Living Surrendered
Many of us who have been in church for many many years have heard this term, living surrendered, before. Many of us, if asked, would say, “Sure, we are living surrendered to Christ because we have accepted him as our savior. Some of us might say, “Sure, I am living surrendered because I am busy about the church with good works.” Yet, even a few of us might say, “What does it look like to live surrendered?”
In a recent Sunday night bible study, Pastor Doug led us through a good discussion on Cain and Able. It was an enlightening study of lack of surrender and what can happen when a person chooses not to have a relationship with God (Jeremiah 29:11-13). This is just what Cain did. He chose not to have a relationship with God and it showed in his attitude toward God and his brother. God had something special for Cain, a mission, a good life, but we don’t get to hear about it because Cain choose not to surrender to God.
Read Gen 4:1:15, noting what God says to Cain in vs. 7. God wanted to accept Cain, to have a relationship with him. This is what he desires from us too—a relationship.
Things that can keep you from surrendering to God
Views of God. You may feel that God is a dictator and nothing good could come from living for Him, giving Him control of your life. We may have had early experiences when we learned to believe a lie that God isn’t real or doesn’t really love us—that it is just a bunch of hypocritical people who come together once a week to make themselves feel good. Or worse yet, you may have learned to believe that you are not lovable, or just don’t care anymore.
Take Action:
1. Read Psalm 84:11 and Romans 8:32
2. Read books on God’s attributes like Chip Ingram’s God as He Longs To See You, or A. W. Tozer’s Knowledge of the Holy (audio versions available online of both).
3. Find a Christian mentor whose qualities of life are ones that you admire, one who is living surrendered.
Views of ourselves. When the attitude of “I can do it myself” is prevalent, our view of our self is much too high (Romans 12:3). Or other attitudes get in the way of our living fully surrendered. The consequences are that we are unable to live in God’s power, grace, and fulfillment.
Take Action:
Many of us who have been in church for many many years have heard this term, living surrendered, before. Many of us, if asked, would say, “Sure, we are living surrendered to Christ because we have accepted him as our savior. Some of us might say, “Sure, I am living surrendered because I am busy about the church with good works.” Yet, even a few of us might say, “What does it look like to live surrendered?”
In a recent Sunday night bible study, Pastor Doug led us through a good discussion on Cain and Able. It was an enlightening study of lack of surrender and what can happen when a person chooses not to have a relationship with God (Jeremiah 29:11-13). This is just what Cain did. He chose not to have a relationship with God and it showed in his attitude toward God and his brother. God had something special for Cain, a mission, a good life, but we don’t get to hear about it because Cain choose not to surrender to God.
Read Gen 4:1:15, noting what God says to Cain in vs. 7. God wanted to accept Cain, to have a relationship with him. This is what he desires from us too—a relationship.
Things that can keep you from surrendering to God
Views of God. You may feel that God is a dictator and nothing good could come from living for Him, giving Him control of your life. We may have had early experiences when we learned to believe a lie that God isn’t real or doesn’t really love us—that it is just a bunch of hypocritical people who come together once a week to make themselves feel good. Or worse yet, you may have learned to believe that you are not lovable, or just don’t care anymore.
Take Action:
1. Read Psalm 84:11 and Romans 8:32
2. Read books on God’s attributes like Chip Ingram’s God as He Longs To See You, or A. W. Tozer’s Knowledge of the Holy (audio versions available online of both).
3. Find a Christian mentor whose qualities of life are ones that you admire, one who is living surrendered.
Views of ourselves. When the attitude of “I can do it myself” is prevalent, our view of our self is much too high (Romans 12:3). Or other attitudes get in the way of our living fully surrendered. The consequences are that we are unable to live in God’s power, grace, and fulfillment.
Take Action:
1. Work to remove the barriers so that you can live in the power of God
2. Read Psalm 84:11 and Romans 8:32 (One of my favorites
2. Read Psalm 84:11 and Romans 8:32 (One of my favorites
3. Know that surrender becomes easier when you fully understand God’s goodness
· Know that God finds Holy pleasure in the happiness of his servants
· Learn from other believers
Remember God has a plan for you to walk in his love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, power.
Blessings,
Leslie
· Know that God finds Holy pleasure in the happiness of his servants
· Learn from other believers
Remember God has a plan for you to walk in his love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, power.
Blessings,
Leslie
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