Transcript
Today we are going to choose to live a surrendered life. But what does that mean? Living a surrendered life means giving back to God what he has given us. It's relinquishing control over every aspect of our lives, turning it over to him to do as he pleases.
Jesus lived a surrendered life: "I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me," he said (John 6:38). Jesus never did anything on his own. Not only did he not make a move without consulting his Father, but his Father also directed every word he spoke. He said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him" (John 8:28-29).
Let us seek to do what pleases our Father too. What can we do? Here are five things to get us started.
One, let God take control. Imagine your life is a car. It's handing over the keys to God and letting him drive, trusting that he is a better driver than us, knows the best way to the destination, and how to get us there safe and sound. I know the desire to drive — to be in control — can be irresistible, but God IS the better driver!
Two, stop worrying. Jesus once asked his listeners. "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?" (Luke 12:25). Forget about an hour; you can't add a single minute, can you? Why? Because God is in control over that. And if God controls our lives, doesn't it stand to reason that he controls everything about our lives? So, don't worry; be happy!
Three, don't be tight-fisted. Just before Jesus asked that question about worry, he told them a parable about a rich man who had a huge crop. Rather than be happy, he began to worry about what he was doing to do with all his extra grain. He finally came up with a solution. Tear down his old barns and build newer, bigger ones, and then store everything he had in there. That night God told him he would die and asked him who would get all the things he was hoarding. Then Jesus said, "This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God" (Luke 12:21). So, let us share our blessings, and we will be rewarded in heaven.
Four, surrender your relationships. We may want to change people, especially those close to us, but we cannot change anybody except ourselves. However, God can change people, so let us do our best to be good to our loved ones and trust God with them.
Five, let go of the past and the future. One is dead; the other is entirely in God's hands. Let us live in the present, fully and fruitfully, in obedience to God, and we will enjoy life better!
So, let us choose to surrender today. God bless you.
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