Surrender

“O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me;

nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

from Matthew 26:39 (NKJV)

Have you ever been in a place in which you knew God's will, but didn't want to do it? Reading His Word, praying, or listening to a sermon can clarify God's voice, so that we can hear Him. But sometimes obedience is hard. We struggle with letting go of our selfish desires to really acquire the heart of the Father.

But isn't that what intimacy is about? Letting go of my wants and thinking about someone else? Intimacy with the Lord is my goal, but that means I can't focus on me. Surrender. It's a battle between "flesh" (what my body and emotions want) and the spirit (what I really want spiritually). It's like going on a diet, but not being able to control your appetite. You have a higher goal than your body does--but the body has not surrendered to the higher goal.

To think, Jesus struggled with this flesh vs. spirit battle too. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus went away to pray. During His prayer, we see this battle raging and the surrender that followed. “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39) And the battle was so intense that He sweated blood.

I have never been in that intense of a battle, but I do struggle with building the muscle in my spirit so that it is stronger than my flesh. That is the place of surrender. Where the flesh no longer controls, but the power of Christ brings life!

Avoiding Sin

"'Everything is permissible for me'—but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible for me'—but I will not be mastered by anything." 1 Corinthians 6:12 (NIV)

"Sin--both the act and our response to the act--really does matter.
Yes, God forgives. And He brings healing and restoration to all of us who surrender our failed attempts and shattered dreams to Him.
But in light of sin's painful consequences--hardened hearts, spiritual deafness, and shattered lives--doesn't it make sense to do whatever we can to avoid sin as much as possible?
Isn't it easier to guard the wellsprings of our hearts today rather than sorting out a messed-up life later on?"

Quoted from Having A Mary Spirit by Joanna Weaver.

Sharing Faith

I have learned many things about sharing my faith in the last year. Lessons that are pretty simple in concept, but somehow I missed them.

First, the Holy Spirit is the one who works on a person’s heart. I can work with Him, but I am not assigned to save people—only share.

The most significant paradigm shift is that it should take a lot of time and consideration for a person to commit to a life in Christ. Consider how much research and time is taken for a big decision such as a car purchase, house purchase, move, or career change. Yet, somehow we expect people to make a life change immediately.

Another observation is that we oftentimes see unbelievers as doing OK. We have even become desensitized to their spiritual condition. Many people drive by beggars or hitchhikers because we’ve heard of the dangers and fraudulent activity that is sometimes involved. We have become desensitized to their real suffering. Similarly, we don’t seem to understand that spiritual issues are a life-and-death matter. We just “drive by,” not wanting to get involved. Unlike the supposed need of beggars, unbelievers are really more like drowning victims within arm’s reach of us. All we need to do is open our mouths and share what God has done in our lives. They have a choice of whether to get out of the water or not. But we must offer them the chance at life.

“that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel . . . that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Ephesians 6:19-20

Parenting

In parenting, I have a deep desire for consistency and love. I find that I must continually commit to be consistent and loving. My natural tendency is to get tired and frustrated--letting things slide because I don't want to do deal with them and letting my emotions run the show.

But I see a different possibility. I have seen it in action . . . and that is what I pray. To be a gentle, firm, consistent parent.

I want to be more loving and gentle. Sometimes, I just don't seem to know how.
"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment." Philippians 1:9

I want to be consistent, even when I'm tired.
"He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly." Proverbs 13:24

I want to delight in my children now--and not always wish they would get over this difficult stage. (After this one, there is another difficult stage, and another, and another . . . ) I want to experience the rest promised in God's Word.
"Correct your son, and he will give you rest; Yes, he will give delight to your soul." Proverbs 29:17

I know and believe that the Living Power of God can change me and cause these things to happen. I believe that He can do the same for you.

Spiritual Growth

When there is a “tree” in the road of my spiritual growth that I can not seem to get around, two things help me get through and get on. Fasting and getting a mentor.

As I look back on my life, significant spiritual growth has occurred, after I finally had enough of struggling and wanting more, when I invited a mentor in my life to challenge me and keep me accountable. It is such a powerful thing to have another person in your life praying for you and supporting you as you grow!

Another tool that helps me grow through the regular course of life is fasting. Busyness and distractions (even oversleeping) can crowd out my time with the Lord and cause me to not hear Him as well. However, fasting breaks the power of distraction in my life and focuses my heart back on the Lord.

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3

“I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life.” Psalm 119:93