Why Surrender Sets Us Free – Beloved Women – June 10, 2020
READ: “O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you.” (Psalms 38:9 ESV)
TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT: If you’re a fan of crime TV shows, you know a familiar scene. With pistols pointed at a hidden suspect, police officers yell, “Come out with your hands up!” Their intentions are clear. These six words are the conditions of surrender.
From a spiritual perspective, surrender is resisted by my restless heart. But eventually, I grow weary. It’s exhausting to hide my desire to trust God inside worries that diminish my faith.
When I have less peace, less joy and less victory than He intends, His Spirit begins to call out, “Trust and obey God.” These are His conditions of surrender.
He calls me out from behind what feels like hidden agendas. However, nothing is hidden from God. All my longings are before Him.
My desires may stem from a place of pride, hurt or fear. But unlike the TV shows, surrendering to God is not giving up our freedom. It’s the ultimate release from giving in to anything less than who He is.
I want to “come out with my hands up” in worship. Instead of insisting on certain outcomes, I want to rest in the way He comes and reveals His good and perfect will.
PRAY: Dear God, Thank You for drawing me by Your Spirit when I have less peace, less joy, and less victory than You intend. I welcome Your wisdom and authority over all things. I surrender myself and all that concerns me to You. Thank You for the release from anything less than Your good and perfect will. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.
REFLECT: What or who do you need to surrender to God today?
CONNECT: Find more encouragement from Joy A. Williams at www.joyawilliams.com. Subscribe to joyAwilliams.com and receive a free PDF of “Say So Long to Sidetracked,” a biblical approach to overcoming distractions. It’s a great tool for personal study or to share with a group.
RELATED RESOURCE: If you want to grow in your relationship with God through the study of His Word but studying the Bible seems complicated, overwhelming, or even intimidating, then the LIFE Bible Journal is just for you! Each study page guides you through your personal Bible study helping you to practically understand and apply God’s Word to your everyday life. See how simple and rewarding Bible study can be with the LIFE Bible Journal. Click here to get your LIFE Bible Journal today!
© 2020 by Joy A. Williams. All rights reserved.
For more Beloved encouragement including Daily Devotionals, practical advice for everyday Christian living, Bible Studies, and more be sure to visit us at www.belovedwomen.org.
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Originally published Wednesday, 10 June 2020.
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