October 24: The Key To The Christian Life Is Surrender Are you fearful about the future? Apprehensive that the bottom might fall out? Concerned at the prospect of some future calamity? The only answer to quelling such fears is SURRENDERING to our wise, all-knowing sovereign Father. Those who listen to Me will be secure and will live at ease, without dread of disaster. (Proverbs 1:33b) (See Proverbs 31:25; Jeremiah 17:7, 8) Are you experiencing a difficult relationship in the family or at work? Perhaps you are perplexed by an association in which you feel misunderstood or mistreated. Again, the answer to inner peace lies in SURRENDER. Therefore, as Gods chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:12, 13) Are you fearful that you might not be able to maintain control over your finances? Concerned that they could slip away, or be diminished by a bad investment, or by an economic crisis beyond your control? Again, SURRENDER is the only hope for inner peace. Riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations… Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. (Proverbs 27:24; 23:5) (See Psalm 25:12, 13) Are you worried about your health? Of getting cancer? Or growing old? Are you fearful that a family member might be stricken or die prematurely? This side of eternity there certainly are no guarantees of a sublime, pain-free life. So again, the answer lies in SURRENDER to our wise and loving Shepherd. Those who hope in me will not be disappointed. (Isaiah 49:23b) But SURRENDERING our will to His does not come easily. The reason? We seek what one might call a relative omnipotence: The power to have everything we want, to enjoy every thing we desire, to demand that all our wishes be satisfied and that our will should never be frustrated or opposed. It is the need to have everyone to bow to our judgment and accept our declarations as law. It is the insatiable thirst for recognition of the excellence we so desperately need to find in ourselves to avoid despair… (Thomas Merton) Humanly, it would seem that achieving inner peace would be dependent upon our ability to consummate and maintain control over our lives in every area. His condition for our peace, however, is based on our categorical, unconditional SURRENDER to Him and His sovereign will. Jesus demonstrated His SURRENDER to the Father in praying, Not as I will, but as You will. (Matthew 26:39b) Do you choose to do the same? —Facts of the Matter
Posted on: Thu, 24 Oct 2013 03:19:11 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015