Life's Secret

What's the secret? It's hidden in our hearts. The key to life - to success, to joy, to peace in abundance is surrendering ALL (that you are) to God. To really giving Him place as Lord of your life. Not only in a worship service or when its convenient, but including Him in on every aspect of your life - mind (decisions, thoughts, reasoning), body (actions & speech) soul (mind, will and emotions), spirit - welcoming Him in to mold and shape your heart even as He molded your body and being from the beginning of your conception and the foundation of the world.

He made us and formed us of His own will, but it is up to us, it has to be our will to continually give Him our hearts, our all, our lives to form and mold according to His will.

Another piece of that is knowing that the bottom line and center of His will is good for us and to us. All that He wants for us and asks us to do is for our own perfect good and/or for the good of others. 

 Now sometimes, often times, that may come along with doing, saying, or thinking something that we don't want to or that makes us uncomfortable, goes against the way that we think currently, but it ultimately leads to our good and takes us to a higher place of thinking, living, being and experiencing. 

Even Jesus did things that He didn't always physically feel like doing. Of course He wanted us to be reconnected with the Father and knew that meant sacrificing His life, His body and blood in place of ours. He was happy to save us, but Im sure His flesh didn't look forward to the suffering. Just before it was time for Him to be crucified He prayed, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will but yours be done" (Luke 22:42). Even though His flesh didn't feel it wanted to suffer, He said this is how I feel, but I'm going to surrender to Your will because I know it is best. Him doing what He did led to temporary but horrific sacrifice for Himself and eternal life, forgiveness, and connection to the Father for us!

Read Dueteronomy chapter 6. Notice that God is not simply giving rules or telling the children of Israel what to do, He is showing them the way to blessing and abundance. Attached to every "rule of obedience" is a "so that you may be blessed, "so that you may prosper," "so that it may go well with you and your children," etc. God's ultimate will is to bless us! We must do like Jesus did, telling the Father how we feel, but then surrendering with a "not my will, yours be done" and trusting God to work all things out for our good.

Surrender Prayer 

Lord, I invite you into my heart. Show me what is there, good and bad and take out whatever is not of your will. Guide me and show me the way through your gentle voice and direction. Cause me be sensitive to the power of your spirit so that I am aware of what you are doing and saying at any given moment. I declare that I am yours. Remove any affections or heart string attachments from things and people that should not be in my life. I want and receive everything that you have in store for me. I receive your love, peace, joy, blessing and Lordship in my life. Have your way! I surrender what I feel or think is best to You, who knows what is really best. Do your best in me. Renew my mind. Cause my heart, my mind, and my will (my "want to") to line up and intertwine with Your will. I love you. I want to know and experience Your love on a greater level. Fill me with more of you and make me aware of your love for me. Cause me to love like you love and to live how you would have me to live, in obedience to your word and will and in abundant peace & blessing. I trust that your word and will have more blessings and peace in store for me than I can contain. I receive these things freely in Jesus' name.