Scripture says that Mary, Mother of Jesus, "pondered all these things in her heart."
THAT is surrender right there,... to the 10th degree.... especially if she was a "fixer" like many of us!!
Father God is calling me into a season of a deeper, more sure way to open the door for Jesus to be people's Savior, not me. I cannot be someone's ticket to success, I cannot be their assurance of job security, or a promotion or a bonus, I cannot give them happiness....nor do I wish to!
Jesus has opportunity to be their Savior when I am quiet, remain still, wait, listen for His voice, and intercede, intercede, intercede in my secret prayer closet where no one can see.... then,... its His way, His methods, His timing, and HE GETS ALL THE GLORY, no one else.
That is some hard surrender,... to shut my mouth! 😊
A few weeks ago, I needed to give my son a huge, huge apology. One of the things I told him was, "us parents really wish that ya'll would come with an owner's manual specific to each of you, it sure would make it easier!!"
I was on my way home from the gym this morning when a song reminded me of this article. "Honest Offering" by CAIN talks about surrender....
My mind has been kinda, sorta stuck lately on the topic of the determination and inner character strength of the Bible people, people who knew WHO to surrender to.... it wasn't the crowd, for sure, not even the crowd of "good" people (I'm sure there were many "good" people who bowed to the golden image in the book of Daniel, chapter 3!!).
People like Joseph, Mordechai, Esther, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Daniel, the Apostles, and most certainly,... both Jesus,... and even his mother, Mary.
As I was thinking through all this this morning, my mind went to my oldest son. He has been through some very tough times in the past 7-1/2 years!! But Father God is definitely at work!
I was visiting with him yesterday afternoon. I was so very, very proud of him! Father God was showing me my son's inner strength that He has been developing in him over these last 7 years. He knows to whom He belongs and is and he knows what path to follow.... not that of the crowd, even the "good" crowd. I could see that Father God is creating in him another Shadrach, another Meshach, another Abednego....
It's all about a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with the Father, and surrendering to HIS Love. His love knows the best path for us.
Stand tall, son. Stand strong, son. Stand determined, son. I'm so very, very proud of you, as is the Heavenly Father!! Even when the nay sayer calls you stubborn, bitter, unforgiving, etc. Father God will honor you, when you do the hard things and stand against the grain! Don't be a "woose"and just blindly follow the crowd!!!
I truly believe that is what surrender looks like when we are surrender to Father God's will, not our own. Because, in our own flesh, we would follow the crowd, we would follow what's "easy," what's comfortable, what's convenient, what everyone else is doing, no matter how "innocent" it may look, ... right?
But, then, there wouldn't be such a thing as persecution either, right? Hard times can, if we are surrendered to the right Person, allow Him to develop perseverance within us!!
Great word today, Pastor.... my favorite?
"Their shared humble surrender in BIG moments models the way of the ReLeader - letting surrendered faith, not worldly metrics of readiness define us."
Scripture says that Mary, Mother of Jesus, "pondered all these things in her heart."
THAT is surrender right there,... to the 10th degree.... especially if she was a "fixer" like many of us!!
Father God is calling me into a season of a deeper, more sure way to open the door for Jesus to be people's Savior, not me. I cannot be someone's ticket to success, I cannot be their assurance of job security, or a promotion or a bonus, I cannot give them happiness....nor do I wish to!
Jesus has opportunity to be their Savior when I am quiet, remain still, wait, listen for His voice, and intercede, intercede, intercede in my secret prayer closet where no one can see.... then,... its His way, His methods, His timing, and HE GETS ALL THE GLORY, no one else.
That is some hard surrender,... to shut my mouth! 😊
Those of you who are parents understand....
(My focus is "ReLeading myself & my boys)
A few weeks ago, I needed to give my son a huge, huge apology. One of the things I told him was, "us parents really wish that ya'll would come with an owner's manual specific to each of you, it sure would make it easier!!"
I bet Mary and Joseph had that same wish!!
I was on my way home from the gym this morning when a song reminded me of this article. "Honest Offering" by CAIN talks about surrender....
My mind has been kinda, sorta stuck lately on the topic of the determination and inner character strength of the Bible people, people who knew WHO to surrender to.... it wasn't the crowd, for sure, not even the crowd of "good" people (I'm sure there were many "good" people who bowed to the golden image in the book of Daniel, chapter 3!!).
People like Joseph, Mordechai, Esther, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Daniel, the Apostles, and most certainly,... both Jesus,... and even his mother, Mary.
As I was thinking through all this this morning, my mind went to my oldest son. He has been through some very tough times in the past 7-1/2 years!! But Father God is definitely at work!
I was visiting with him yesterday afternoon. I was so very, very proud of him! Father God was showing me my son's inner strength that He has been developing in him over these last 7 years. He knows to whom He belongs and is and he knows what path to follow.... not that of the crowd, even the "good" crowd. I could see that Father God is creating in him another Shadrach, another Meshach, another Abednego....
It's all about a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with the Father, and surrendering to HIS Love. His love knows the best path for us.
Stand tall, son. Stand strong, son. Stand determined, son. I'm so very, very proud of you, as is the Heavenly Father!! Even when the nay sayer calls you stubborn, bitter, unforgiving, etc. Father God will honor you, when you do the hard things and stand against the grain! Don't be a "woose"and just blindly follow the crowd!!!
I truly believe that is what surrender looks like when we are surrender to Father God's will, not our own. Because, in our own flesh, we would follow the crowd, we would follow what's "easy," what's comfortable, what's convenient, what everyone else is doing, no matter how "innocent" it may look, ... right?
But, then, there wouldn't be such a thing as persecution either, right? Hard times can, if we are surrendered to the right Person, allow Him to develop perseverance within us!!
Just a few thoughts....
Blessings!
For your enjoyment:
https://youtu.be/suowe2czxcA?si=xhUSHMvwMw3kIk7t