Surrendering Your Will

We love to feel like we are in control. We want to make our own choices and make our own decisions. Truth be told, we would like to feel like we are in control of our destiny. This idea of being "self-made" is the American way, but it is not God's way. God's way is all about sacrifice and surrender. Sacrifice carries the idea of giving up something for the benefit of others. It also carries the idea of giving up control and if we are honest, we struggle with that. I would like to give you two benefits of surrendering your will to God's will for your life:

1. Surrendering your will to God's will gives you purpose. God has a specific purpose for your life. In other words, God has a specific people for you to reach for the Kingdom of God. You are uniquely designed to reach them. You have the opportunity to inspire someone to establish a relationship with Christ. Your love for fashion could be the bridge God uses to reach someone. It could be your love for cooking that God uses to reach someone. There are so many ways that God is looking to give your everyday life an eternal purpose.

2. Surrendering your will to God's will gives you direction. Often times we find ourselves in situations where we don't know which way to go. However, when you surrender your will to God, it gives you a path to follow. It is a direction that leads to peace, but there will be some wars. It is a direction that leads to joy but there will be some pain. It is a direction that focuses on things that matter to God instead of things that matter to self. It is a direction that will allow you to volunteer at the soup kitchen. It is a direction that will allow you to write or visit those in the nursing home who are all alone, and it is a direction that will cause you to donate clothing to those who have no clothes. The awesome part about surrendering your will to his will is that the Holy Spirit comes and guides you in all the ways of truth and righteousness.

You may think surrendering your will cost you something, but in reality, you gain far more than you give up. You gain God's wisdom, power, strength, peace, joy, and most of all, His presence. As always, stay rooted in God!

Verse of the Week:

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Matthew 16:24 (ESV)