Monday, September 29, 2008
Surrender: Why don't we?
Ok so lately I have heard and read alot about surrendering to God and giving Him your life. I hear people say, "I gave this situation to God, but ..." Excuse me? did you just end your story of surrender with the word but? Did you just say "but" to the one who put breath in your lungs and to the one who rescued you from eternal damnation? Did you just say "but" to the Lord of lords, King of kings, the Almighty God? ok, ok, I know Im sounding harsh and judgmental. I dont mean to sound like Im coming down on folks for being human. I have done and continue to do the same thing. I find myself laying down my life in front of the Holy One and proclaiming my surrender and sacrifice to Him and 10 minutes later Im questioning if something Im going through will work out ok or if my family's going to snap back from a hard time or any other number of pathetically small anxieties. Why do we, believers, often give our lives to God, knowing we will be better off for it, then turn around and question His sovereignty and His "plans to prosper us and not to harm us?" I have an answer, mind you it is not the only answer, but it is one that applies to me. Here it is: Im selfish and I find myself wanting to believe that I am a genius. Sometimes it is not always a blatant disregard for God's will, but it still does oush His will for my life aside. It's often to subtle and without identification. The simple sinful act of doing anything without asking God to direct it and for His will to be fulfilled in it, is wrong and it implies that we think that we are smarter than God. Whenever we make a decision and don't say to the Lord beforehand, "God have your way in all areas of my life including the following situation. Guide me and give me wisdom to know what you want me to do and give me the humility and desire to follow through with the Holy Spirit's conviction" is being selfish and is satisfying our fleshly desire to be in control. We reclaim our lives, the same ones we gave up 10 minutes ago for His glory, for our own when we do anything without His direction. Why do we give our lives to God and then snatch them away again to make it a mess when all the Lord wants is to use our lives for His glory and bless us along the way? Yea, when you think about it in a rational, calm, and Biblical perspective, it's pretty lame. We are lame. I hope this does not come across like I think I do the right thing all the time because that is a definite negative. I don't. I write this out experience, in fact it's out of frustrated experiences (plural many times over). I wanted to share some of God's teachings that He used to convict my heart today...
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perserverance. Perserverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously without finding fault, and it will be goven to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind, That man should not think he will receive anything form the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
James 1:2-8
So... wow, when we doubt God's sovereignty, we not only lose a blessing, but we also get labelled as someone who unstable and is like a wave that is tossed about. This is such a great illustration of how our God blesses the humble. He blesses those who come to Him and say, "God I can't do this. I need You to be in control. Please grant me wisdom, which I don't have, so that I may glorify You and make Your name known." He promises to do just that and also to do it without judging us for being so dumb. I love how He loves us; He gives wisdom freely to those who ask. Thank You, God, for blessing me and giving me wisdom when I lack it, which is pretty much all the time. God is so faithful!
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