Surrendering Strengthens Your Surrendering

*Surrendering Strengthens Your Surrendering.* By: James Cook

What a world we live in when we hear how negative surrendering is. So many think it is unfair in surrendering to the laws of the land, peace officiers, and etc. To put it quite frankly, as people we have a tendency to rebel against any form of restriction before us. It is usually viewed as a negative to us, because we lose our control with a higher power that has a set of silver bracelets, a gun on his side, and a little pepper that isn't used for their lunch breaks. It can also be very embarrassing when friends find out we got caught doing something ill-legal, after we reassured ourselves, and others, that we were beyond getting caught. However, some must of gotten caught or they wouldn't be on probation, parole, or in jail.
We have all had the impression, at some point in our lives, that any form of surrendering is a self defeating action. What about the positive sides to surrendering? We buy a house and we have to surrender all sorts of information about ourselves to the banks and whoever, but this is okay because we see it as getting a return for our surrendering. This shows we have conditions in our motives that will benefit us. On the other side, what about surrendering our information to the legal system against our will? We find this to be an unfair practice if we get an invitation to meet Judge Roy Bean. We get angry and lippy toward the one who can determine just how many gift certificates he is able to give us. After getting more than our share, we go and brag to our fellow criminals about just how we put the officier in their place. What they fail to mention is that the peace offiicier has gone home while they went to jail. All because we didn't want to surrender our attitudes and keep quiet before he issued out all them tickets.
Surrendering, does not make anyone weak, but it gives strength, when we surrender in a constructive way. Surrendering can result in receiving power and victory, when surrendering is done in a humble manner to a man that really matters. This man is Jesus Christ. In Him, we can surrender any temptations that come along, our struggles in life, but most of all we can find the freedom that we truly want by surrendering all our self deceiving ways to Him, and get to know Truth, Jesus Christ. (Remember: Jesus said He is the way, the TRUTH, and the life) This personifies Truth as being human. Therefore, when you surrender to Jesus, you are surrending to Truth.
Upon surrendering to Jesus Christ, we give Him the control to lead us as He choses. This is the agreement that happened when He was hanging on that old wooden cross for no one else, but you and me. Therefore, when you surrender to Christ, you are fulfilling the purpose that He died for. You are no longer under your own control, but under His. It is important to know that surrender doesn’t weaken you, it strengthens you. After a person has been betrayed by others, it can be hard to trust for a long time. Sadly, due to previous religious experiences that were negative, we have also have lost measurable trust we had in God. However, God was unfairly represented and He isn't just anyone, and in Psalms 37:19 it says, "They shall not be put to shame in the time of evil; and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied" . This message is stating that anyone who follows God will never have to fear in times of famine. God will never desert His children, and He has a plan to provide for them. But God also desires people who will be faithful to Him; people who will trust Him, people who will believe that He is the God of abundance!
God always shows Himself to be strong for the people who seek Him first-even during their most difficult times. Surrendering to Him, and allowing Him control over our individual lives can never be compared to any other form of surrender. Have you totally surrendered?
After surrendering to God, we don’t have to fear or surrender to anything or anyone else. Does this mean we won't take back some of our old ways? NO. However, if we do then we should refresh our memories in how He has blessed us when we have yielded to Him, instead of beating ourselves up over guilt or fear of God. He will be there as long as we are open and accepting of Him, plus allowing Him control of our lives. Is there any reason why you have restrained yourself from totally surrendering to Him? If so, then maybe ask yourself if you are in a two way relationship with Him. He sacrificed His Son in total for you and I, and there is nothing more valuable than the life of an only child, and this is evident that He wants a relationship with us if we are open to His desire.
God surrendered up His only Son for all our lives, and since He surrendered His Son for us, then what makes us think that we are above surrendering to Him. God modeled surrendering first when He took the initiative to surrender Jesus for our benefit. (John 3:16 NIV)16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life". How can we show our gratitude, and thankfullness to Him for what He has done for us? For a starting place, our surrender is the only reasonable response to that kind of love. You cannot love Christ without surrendering to him. The Bible says in “(2 Corinthians 5:15 NIV) 15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. How much value do you have for someone who took your place on that old rugged cross? Our surrendering can be equated to saying thank you for giving us the gift of freedom in a way that has never been equalled in any way.
William Booth, Founder of the Salvation Army, made a statement that said, “The greatness of a man’s power is the measure of his surrender.” Mr. Booth confirms the importance of surrendering, and the more there is to surrender, the more return we receive from Him. Therefore, what is holding you back? If you have surrendered, has He faithfully blessed you? When we accept God into our lives, we belong to our Creator and God has a right to direct our lives: “We are not our own bosses to live or die as we ourselves might choose” (Romans 14:7) If we think we can take over anytime we choose, we are right, but we can't expect God to continue in blessing us for our deliquence.
How much have you surrendered to Jesus Christ? Have you surrendered about half of what you should? If so, you are riding the fence. The only way we can keep focused in gaining our strength is by surrendering anything that hinders our walk in the faith, and what William Booth stated, "we will gain more power according to how much we surrender".
He wants to satisfy you and bless you abundantly so that you can reach out and be a blessing to the people around you. Take a step of faith today and begin to declare His promises over your life. Declare that He is the One who satisfies you all the days of your life. The greatest reason to surrender to Him is because Psalm 100:3 (NIV) 3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his ; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
God Bless