Monday, March 9, 2015

Lent: Surrender

Another week has passed. God continues to work in my heart and show me so much that I need to learn about life, about God, about love...and about pain and hardship. In my last "Lent" post, I wrote about sacrifice. I shared that God was showing me how real sacrifice (similar to the greatest sacrifice ever, which was made by His Son) comes with much pain and difficulty. It truly seems, as we live life, we are surrounded by so much pain and difficulty. This past week, I have discovered that pain and hardship can touch those closest to us, as well. 

This past week, I've learned that, both my stepfather and father-in-law, who each have struggled with physical ailments, were found to each have a mass in their abdomens. (Talk about timing!) They will each soon undergo testing to see if the masses are cancer or not. I am learning through this difficult time, that all we can do as a family is love each other, pray, and surrender all to God! I covet your prayers for both my parents and my husband's parents. 

During this lent season, there may be so much for each of us to surrender up to God in our lives. 


Surrender yourself to the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. Psalm 37:7 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
Surrendering your life means:
  • Following God's lead without knowing where he's sending you;
  • Waiting for God's timing without knowing when it will come;
  • Expecting a miracle without knowing how God will provide;
  • Trusting God's purpose without understanding the circumstances.

Genuine surrender says, "Father, if this problem, pain, sickness, or circumstance is needed to fulfill your purpose and glory in my life or in another's life, please don't take it away!" 
This level of maturity doesn't come easy. In Jesus' case, he agonized so much over God's plan that he sweated drops of blood. Surrender is hard work. In our case, it requires intense warfare against our self-centered nature.  source

True surrender will always go beyond natural devotion. If we will only give up, God will surrender Himself to embrace all those around us and will meet their needs, which were created by our surrender. Beware of stopping anywhere short of total surrender to God. Most of us have only a vision of what this really means, but have never truly experienced it. source

This song below is one I've sung many times in church, but now the words and tune comes back to my mind and all I can do is sing it.




Prayer:
O God, early in the morning I cry to you. Help me to pray; and to concentrate my thoughts on you; I cannot do this alone.

In me there is darkness, but with you there is light; I am lonely, but you do not leave me; I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help; I am restless, but with you there is peace. In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience; I do not understand your ways, but you know the way for me. . . .

Restore me to liberty, and enable me to live now that I may answer before you and before men. Lord, whatever this day may bring, I pray that I will surrender all to You!

Amen.
Prayer from Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Germany, 1906-1945)

Psalms 121 NLT

1 I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? 2 My help comes from the lord , who made heaven and earth! 3 He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. 4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. 5 The lord himself watches over you! The lord stands beside you as your protective shade. 6 The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. 7The lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. 8 The lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.


Another song that came to mind to help me remember that God tells us to come as we are to Him!!


Lent is the season,when we look toward Easter, the Resurrection. When our lives are placed in Christ, then we share in his life, both the good and the bad. We share in his sufferings, in his death, in his righteousness and in his resurrection. As God’s children, we are co-heirs with Christ, sharing in who he is and what he has done. Some of us will spend time in reflection, repentance, and self-denial. As we do these things, let us do so with a sense of surrender...knowing we are united with him — forever in glory!    Source


Linking up at these blog hops:

14 comments:

  1. Surrender is so hard, but it's the best way to weather these storms of life. I love the quotes in your blog header. Faith isn't about turning life into sunshine, but about knowing you have God walking by your side through the storms - and finding joy even amidst the trials. Praying for your family as you face this next set of trials. (visiting from Monday's Musings)

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    1. I know that surrender is needed for us to let God fully work in and through us, but it often isn't the first choice that I choose when life gets rough. I posted the quotes because I am still learning to find joy in the rainy days of my life. Thanks for stopping by.

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  2. Ann,
    I have seen seeing, hearing Surrender all around. I wrote about it also on my blog last week. Seems like God is calling hearts to a new level of surrender. I find that when He lift my hands and wave the white flag, I free the Holy Spirit to work miracles in my life. Blessings to you. Happy to have visited from the Beauty In His Grip linkup.

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    1. Hi, Tyra. I think the idea of surrender is posted a lot because it truly is a challenge and not a natural thing for us humans. We want to do things our way and by our own strength, but that leads to failure and sin in the end. Only through surrender do we find true joy! So glad you visited here and left a comment for me! I will stop over at your blog, also!

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  3. Surrender is the key...As we put our own will aside and trust the plan of our Father, our lives will change! I'm sharing a bit on that this morning at my Bible study when I share (1st time publicly - face to face before people) my testimony of redemption! When I fully submitted to God and His ways, trusting that no matter what happened in my life I'd be ok because I had Him, my life turned around and I was made new! It was incredible. Yup...surrender is the key! Blessings, Joan

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    1. So true, Joan! How exciting to have the opportunity to share your testimony! I'm sure you did a great job!! Wish I could have been there! Have a blessed week!

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  4. Thank you for this honest post filled with your heart and the reminder of God's faithfulness as we wait and surrender.

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  5. What a nice surprise to find Psalm 121 at the end of this inspiring post. Glad to have found your blog at Holley Gerth's link up.

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  6. Thank you for this inspirational post -- surrender is a theme that God has been applying to my heart recently. An elderly Italian gentlemen was saved 2 weeks ago in our Sunday morning service, and it was so touching when his heart was moved to sing I Surrender All (the invitational hymn) in his native tongue.
    Linked up with you at Tell Me a Story -- hope you'll stop by for a visit!
    God bless,
    Laurie
    http://savedbygracebiblestudy.blogspot.com/

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  7. As I often say, at least inside my heart, is serving Him and worshiping Him is all that counts and, when switching from here to heaven, that is a rejoiceful time. With my present brain and body issues, I would not be surprised to be there in a fairly short stretch of time. Worshiping and serving Him is all that counts. Thanks for sharing.

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  8. A beautiful piece of worship in the midst of surrender. I have to believe your post here is a fragrance to the Lord, even in the midst of the hard news. (I'm so sorry to hear of the masses...am praying for those special men in your life.) I worshiped in the midst of this post. Beautiful. Visiting you today via #CoffeeForYourHeart.
    PS...loved the Dietrich Bonhoeffer prayer.

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  9. My husband is going through a trying time with foot and toes turning red/purple. We go Tues to speak to the surgeon who will set a time to unclog 3 veins that are causing this. We must trust God (and our doctors) while we go through these uncalled for times when we prefer that they did not happen. We pray for your men folks that they will come through victorious. Thanks for sharing with us here at Tell me a Story.

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  10. This reminds me so much of what Lisa wrote at SDG - instead of asking "Why, God?" we ask "How, God? How will You use it for your glory and my good." I love how sometimes God weaves a similar thread through our posts.

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  11. Hi Ann,
    Thank you for your encouragement, these Scriptures and I surrender song spoke words of hope and peace to me thins morning!
    Praying that God will surround all of you with His peace, and that His healing hand will be over your step-father & father-in-law.

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