Have You Surrendered All?

How to recognize an area of your life that is not surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Does the area cause anxiety, fear, and even frustration?

If this area causes you to sin,

if it causes you to worry and wonder, often times consuming your mind and thoughts,

if you are afraid that if it doesn’t change or go a certain way, the way you think it should,

it is probably not surrendered.

Does this area frustrate you, cause you to become angry and sin?

Do you hold on to it so tightly because you just “know” how it is supposed to be?

(Why don’t others see it?!)

Are you so sure that you know exactly the truth in this situation?

Do you know better that your sovereign God Who apparently has ordained this for you?

Do you find yourself almost chiding God? "come on already, why aren’t You doing something here?"

Can you honestly look at every area, every prayer, every desire,

every need or perceived need and calmly echo your Savior's words,

“Not my will but Thine be done”?

It is one thing to say we are fully surrendered to God and His will. Actually it is very easy to say it and even really believe we are in our hearts.

But you know what, sometimes God comes along and says

“Are you really surrendered to My will?”

and we often times respond in the spirit of Peter,

“Oh, yes Lord, I am, my life is Yours, do as You please.”
Should we wonder then, when a little ways down the road, we find ourselves frustrated, afraid or even angry when something is not going our way?

Could He be purifying our hearts?

Exposing areas we cling to so desperately for various reasons.

Areas, that once surrendered, would be beautiful gardens of peace and hope.

Take some time to reflect. What areas in your life are upsetting peace and rest in your heart?

Could they be things you refuse to surrender to God for fear they won’t come to pass or won’t change?

Aren’t you weary of holding on so tightly?

Be courageous; let it go, surrender it entirely into the Almighty’s hands.

Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:

Who created all these?

He who brings out the starry host one by one,

and calls them each by name.

Because of his great power and mighty strength,

not one of them is missing.

(Isaiah 40:26)

Be still, my soul:

the Lord is on thy side.

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.

Leave to thy God to order and provide;

In every change, He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul:

thy best, thy heavenly Friend

Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
(Be still my soul by Ka­tha­ri­na von Schle­gel)

Can you leave to thy God to order and provide?