"Surrender"

  We were riding together when a brother asked me, "What is the real secret of gaining insight to the Lord?" I  pondered for a moment and said: "Surrender!" As we drove along he said, "I'm not sure what that means!" I told him I didn't buy that. We know what surrender involves. We have read of wars and feuds when one side surrenders. The fighting ceases and you place yourself completely under the direction and power of the one to whom you surrender.

  It's really simple in principle but difficult because we have been programmed to do it ourselves, fend for ourselves, we are the one that makes things happen with positive thinking and the list goes on. I can't tell you how many times I have heard stated from those who claim Jesus as their Lord: "The Lord helps those who help themselves!" That's simply not true and stating things like this doesn't make it true. The Lord helps those who trustingly surrender to Him! Wasn't it Jesus telling the adults that unless they are converted and become like children, they would not enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 18)? Surrender! Unconditional, 100% giving of yourself over to the Lord and His power. Watch little children. Tell them this needs to be done, walk over here, stay away from that and so on and they respond! Surrender!

  Until there is surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ there will be little insight and progress made. Jesus summed it up this way: "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it." (Matt. 16:24-25) We must stop trying to do it all ourselves. We need to sit, be still and let the Lord open the doors that need to be opened, work on our hearts by listening and responding to His word by doing what He speaks to us from His word with all our heart. When is the last time you silently sat in God's presence, still and heart engaged asking where you need to walk? After sitting still, listening and something walks into your world either through a difficulty or another person and immediately we complain or miss it completely because our hearts aren't surrendered. Seek the Lord. Listen to the Lord and do not allow all the voices in this world to set our lives on course.