Surrender. Purpose.
These are words The Lord has spoken to me in the past 5 days.
Surrender came with a vision of my fingers locked and palms together with my wrists in handcuffs.
Surrender what? I’m not sure about you, but there is a bit of my flesh that wants at least an inkling, or more, of control in my yet to be written story. And the merciful man upstairs wants me to give it up and allow him to reveal his plans in his perfect timing.
A look inside my journal: It’s month 7, a difficult month on the race. Our focus shifts as racers begin thinking about home and future plans, when we should be pressing in to Him. This is a defining moment with 2 options: I can slide into home plate where I am, OR I can pursue more of The Lord. Honestly, I came on the race in obedience, to learn and grow in who I can become in Him, to lay down my plans and expectations, and allow Him to work. To surrender.
TO SURRENDER:
Myself.
Control.
My past, present, and future.
My emotions.
My wants and desires.
My expectations and plans.
My attitude and opinions.
My selfishness and unworthiness.
The good, bad, ugly, beautiful, and messy.
I want to DELIGHT in the fullness of surrendering. As the Multiplied lyrics from Needtobreathe states,
God of mercy sweet love of mine
I have surrendered to Your design
May this offering stretch across the skies
And these Halleluiahs be multiplied
I want to SHOUT the declaration, I SURRENDER IT ALL TO YOU! TAKE ALL OF IT!
Needtobreathe: Your love is like radiant diamonds
Bursting inside us we cannot contain
Your love will surely come find us
Like blazing wild fires singing Your name
In His love, I find PURPOSE.
We are here not merely to survive but to accomplish what no one else can. Did you hear that? To ACCOMPLISH what NO ONE ELSE CAN. His plans for us are unique. Before we came into being, God had a purpose for us. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. -Ephesians 2:10
I get in the way of myself. God does not want me to be sidelined, disqualified, or benched to wait out the rest of my story. His purpose will PREVAIL. No one has ever been able to thwart HIS ultimate plan. In John 10:10, I can have life and have it abundantly. God is not shocked by our fears and failures, as he can redirect and redeem us as much as needed, so we arrive at the destination He has in mind.
We do not have to carry the load of living with purpose alone. Embrace it. Celebrate it. Cling to it.
Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
It is okay to be messy. We are valuable. We are of great worth. God will use us in powerful, unexpected ways. WE HAVE PURPOSE.
