When I first began to submit my life over to the care of Christ, I became painfully aware of how unlike Him I am by nature. Even the process of submission and surrender was awkward at first. I was so full of self-sufficiency and self-seeking that submission did not come naturally. However, I was fully able to recognize the need for submission, as I had tried life my way for years and it brought me no peace and no joy. It is easy for me to identify myself as a sinner in need of a Savior. I see my need for forgiveness and grace; I am keenly aware of my sinful and selfish nature and I despise it. As I have carefully and intentionally submitted my will over to Christ every day for months, it has become easier to do and now comes quite naturally to me. I am able to recognize when I have said or done something out of a motivation of self and I consciously resubmit. It is my desire to get to a point where I remain always submissive to Christ just as He is always in submission to His Father. I want every thought, word and action to be in harmony with Christ. As I am finding my own identity in Christ, I see that this is the person I was always supposed to be. Now I understand what James is talking about in chapter 1 vs 22-25 when he speaks of a person who looks in the mirror and then walks away forgetting what he looks like. When I look to Christ, I see who I am truly called to be. Now I could never forget what the real me looks like! Each day that I submit myself, Christ leads me to read and study, sometimes many hours a day. It is my joy to learn more of Him each day. The more I behold Him, the more I am changed into the person He created me to be. He has produced so much change in me and I see that I am indeed a new creation in Christ. This new creation is a natural reflection of the Savior I love. So when I look to myself, I see sin and selfishness, but when I look to Christ, I see the new creation. I am aware of how easy it would be to slip back into old habits if I fail to surrender to Christ, so I stay ever focused on Him and yield myself to all the changes He wants to make in me. I hold nothing back from Him, as He holds nothing back from me. He whispers in my ear and tells me that He finds this new creation altogether lovely and it was for this purpose that He gave His life. It brings us both unspeakable joy to love each other as we do.
Posted on: Sat, 17 Aug 2013 00:42:42 +0000
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