SURRENDER

“The strongest position one can be…

 is complete surrender unto God.”

Do you believe COMPLETE surrender unto God is our strongest position?

If this quote doesn’t find a place in our heart then we must ask ourselves why don’t we agree with such a statement?  And we must also ask what then echoes in the catacombs of our heart?

This quote finds or does not find a place in our heart based on the understanding of LIFE and who is LIFE.   For the one who is LIFE transforms our heart and creates a LIFE.

Our existence is like a written journal we keep tucked underneath our armpit as we walk the streets and a tower that chime the hours of our days.  This weathered volume we try to keep safe and hid, is held by the deficiencies of human frailty. And one day we will drop it.   Down it will fall to the cold pavement, its worn leather cover will unsnap, the pages will quickly fan and spill from it’s tattered bindings.  The pages will be trampled… scattered into the wind… memories and thoughts will drift into reflective puddles where the ink will bleed from them.  The perfume scent will leave them and they will be as important as Sundays discarded paper in Monday morning’s garbage.

“Lord, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah.  Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them.” Psalm 39:4-6

“It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting; for that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to his heart.” Ecclesiastes 7:2

Like the bar fly is able fool many people we can’t fool God and what is really written in the secretive pages of our life.

We walk physically as well as spiritually.  We physically speak but we spiritual speak as well.  We mentally think as well as spiritually think.  There are landscapes in which we physically live and spiritual landscapes in which we live as well. 

One might spiritually walk streets where fear, anxiousness, depression and doubt thrive.  Another might walk the same physical streets but spiritually live where there is resurgence, renaissance, hope, peace, enthusiasm, clarity that comes from the warm tangible assurance of God’s governing love. 

One might live under a spiritual dictator of slavery of hate, addiction, lies, deceit, slander, and blind self- ambition.  Another might live in God where there is love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  NOTE: Galatians 5:19.

One might have a poor side of town and rich part of town in their soul.  One might have unstable “spiritual” currency while another has a stable “spiritual currency no matter what the times or season.

19th century American writer Henry David Thoreau, wrote "It is not what you look at that matters.  It's what you see."  

Reminds me of that U2 song entitled "Beautiful Day".

 

Ever honestly ask what are the landscapes of my heart? How do they affect how I see the experiences in life?

I don’t see a city in my heart. I see a secluded private place.  I see long golden wheat grasses bathed in the warm of the sun.   I see tall green thick bark trees where great eagles nest and softly chant.  I see the most perfect mountain in the spring topped with snow.  And amongst all this majestic scenery stands a lowly cabin signaling a warm welcome meal from its stone chimney for the occasional friend and guest.  Does the challenging experiences affect my landscape? Do they change my landscape... I am certain they have and do at times.. some for the better and some for the worst, that is why I and everyone else need God. The bible says, "And he (God) is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything.  Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need."  Acts 17:25 

 I find experiences come and go... they can't be our temporary god in which we look at life.

Here are some of the verses that have helped me lately keep such a landscape in my heart... 

“Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

“A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh but envy makes the bones rot.” Proverbs 14:30

Who gives me a tranquil heart? Jesus says, "I give you peace, not as the world gives.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27 

Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist.  When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.” Proverbs 23:4-5

“God bless those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.” Matthew 5:3

“God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8

"And to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you." 1 Thessalonians 4:11

I have found living in the quiet moment at a task with the the peace of God as your guide is much better then trying to imagine what is next moments ahead will be... especially when they are a bit "Trying".

Along with asking, "What are the landscapes of my heart?, other questions to ask ourselves, are... "Why did I pick those particular landscapes?"  Was I being honest with myself when I choose the things in my landscape.   And if I was being honest, what subconsciously drove me to pick those things for my landscape? 

-->IS God transforming those landscapes of my heart?  WAS God transforming the landscapes of my heart and has He stopped?  What changed?  What got between me and God?" 

If God has not transformed the landscapes of your heart….  then you may be standoffish, cold and hold what I share as… fiction.  But just because one doesn’t want to believe something is true doesn’t make it untrue.   

What is your typical perspective and response on the things of God?  Do you throw all things “god” and “God” in the same organizing bin?  Are you cynical or indifferent?  Do you regard the things of God as old fashioned, religious, cultish, ritualistic and just plain creepy and weird?  Are you curious?  Are looking in the windows of “this” and “that” hoping to get a glimpse of God?  Are you hoping He is for you and not against you?  Are you one who says, “If I can’t see it, I can’t believe it.”? Well you can’t see air or the wind and yet it is there and all around us. 
 

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I have found our feelings and opinions keep us restricted from God.  It is only when we surrender ourselves to Him can He awaken and transform our heart.
  

In the book of Ezekiel God says:

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” EZEKIEL 36:26-27

In the book of Revelation God says:

“So I advise you to buy gold from me--gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.” REVELATION 3:18

In other words we have “invested” or “entrusted” our soul to God, to became a “new” person… a new creature…to see things differently ... because God is now living inside of us.  It wasn’t about “us” but Him living "in us".  And God's word has been like refined gold  proven in the trials of this life. 
  

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

“All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did.  And God has given us the task of reconciling people to him.  2 Corinthians  5:18
 

We have all walked in those dark spiritual landscapes but God is willing to change the landscapes of our heart if we let him.

“Through you I am saying to the prisoners of darkness, ‘Come out! I am giving you freedom!’  They will be my sheep, grazing in the green pastures and on the hills that were previously bare.  They will neither hunger nor thirst.   The searing sun and scorching desert winds will not reach them anymore.  For the LORD in his mercy will lead them beside cool waters.” Isaiah 49:9-10

--> Jesus, who knows all hearts, knew there would be many who would not come out of darkness, for they loved the darkness more then the light who is God.  I tell you don’t be like them who condemn their own soul by not surrendering to God.  Your life is but a vapor and shadow.  Note: John 3:19 

“For God says,  ‘At just the right time, I heard you.  On the day of salvation, I helped you.’   Indeed, God is ready to help you right now.  Today is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2 

 If Jesus, who created your soul, has a plan for your life, aren't you missing the point of your life if you aren't giving it to him to guide?

 
Jesus said, "If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it." Matthew 16:25
 
We in our own means are reckless and careless with our "short" existence on earth.   We in our own human understanding give little care for our soul which is eternal.

Jesus says, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

 But to have what God wants to give us we must give ourselves back to the one who created us and this is not just a once type of thing but a daily and sometimes and hourly thing.  
 

The strongest position one can be…

 is complete surrender unto God.