Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 NLT
Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. This is not easy. My mind has been assaulted lately with regrets. Memories of things I can’t change. Wanting do overs in so many areas of my life. I mentioned one particular regret to my Life Group ladies last night. They were very quick to remind me to put on the helmet of salvation and let it go. The blessing of surrendering our regrets to the Lord is freedom! James 4:7 instructs us so humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. These condemning regret thoughts are definitely not my God’s thoughts toward me or the situation. As I humbled myself before the Lord, resisting the devil’s taunts he ran. The Holy Spirit began to show me God’s perspective, what a shift–from death to life! My choice: surrender to the condemning thoughts, or to the freedom of forgiveness and release? The end of Romans 12:2: then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. I know I have dealt with the issue of regrets before–but the learning obviously was not complete. I am grateful our teacher keeps on teaching us!
Another blessing of surrendering can be found in James 4:10. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. Our brother Joseph is such a good example for us. Sold into slavery by his brothers. Exalted to leadership in Potiphar’s house, then jailed on false accusations. Historians think he was in prison for 13 years, before he was given the opportunity to interpret Pharoah’s dreams. Here is a man who served humbly no matter where he was. As we learn to serve the audience of One–our Savior, He will advance us to where we need to be. Do your best and trust Him with the rest was one of my husband’s mottos. It brings the best peace into your lives.
Surrendering trust in His lifting you up or promotion frees us from competition with our brothers and sisters. It allows us to celebrate their wins and achievements. We become a better teammate because it is not about us, but about Him and His Kingdom, not ours.
The blessing of surrendering to His will not our own means we have access to His wisdom not our own. Many years ago, Darryl and I felt a change in the air. We spent time before Him asking for clear direction. It was such a difficult season with our choices affecting not only our family, but our church family in Oregon. During this season, my mom passed away. While we were meeting with her pastor, he said, “why don’t you come and help us here?”. He knew nothing about our prayer, but it ended up being the answer to our prayer. It has been thirty six years since we went through that door. We served and supported that church for twelve years, when once again the Lord said it was time to move. In 2002, we followed His leading to Lighthouse Christian Center (now Life Church). The blessing of surrendering to the field He calls is priceless.
The best blessing of surrender is no matter how difficult, we have the opportunity to fellowship with Him and His sufferings. That I may know him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, begin conformed to His death. Philippians 3:10.NKJV. There is something that happens when our surrender brings us to the opportunity of suffering. I watched my husband endure physical assaults twice while loving someone. It was hard. I have cried with the Lord over poor choices His children have made, knowing it broke His heart more than mine, was just a very small taste of fellowshipping with Him. Praying for our brothers and sisters in other lands who are being outright persecuted for His namesake, is part of fellowshipping with Him. Denying yourself because He said to use your finances differently is a blessing–then watching Him repay with untold joy and even more finances is an amazing blessing of surrender.
His road is the best road, no matter what it feels like. His road always leads to life eternal. Choose to surrender to His will, there will be no regrets in the end. He knows the cost for us and His knew the cost for himself. I believe it is always worth it…who else has the words of eternal life?
Father, I thank you for the blessing of surrender. No matter what my friends are facing, I ask you to give them the grace to say yes to your will. Thank you for the promise as we say yes you will change our thinking. We will learn to know your will and that is good and pleasing and perfect. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Faith Encounters 