Scripture Focus:
Romans 6:16 NKJV - Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
Word Analysis (Blue Letter Bible):
Present - (yield; stand with)
Slaves - (servants)
Obey - (submission)
What is the thing or person that keeps us from fully surrendering to Christ? Is it religious tradition? Is it family? Is it our careers? Friends? Spouse? or fleshly desires?
I ask this question because I had to personally reflect on this myself. First let's look at the definition of surrender?
Dictionary.com and the 1828 Dictionary define surrender in the following way:
To yield to the power of another; to resign; to give up; to relinquish
This definition is very powerful and eye opening! I don't think that we realize how much things or people cause us to draw back from seeking God with our whole heart. Or how we have surrendered to many things, but not Christ.
The scripture above from the book of Romans describes the effects of surrendering to anything other than Christ our Lord. The result is sin and death.
This scripture comes to life for me because recently I walked in stagnation and I had not surrendered my all to Christ. I was reflecting on my past and what man (people) had done to me or spoken against my life. I experienced heartbreak, disappointments, and even abuse. I was confused and didn't understand why those things had happened to me. One example, I watched my dad suffer through sickness and die from kidney failure. As a result of all of this, I struggled with trusting others. I struggled with religion because somehow I knew that there was more to God than that. I internalized my pain and wanted acceptance and affirmation from others. Sometime later, sickness came as a distraction as well. I was diagnosed with asthma and then Type 2 Diabetes. The Diabetes was partly the result of steroid treatment for asthma.
Then One day, I begin to have a "But God Experience." God begin to remind me of His promises for my life! He spoke to my heart and helped me to understand that He is all that I need! He showed me that even in the absence of everyone else; I am not alone! He is with me and He will never leave me nor forsake me as other had. You see, He never left my side; I pulled back. I got distracted and begin to surrender to the voices of my past and the voices of my pain. God showed me that some of my faith died with my earthly father. Yet, in His great mercy, He reminded me that He is my father. He is eternal. He is the giver of life, sovereign, just and He created me for His glory. I needed to surrender my heart to Him and so my journey began with a simple "Yes."
Each day Christ continues to draw me nearer as I continue to say "Yes"! I thank Him for His grace and mercy. By His power and great love, He is causing me to surrender it all to Him. Now as I go into my prayer room every morning, I want to stay there and commune with Him. I know where He brought me from and I don't want to return. He is my peace. He is my joy. He is the only hope there is for my life. He is life, life eternal!
So I say you today, put your trust in Him; lean not to your own understanding. In all of your ways, acknowledge Him (Proverbs 3:6)! The things and the people of this world can not fulfill what is only found in Him. Find our whatever your "it" is and begin to say "Yes" Lord I surrender it all. Then seek after Him with all of your heart. There, in the secret place of the most high (Psalm 91), you will find rest for your soul!
Let us be found only slaves of Christ!
Enjoy this worship song:
I Surrender All!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx8tFO7Plm8
#Hope-in-Christ
Copyright © 2016 by Denise Walker/Project H.O.P.E. Ministries, Inc.
Bible Verses from New King James Version were found on Bible Gateway.
Romans 6:16 NKJV - Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
Word Analysis (Blue Letter Bible):
Present - (yield; stand with)
Slaves - (servants)
Obey - (submission)
What is the thing or person that keeps us from fully surrendering to Christ? Is it religious tradition? Is it family? Is it our careers? Friends? Spouse? or fleshly desires?
I ask this question because I had to personally reflect on this myself. First let's look at the definition of surrender?
Dictionary.com and the 1828 Dictionary define surrender in the following way:
To yield to the power of another; to resign; to give up; to relinquish
This definition is very powerful and eye opening! I don't think that we realize how much things or people cause us to draw back from seeking God with our whole heart. Or how we have surrendered to many things, but not Christ.
The scripture above from the book of Romans describes the effects of surrendering to anything other than Christ our Lord. The result is sin and death.
This scripture comes to life for me because recently I walked in stagnation and I had not surrendered my all to Christ. I was reflecting on my past and what man (people) had done to me or spoken against my life. I experienced heartbreak, disappointments, and even abuse. I was confused and didn't understand why those things had happened to me. One example, I watched my dad suffer through sickness and die from kidney failure. As a result of all of this, I struggled with trusting others. I struggled with religion because somehow I knew that there was more to God than that. I internalized my pain and wanted acceptance and affirmation from others. Sometime later, sickness came as a distraction as well. I was diagnosed with asthma and then Type 2 Diabetes. The Diabetes was partly the result of steroid treatment for asthma.
Then One day, I begin to have a "But God Experience." God begin to remind me of His promises for my life! He spoke to my heart and helped me to understand that He is all that I need! He showed me that even in the absence of everyone else; I am not alone! He is with me and He will never leave me nor forsake me as other had. You see, He never left my side; I pulled back. I got distracted and begin to surrender to the voices of my past and the voices of my pain. God showed me that some of my faith died with my earthly father. Yet, in His great mercy, He reminded me that He is my father. He is eternal. He is the giver of life, sovereign, just and He created me for His glory. I needed to surrender my heart to Him and so my journey began with a simple "Yes."
Each day Christ continues to draw me nearer as I continue to say "Yes"! I thank Him for His grace and mercy. By His power and great love, He is causing me to surrender it all to Him. Now as I go into my prayer room every morning, I want to stay there and commune with Him. I know where He brought me from and I don't want to return. He is my peace. He is my joy. He is the only hope there is for my life. He is life, life eternal!
So I say you today, put your trust in Him; lean not to your own understanding. In all of your ways, acknowledge Him (Proverbs 3:6)! The things and the people of this world can not fulfill what is only found in Him. Find our whatever your "it" is and begin to say "Yes" Lord I surrender it all. Then seek after Him with all of your heart. There, in the secret place of the most high (Psalm 91), you will find rest for your soul!
Let us be found only slaves of Christ!
Enjoy this worship song:
I Surrender All!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx8tFO7Plm8
#Hope-in-Christ
Copyright © 2016 by Denise Walker/Project H.O.P.E. Ministries, Inc.
Bible Verses from New King James Version were found on Bible Gateway.
