When life
gets the best of me, my first response is to find solace in a chocolate bar.
And oh, the desolation when supplies run low! I sometimes rummage through the
entire house hoping to find a forgotten morsel. How silly and senseless of me
to seek comfort in food, rather than in Christ! During the past month, I
have chosen to forgo chocolate in hopes of learning to run to Jesus when times
get tough. It has not been easy to change old habits, but it has helped me to
realize that I am only skimming the surface of what Jesus really desires me to
surrender.
· Read Matthew 13:44-47. What does God
expect us to give up for the sake of receiving God's kingdom?
One thing
must be clear: when God wants us to give up everything, he is neither greedy
for our possessions, nor does He desire us to suffer want. On the contrary! He
wants what is best for us and He is able to fulfill His promises. Therefore
Jesus is asking:
Will you abandon your striving to earn God's favor
so that I can shower you with loving-kindness and compassion?
Will you stop wrapping yourself in unforgiveness, bitterness and vengeful thoughts
so that I can enable you to love Me and others through experiencing My forgiveness and love?
Will you give up your desire to make a name for yourself
so that you may experience the beauty of following the plans and talents I have prepared for you?
Will you choose not to concern yourself with pleasing others
so that you may know the comfort of belonging to the One who desires you?
Will you cease to be anxious about your daily needs
so that you may know the peace which comes from trusting in My provision?
Will you submit to My will in your marriage
so that I may show you the riches of My counsel?
Will you surrender your control over your children
so that you may rest in the assurance that I love them even more than you do and am able to do far more than you could ask or imagine?
Jesus knows that the things we hold so dear are just emptiness and filth, and yet we grasp them so tightly. He wants us to loosen our grip on our false wealth so that we may embrace Him instead. The only true treasures come from Him. It is up to us to surrender our ashes for the beauty Christ has for us.
And that is so much better than chocolate!
Will you abandon your striving to earn God's favor
so that I can shower you with loving-kindness and compassion?
Will you stop wrapping yourself in unforgiveness, bitterness and vengeful thoughts
so that I can enable you to love Me and others through experiencing My forgiveness and love?
Will you give up your desire to make a name for yourself
so that you may experience the beauty of following the plans and talents I have prepared for you?
Will you choose not to concern yourself with pleasing others
so that you may know the comfort of belonging to the One who desires you?
Will you cease to be anxious about your daily needs
so that you may know the peace which comes from trusting in My provision?
Will you submit to My will in your marriage
so that I may show you the riches of My counsel?
Will you surrender your control over your children
so that you may rest in the assurance that I love them even more than you do and am able to do far more than you could ask or imagine?
Jesus knows that the things we hold so dear are just emptiness and filth, and yet we grasp them so tightly. He wants us to loosen our grip on our false wealth so that we may embrace Him instead. The only true treasures come from Him. It is up to us to surrender our ashes for the beauty Christ has for us.
And that is so much better than chocolate!
· What are specific things that God is
asking you to lay down in order to experience His kingdom in your life? Write
down a prayer of surrender.
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