the Kingdom of God. Jesus said, “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall." (Luke 11:17 NIV)
Divided loyalties always result in confusion and wimpy power if any.
Whose kingdom will you and I give our loyalty to today? Surrender is always a cost of loyalty. What will that loyalty cost us and will it bring true freedom?
Monday, July 2, 2012
Change
God created me at my core a unique individual, just as he
has you, for his purposes and to bring him glory. Period.
His purpose and plan may change from time to time, day to
day, and perhaps even moment to moment; our response can be interesting,
adventurous and yet confusing and defiant—not on God’s part but ours or more specifically
mine.
Just the time I get comfortable it seems he changes the
game plan AND without consulting me!
Could this ‘change’ be the refreshing everlasting water[i]
constantly flowing in and through me rather than stagnant and unyielding water
I tend to gravitate to? At heart, I am a
very private person and like my time
and my ways. But I’m coming to realize God did not create
me for…well, me. That is not to say we don’t
need quiet and/or alone times to refresh and be rejuvenated. I’m talking about the avoidance of others
just because I don’t feel like interacting or feel like changing my plans.
Could it be that chance meeting was an ordained crossing
of two paths God orchestrated for encouragement, healing or salvation? Perhaps it was to be the exact moment in time
for God’s glory to be revealed to one who is desperately seeking someone higher
than their thoughts and ways. Could it
be God wants to teach me rather than the person I come across something or open
my eyes in an area I have shut?
I recently read that God could have created us with
incorruptible bodies and morally flawless character but instead he created us
out of dirt—clay. Why? So it would be absolutely obvious that
anything of eternal value accomplished through our lives is from God and not
from us[ii]
(2 Corinthians 4:7).
So in the end, it’s realizing my comfort is not God’s
purpose for my life. OUCH!! Obedience and surrender are not popular
topics nor are they to come from a defeatist attitude. Obedience and surrender are costly. They are also at the heart of understanding and
accepting who God is, why he created me and how he takes great pleasure in my partnering
with him for the amount of years he has given me to live.
So at times it is with kicking and throwing tantrums
that I surrender. And with a grateful
heart God doesn’t treat me as my sins deserve[iii]
but rather with grace he loving opens his arms and walks beside me--wherever that may be. Am I to do anything less for those around me?
What about you? Where
are you in your process or should I say progress?
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