What is the absolute point of surrender to God? Is it forsaking every wish or desire and live like a recluse? No. It is aligning our thoughts, desires, will, purpose, goals and plans to the divine will of God. When we do thus, then we will find our true self in God. Many people think that living in absolute surrender will nullify their personality and have no meaning to their being or living. But that is a misconception. When we completely surreneder ourselves to God, we find our true identity in Christ. Then we will be able to see the wonder of His plan and purpose in our life.
Apostle Paul found his true identity in Christ. Paul was a prominent Pharisee, a well learned man of his time. Yet what he was before knowing the Lord, he considered them as rubbish after having known Christ (Phil 3: 4-8). That is the value of his identity in Christ. After his conversion Paul became one of the most significant Apostle by the way God used him. His writings and work (inspired by God's Spirit) has formed the firm foundation for the 'Church' for ages now...
We too like Paul will be able to find our true identity in Christ when we live a life of absolute surrender. Then we will be able to say like the Psalmist...
Psalm 18:35 (NASB)
You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, And Your right hand upholds me; And Your gentleness makes me great.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Sure submission...
As God's children when we completely surrender and submit to Jesus everyday, then the Spirit of God will live within us. If we ask anything against the will of God or when our thought process is not in line with God's will, then the Spirit of God will indicate to us through our minds and hearts. There will be disturbance to our hearts or minds which will make us think twice.
Mostly for every aspect of life, the will of God is revealed in God's Word. But for those things that are not addressed in God's Word the Spirit of God reveals to us through our conscience. Anything asked or thought against the will of God will be refuted by the Holy Spirit. And anything which is as per His will, the Spirit of God confirms in agreement (which may be confirmed through the Word too). For this we have to be in tune with God's Spirit and open to His leading.
Apostle Paul always lived in tune with the Holy Spirit. He was many times not lead by the Spirit of God to go to certain places where he planned to preach the Gospel. Everytime the Spirit of God directed him with respect to his life.
Romans 9:1 (New International Version)
I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit—
Even we like Apostle Paul should be able to say that our conscience confirms in the Holy Spirit with regard to every matter we think or decide. Only then will we able to know how sure we are submissive to His will in our lives.
Mostly for every aspect of life, the will of God is revealed in God's Word. But for those things that are not addressed in God's Word the Spirit of God reveals to us through our conscience. Anything asked or thought against the will of God will be refuted by the Holy Spirit. And anything which is as per His will, the Spirit of God confirms in agreement (which may be confirmed through the Word too). For this we have to be in tune with God's Spirit and open to His leading.
Apostle Paul always lived in tune with the Holy Spirit. He was many times not lead by the Spirit of God to go to certain places where he planned to preach the Gospel. Everytime the Spirit of God directed him with respect to his life.
Romans 9:1 (New International Version)
I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit—
Even we like Apostle Paul should be able to say that our conscience confirms in the Holy Spirit with regard to every matter we think or decide. Only then will we able to know how sure we are submissive to His will in our lives.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Submission
When we go to God in prayer, sometimes we become so easygoing that we start telling God what He should be doing with our lives. It is no wrong to bring our petitions and requests to Him with all humility, but sometimes knowingly or unknowingly we start directing God.
In our relationship with the Master, the first and the foremost important issue is submission. We need to be subject to His will and His ways in our lives. For God knows what is best for us in our lives and we only need to 'Trust' our heavenly Father ...There can be no one better to lead our lives in the best way.
So let us not forget the importance of surrendering to Christ knowing that He is our 'Good Shepherd'
James 4:7 (New International Version)
Submit yourselves, then, to God...
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Living Waters
During our times of prayer, we can share with God just the way we share it with a dearest friend. He can listen and emphathize like a good friend, guide like a teacher, take care or provide like a father and also be a wonderful counselor. No one can fulfill our deepest longings and thirsts like the way Jesus does.
Every human being will have deepest longings and thirsts in life which they try to satisfy through various things such as relationships, achievements, doing stuff or going places etc. But these things will not satisfy a person's deep longings or thirsts. They can be satisfied only by the Good Shepherd...
For Jesus said,
John 7:37-38 (New International Version)
37On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."
The Lord knows our heart and he will fulfill all our righteous desires. He will also fill our hearts with living waters which will satisfy our deep longings and thirsts.
Every human being will have deepest longings and thirsts in life which they try to satisfy through various things such as relationships, achievements, doing stuff or going places etc. But these things will not satisfy a person's deep longings or thirsts. They can be satisfied only by the Good Shepherd...
For Jesus said,
John 7:37-38 (New International Version)
37On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."
The Lord knows our heart and he will fulfill all our righteous desires. He will also fill our hearts with living waters which will satisfy our deep longings and thirsts.
Friday, December 4, 2009
In Solitude
It is in the time of solitude with God where we find true comfort and strength. For God alone knows our hearts deep desires, pains and worries. He is well aware of the deepest longings or concerns of our heart. When we have that solitary time with the Lord, He addresses those things to us. It is then do we realize how concerned and deeply involved He is about every aspect of our life.
Jesus never missed His personal time with His Father. He often went to hills and mountain sides so that He can be replenished from His father's presence. He also received His power from the Holy Spirit to carry out His work. He was always in tune with God.
Matthew 14:23 (New International Version)
After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.
This was these solitary times which gave strength to Jesus. So it is for us...
Times of solitude will give us strength... We will be replenished and find renewed resources to carry our life with grace. To compromise on that can weaken our souls and energy.
2 Thessalonians 2:16 (New International Version)
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope.
Jesus never missed His personal time with His Father. He often went to hills and mountain sides so that He can be replenished from His father's presence. He also received His power from the Holy Spirit to carry out His work. He was always in tune with God.
Matthew 14:23 (New International Version)
After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.
This was these solitary times which gave strength to Jesus. So it is for us...
Times of solitude will give us strength... We will be replenished and find renewed resources to carry our life with grace. To compromise on that can weaken our souls and energy.
2 Thessalonians 2:16 (New International Version)
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Grace and prayer
We have come to see how God's children learn to live their lives by 'grace'. Every aspect in life moves by grace, every blessing received by grace, every good deed, every appreciable character or trait comes by grace. Every selflessness like Jesus comes through grace. Likewise the Spirit of grace and supplication. God promised that He will pour out the Spirit of grace and supplication on house of David.
Zechariah 12:10 (NIV)
"And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication..."
Only through this Spirit will people be able to know the Lord more, and will be able to get into a deeper relationship with Him. Once they get into a deeper realtionship with the Lord, people pray not only for themselves but also for others. They become selfless in their prayer lives praying more for others...from self concept to others first concept. This is what grace can do in our lives and much more ...making us and remaking us more like our Savior.
Zechariah 12:10 (NIV)
"And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication..."
Only through this Spirit will people be able to know the Lord more, and will be able to get into a deeper relationship with Him. Once they get into a deeper realtionship with the Lord, people pray not only for themselves but also for others. They become selfless in their prayer lives praying more for others...from self concept to others first concept. This is what grace can do in our lives and much more ...making us and remaking us more like our Savior.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Grace immeasurable
As children of God we know what it means to live by grace...But for people outside they may not realize grace to the fullest extent. Yet God who is full of grace grants His mercy and loving kindness to all. Many may be living by His grace without their knowledge. But someday they will come to know that it is from Christ that they had received grace... when they come to know Him personally.
As the word of God says,
John 1:17 (NIV)
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Even for people who do not come under the Mosaic law, there is a moral law that is written in a man's conscience by which a person lives. But by just following the law we cannot live a sinless life, it is only by grace which we receive through Christ. Only through Christ we can be washed off from our sins and have a new birth through which we will live a renewed life in Him. And by living so we will receive grace upon grace due to which there is blessing added to blessing. That is the secret of Christian life...
John 1:16 (NIV)
From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.
But this is not available to people who are not in the Lord. That is why it is written
Jonah 2:8 (New International Version)
"Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs."
People not in Christ do not avail themselves grace which could be theirs in immeasurable terms. Grace is available as much as we want and are willing to take...
As the word of God says,
John 1:17 (NIV)
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Even for people who do not come under the Mosaic law, there is a moral law that is written in a man's conscience by which a person lives. But by just following the law we cannot live a sinless life, it is only by grace which we receive through Christ. Only through Christ we can be washed off from our sins and have a new birth through which we will live a renewed life in Him. And by living so we will receive grace upon grace due to which there is blessing added to blessing. That is the secret of Christian life...
John 1:16 (NIV)
From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.
But this is not available to people who are not in the Lord. That is why it is written
Jonah 2:8 (New International Version)
"Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs."
People not in Christ do not avail themselves grace which could be theirs in immeasurable terms. Grace is available as much as we want and are willing to take...
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