My friends, a few weeks ago I talked about A Step of Faith. In that post I said “we will have to take a believing step of faith to activate the promise we’ve been given.” This was all about trusting God and moving in that trust (faith) to step forward.
Nearly a month later I wrote a post about The Surrendered Life. In that post I shared, “The better I know God, the more I trust Him. And the more I trust Him, the more I am able to surrender to Him.”
Now God has me on the next stage of this journey to understand obedience. I see it this way. As we come to know God and truly believe He is good (Think about that right there and see if you truly believe God is good. Remember, He’s not capable of an impure motivation. He is just GOOD and works for our good. Always. Read Romans 8, specifically verse 28) we are able to surrender more and more of our lives (the outward manifestations of our actions and desires) and more of our hearts (where our desires and motivations behind our actions are birthed). I hope that makes sense.
So we have knowledge and understanding from experience, which enables us to trust God more, which then enables us to surrender more.
Then comes obedience.
Often times our surrender will require an act of obedience. Sometimes it’s more inward, like surrendering our control over our lives. We make a choice, we give this to God and then our actions and choices thereafter reflect this choice. Remember the power of choice.
But sometimes God wants us to specifically move in obedience in a particular way, especially when it comes to strongholds in our lives where we have to surrender a thing, a dream or even a person. Anything that holds more importance in our lives than God is an idol. Even if it’s something we see as being good for us, if we make an idol of it, God can’t give it to us, whatever it is because it’s not in His GOOD character to lead us into sin.
I have walked most of my life with a particular stronghold in my life that I have asked God over and over again to remove. If you’re thinking of Paul right now and his struggle, in which God told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness,” then you’re right on target with me. Just call me Paul (grin). God gives me that verse frequently. I’ve prayed for years for God to take it out of my life, yet now I’m realizing the truth of this quote I read in a devo from Rick Warren:
“The secret to changing your life is not willpower. It’s God giving you the will and the power through the Holy Spirit to do what needs to be done.”
That means we have to make the choice to follow God wherever He takes us. Yes, we can ask God to move in us and change whatever we are battling within ourselves, but now I’m discovering I can’t keep reverting to my willpower when I don’t see results fast enough and I can’t just sit there and expect God to do all the work.
I knew this already, but for some reason, I was still holding onto to what I wanted and doing it myself instead of surrendering it completely to God and trusting Him to do this change in me. It’s a daily walk of obedience.
The amazing thing is, since I have made this choice to be “all in” and do it God’s way, I already feel stronger and more resolved. My choice has activated the promise (God asking me to trust Him to do this in me) and I feel the will and the power through the Holy Spirit already in action.
This is the start of my breakthrough and I’m praying for more. All this that I’m sharing here today is true for everything we walk through, whether it's a stronghold, a trial, or even a dream God has set in our heart. God wants us to walk fully in this will and power through the Holy Spirit.
It’s a life long journey and adventure, that’s for sure. Not easy but challenging and exciting. It’s that verse from Psalm 34, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man (and woman) who trusts in Him!”
This is truth behind the path of faith, the surrendered life, the abundant life, the intentional life-of Jesus, who is THE WAY, and THE TRUTH and THE LIFE!
Can I get an amen?
Love you like crazy!
Dineen
Image credit: alvinge / 123RF Stock Photo
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