I REALLY enjoyed this chapter. Short and sweet and very to the point.
My mindset before reading the chapter was literally that I'm good, as I've already surrendered my life to God.... that was until she mentioned "I will fast when I feel like eating". Yikes! Pray for me guys cuz that's an area that is still very hard for your girl! Then she goes on to say "I will read your Word when I would rather watch TV" and that was enough to make me realize that (1) we may think we have surrendered everything when really we may have surrendered only some things, and (2) surrendering all to God is not a one-time event, but an act that should occur daily! It applies to each and every single one of us and it's a must for us to get closer to God and to get all that He has for us.
She mentioned a great point, which is that oftentimes it is hard for us to surrender because we're afraid of what God might ask of us. I remembered a few years ago straight up telling God that we would be friends but not grow to the dimension of lovers because I didn't want Him to start opening parts of me that needed to be worked on (i.e. working through unforgiveness, pride, low self-esteem), as I knew that it would be painful. However the pain is truly worth it for the freedom and breakthrough that comes consequently.
I encourage everyone to pray the prayer on page 82, meditate on it, and to follow God's leading in surrendering completely to Him and In doing what the Holy Spirit tells us to do (that little voice that we hear within us).
XOXOX
Lety
My mindset before reading the chapter was literally that I'm good, as I've already surrendered my life to God.... that was until she mentioned "I will fast when I feel like eating". Yikes! Pray for me guys cuz that's an area that is still very hard for your girl! Then she goes on to say "I will read your Word when I would rather watch TV" and that was enough to make me realize that (1) we may think we have surrendered everything when really we may have surrendered only some things, and (2) surrendering all to God is not a one-time event, but an act that should occur daily! It applies to each and every single one of us and it's a must for us to get closer to God and to get all that He has for us.
She mentioned a great point, which is that oftentimes it is hard for us to surrender because we're afraid of what God might ask of us. I remembered a few years ago straight up telling God that we would be friends but not grow to the dimension of lovers because I didn't want Him to start opening parts of me that needed to be worked on (i.e. working through unforgiveness, pride, low self-esteem), as I knew that it would be painful. However the pain is truly worth it for the freedom and breakthrough that comes consequently.
I encourage everyone to pray the prayer on page 82, meditate on it, and to follow God's leading in surrendering completely to Him and In doing what the Holy Spirit tells us to do (that little voice that we hear within us).
XOXOX
Lety
A very short chapter, yet very powerful, like you said Lety. I realized that I need God's mercy and grace way more than I thought I did, for I am very far from surrendering it ALL to Him. The prayer at the end gives examples of areas we should surrender to God: "my relationship, my finances, my work, my recreation, my decisions, my time, my body, my mind, my soul, my desires, and my dreams," & I must admit she lost me after finances. Yes I do tithe at church, I do feel guilty when I selfishly spend on myself but I just never thought of including "guide me into managing my finances Lord." in my daily prayer. I have always thought that as long as I am tithing, I can spend the rest however whenever and in whatever I want to because I already did my part for God. Guess I was wrong. I agree with you Lety, I believe it's the fear behind what He might ask me to do with my finances, the painful process of His stripping me off of worldly things that i keep acquiring with money but that i am not sure I am ready to give up! However, I believe it will all be worth it to surrender it ALL, "for the freedom and breakthrough that consequently come" !
ReplyDeleteSurrender is, according to Luke 9:23-24, losing our lives for Christ:"Then Jesus said to them all: 'if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.' "
BeBlessed!
<3
Oh hey Ladies,
ReplyDeleteI really wanted to share a couple of verses from the book's study guide ( I just did not want to include them in my previous post, and lose you all because it would have been a lengthy post :) ) Following the verses are questions, that hopefully will help understand what surrendering is and what the consequences are if we do not surrender it all - quite scary ! I encourage you to make time to read them :)
1) 1Peter 5:6-7. Do you feel you have totally surrendered your life to God and humbled yourself under His mighty hands?
2)Zechariah 7:12-13. What should we do if we want God to hear our prayers? What dos this mean when God asks us to do a particular thing?
3)Luke 16:10. What can happen to us when we think the little things don't matter and we allow ourselves to permit or rationalize "small" sins in our lives instead of requiring ourselves to be accountable and staying truly surrendered to God?
As always, BeBlessed !
Thanks for sharing!!
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