The Power of True Surrender
When we sing hymns like “I Surrender All” in church, it’s easy to get caught up in the emotional moment and forget what it truly means to live a life of surrender. But what happens when Monday morning rolls around and reality sets in? Do we still cling to our promises, or do we take back control?
A Life of Half-Hearted Surrender
I must admit, I’m guilty of singing those words with conviction on Sunday, only to revert to my old ways by Monday. It’s as if I’m singing a different tune altogether: “I surrender some, I surrender some, half-heartedly to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender some.” But what does it mean to truly surrender all?
A Shining Example of Faith
I think of my friend Traci, who bravely fought cancer and ultimately passed away two years ago. Despite her struggles, her faith only grew stronger. In the midst of her darkest days, she wrote: “I am looking each day for God; around every corner, in the sunlight and in the shadows I see him. I feel his arms around me very close.” She didn’t just sing “I Surrender All”; she lived it. Traci understood what it meant to follow God without reservation, with eyes wide open, ready to receive whatever He had for her.
A Lesson from Habakkuk
Recently, I stumbled upon a powerful passage in Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NLT): “Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and cattle barns are empty, yet will I REJOICE in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.” This was Traci’s way of life – rejoicing in God’s goodness, even in the darkest of times.
A Life Well-Lived
Traci’s journey was a testament to the power of true surrender. She chose to rejoice in God, no matter what life threw her way. And as I reflect on her life, I’m reminded that it’s not what we say or sing that matters, but how we live. Will we surrender all, or just some? The choice is ours.
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