Unconditional Surrender
How does change feel to you? We are all wired differently. New challenges can be quite exhilarating for some. Yet for others, it can feel like the ground beneath is shaking and disrupting the world as you know it. Yes, unfortunately the second scenario is what describes my nature best...
In the past 3 years I've changed states after living all my life in the same area. I left a job of 35 years, friends, family and the church I loved, pastored by my son and daughter-in-law. The changes continue to come...
I'll be honest with you, though I love living in Florida, the new job, relationships, and church, at times it's been unsettling. I grew up a latch key kid. My life was all about routine and I absolutely loved my comfort zone. I'm a person of commitment. That's why I spent 35 years on the same job and 28 years at the same church prior to our son starting his.
We all have different intricacies in our personalities that were formed from our particular experiences. But there's one thing we must all have in common...a fully and unconditionally surrendered life... comfort cannot in any way dictate our decisions to follow hard after God and to obey His every desire.
Not comfortable with what He's calling you to do? That's ok, it's really not all about you... it's about touching His heart and allowing Jesus to have His way in you and through you! No matter how that looks or feels! Don't get me wrong, there's no greater joy than serving Him, but sometimes that joy can only be discovered at the edge of the cliff. It's where you feel like you're about to spiral out of control and you must make the decision to take that leap of faith or cower in fear... returning to hide in your box of comfortable limitations and constraints. Don't worry... as you take that leap, you'll land in His arms of love! His pleasure must become more important than your own. It's trading your fear, insecurities and anxiety for His power, strength, peace, and ability.
Stop trying to figure it all out... seek His face and study His Word as He prepares you for your next step. You're not alone, He's with you every step of the way. He's calling you out into deeper waters... that's where your feet can no longer stabilize you. As you no longer touch bottom, His current will take you where you could have never gone by your own strength or ability! Trust Him! You were born for such a time as this! If He called you to it, won't He anoint and equip you to fulfill His purpose for your life?
Stop getting consumed by how big the calling or the mountain of limitation is and become enthralled with the one who has called you! Then all that you do will flow from a heart of gratitude, humility, and love.
Hebrews 13:20-21 (KJV) Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Exodus 5:10-12 (KJV) And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (KJV) For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.
