When is surrender easy?

Good morning my sisters-

Well life continues and with it comes many challenges.  I woke up this morning with a premise and I know its not Gods'.  I don't know what the answer is yet but I know it didn't come from Him.  I also watched as someone close to me found out yesterday that the news was not positive and more than likely it is cancer.  The feared word for all.  For some it means long life for others it's months.  We all know someone that has faced it and either beat it or drowned in it.  Was it there time?  Absolutely, but we are weak and it doesn't take much to crumble us from the inside out.

This person is a mighty warrior.  I have seen obstacles so large they looked like a massive swell on the sea and yet it's been faced and conquered time and time again.  Unfortunately, people that are mighty warriors believe they can do everything on their own.  It's hard to surrender when you can't do anything but wait.  That's where he is right now, waiting and trying with all his might to stay focused, aware and on target.  

On Saturday, I sent him Psalm 23.  You may think that a strange passage since its read at funerals but what I like best about it is it symbolizes God's strength in time of darkness.  It is a word picture for all of us to see and if you have water near you, you know its peace.  So I stepped out on faith because this person doesn't always believe.  He is a skeptic but I did it anyway.  I wasn't sure how it would be received or if it would be laughed at.  It was received very well and it was on Saturday that he told God, "It's in your hands."  That's big for a mighty warrior who has taken himself from nothing to something.

Like all warriors they fight to the end.  This one will too.  I just needed to give him hope in the battle and strength to fight the darkness.  I need to be there as a friend and as a prayer warrior for him and he needed to know where I go when I have no strength left to fight.  He is a good friend and I owed him to be forthright and to tell him the good news.  It wasn't easy.  I have been slowly infusing Christ into our conversations for months.  Talking to him about what makes me a warrior and reminding him that God is all we need.  On Saturday, he received the word and I know he will need it in the coming months.  The fight is on and Jesus must take the wheel.

In this life we have two choices.  We can choose to go it alone, make rotten decisions, and feel darkness at every turn or we can choose light, walk towards Jesus and surrender all.  Surrendering is never easy and for people that believe they are strong, it's even harder.  Strong people believe they can do it on their own.  No one can do anything solely relying on themselves and why should we.  Jesus hung on a pole, which is the cross, to ensure we would never be condemned or alone again.

If you haven't surrendered lately, you need to today.  The first thing I did when I woke to that dream was say, "Jesus I give you all."  You may be asking yourself what that means for me.  What it means is that I am surrendering everything up to Him.  He is the Father of my soul and He will decide what happens in my life.  I won't be successful in business without Him.  I can't be healthy without Him.  I can't make my marriage work without Him and I definitely can't raise good men without Him.  Finally, I can't truly know love or give love without Him.

In the last couple of years, I have become bold.  I realize now that my strength doesn't come from within, it comes from proclaiming Jesus.  He is my strength and if I'm a warrior it's because He wants me to be.  I hid behind myself for a long time wondering what people would think.  Well, if you took time to read this blog, you know exactly what I think!

May God bless you and keep you today and may His spirit guide you toward Him in every circumstance.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:1-6 NIV)

This life is not about what we gained, how mighty we were or how much we did.  It's really about surrendering and loving a God we can't see.  Please pray this prayer today.