Victory in Surrender! Page 54

Surrender is not for losers!  It is one of the bravest things many of us have ever done.  To surrender can be defined as the “laying down of arms”.  When we remove the win-or-lose aspect of surrendering we find a great spiritual truth-one that will change the scope and direction of our lives as we live and breathe on earth!  Though it is an act of “giving up” it has the capacity to save us as well as mature us- in our hearts, minds and souls. 

Here is the spiritual truth I’m speaking about:

There is victory in surrender!

In the culture that we live in, most of us have a huge blind spot in seeing that there is victory in any sort of surrender!   What I am talking about is spiritual in nature-so we must move away from the physical act and into the spiritual realm to understand the spiritual mechanism of which I’m referencing.  Lets start with this thought: When we spiritually surrender our  goals and desires and open our minds to God's ultimate plan for our lives- we will find ourselves on an incredible road to victory!!  You see, our hopes for the future are limited by our human capacity but God's plans are not bound by earthly barriers for he is capable of moving beyond the limits of this world and can literally move heaven and earth to guide and provide for us.  We just overlook this monumental truth at times. 

 In our cruel world, where mercy is not always available, many of us do not comprehend this path to victory because we don’t see godly surrender as useful or practical! Spiritual surrender does not come naturally to us.  Perhaps, we simply can’t grasp this spiritual concept because our worldly minds are distracted and we’re “up in arms”; dressed for battle, with our eyes and ears shielded and our adrenaline pumping-as we strive to achieve our personal goals-thinking that Success and its minion, Money, will fix our problems, usher in contentment and make us happy! Many of us are on this path because our eyes are fixed on earthly success and our hearts have forgotten to pump for godly pursuits. 

The World’s salesmen have sold us on the mantra of Success and we’ve suited up to take what we “deserve.  Success has been packaged to look a certain way and nothing else will do.  Deep in our hearts we believe success to be the ultimate goal of our lives and some of us, with no real substance to this sustain this deception, think we’ve earned it.  The World taunts us into believing that a certain level of success defines us and with the flashing lights of Hollywood and the echoes of roaring crowds chanting the beautiful song of success in our culture, on our TV, in our books and magazines –soon, our hearts are enchanted and we now know exactly what we want! Mesmerized and empowered with this overt AND sometimes subliminal call-to-arms we chase every dream and fight every battle to succeed and in the meantime we’ve left behind what is important and neglected the Call of Truth.  

What is the Call to Truth?  God wants our hearts and minds fully committed to him!   Contrary to this godly call our worldly goals do not like this too much! With the Genesis of Man the godly Tree of Life stood as pure encouragement asking humanity to maintain self-control-but original man failed-to the demise of all.  Because of that, this thesis has been playing out from day one! Humanity has historically been drawn into this dilemma-we could rightly call a world war- and the taunts of worldly success have paved an enticing, well-lit road where many a battle has been won- or lost.  This global battle takes place on every level: personal and professional as well as economically, spiritually and politically. 

The world pulls us to this systematic grind and we battle it out everyday:  in our business environment, in our personal lives, in our financial house, in our house of residence-that sacred place where our family dwells and we call home!  With modern culture as it is- Self –Interest has been promoted above anything godly and Self seeks to win no matter the cost!  Survival seems to dictate this consuming call-to-arms and our natural call to selfishness sees this as worthy.  With our minds controlled by our consuming desires and our foolish hearts caught up in the daily battle to win-neither failure nor surrender is an option.

 In the personal battle of Pursuit of Success our brilliant minds are planning ahead and our physical arms are busy clinking blades with our daily enemies; our obstacles!  To our left and right are strewn the evidences of some of our “wins”; our trophies, medals, certificates, and paychecks.  Of course some of our losses and strewn about as well; physical wounds from real battles, broken bank accounts, broken marital agreements, broken homes and hearts- to name a few.

We would never willingly to lay down our personal orders (our ambitions) or drop all our earthly goals (our personal desires and plans) even though they overshadow God’s plans for our lives and even though they overload us with concerns, dilemmas, obstacles, problems, stress, fear, unhappiness and pain!  Graciously, yes graciously, when we are forced to do so-as most of us understand the act of “surrender” – we think defeat has just knocked us down, devastated our lives and demanded that we relinquish our plans for the future!

Now, I welcome you to the Freedom and Victory of Spiritual Surrender!!! Here is how it plays out: 

Many of us have been down-for-the-count; at our wit’s end and metaphorically standing in front a fortified brick wall-with no other recourse but to yield.   When we come to this point we are truly at the end of ourselves…and our personal plans!  Any motivating thoughts escape us! Our inquiring minds are stumped, our breath is held and our world has gone quiet!  Perhaps our money is gone, our plans are now obsolete, our goals completely irrelevant, our future is uncertain and we are as well.  Our way seems lost; we’re standing there alone, our physical body is limp and our Sword of Success is lying in the dirt in front of us.  We fall to our knees out of pure exhaustion and only one word comes to mind!!! I dare say at this moment, most of us, even those who are not particularly religious, have cried out “God!!!” With this, we have just been ushered into a place of spiritual surrender. 

Unfortunately, circumstance will at times bring us to this place.  This surrender, of sorts, may happen in the private recesses of our hearts and minds but it may also happen in the court of opinion or law.  Many times this happens as our friends and family stand looking on, bewildered.  No matter when-no matter where, we are now front-and-center of an obstacle that will not be moved except for the power of something beyond our human mind and might.  Surrender has come with force and our heart of stone, that we thought was honorable and worthy, can now begin to beat again because we have been rescued from the battle and the revival of reality has set in!  We can now flesh out truth from fiction and find where we went wrong! 

Let’s admit this:  “When we’re at our wit’s-end it no longer feels like the cowardly thing to pray”1 If we’re in touch with anything spiritual at all- we can admit that we’re in desperate need of every form of salvation and spiritual surrender begs us to submit to God!  It is now, however, our choice whether we remain in the stance of godly surrender…. or not! Those who do find victory –for the moment our knees hit the ground in honest faith we have summoned a power beyond our understanding to battle by our side.  At this time our prayer needs to be-

“Lord, open my eyes that I may see you.
 Open my ears that I may hear you.
 Strengthen my faith that I may be sustained by you. 
Soften my heart that I may trust you.
 Renew my mind that I may know you.”

  Those who don’t seek God at this pivotal point in their lives remain bound and are prisoners in this Cultural War that has us chasing after temporary worldly success as we forsake the destiny of our eternal souls.   Whether we know it or not-the choice to remain self-reliant or chose spiritual surrender as recourse has eternal consequences-for the longer we chose Self over God the longer we will dwell in the mutiny of the mundane and we bind ourselves to the material realm where our earthly trophies will be our only prize.  But the second we surrender our Self to God we’ve opened the door to Victory and a success that is abundant and overflowing-for the Commander of an Army of Angels is now on our side!

Our own personal instinct to call out to God when we’re down-for-the-count is our intuition that quietly tells us there is truth in surrender.  Christians call this instinct “the Mind of Christ” or the Holy Spirit.  With this understanding, we must be willing to let down our guard and spiritually meet with something holy within our minds-for when we meet with God in a stance of spiritual surrender we are truly in the midst of holy ground.  Here is a breath-taking scriptural reference of this exact type of revelation: 

…”Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it”

Genesis 28:16

End Note:  For those of us already in Battle: Believing that defeat is part of surrender- we wait to the last minute to relinquish our battle plans and that is so typical of us humans.  Who among us wants to abandon our goals, no matter how selfish, quit something we had committed to-no matter how wrong it now seems… or find the courage to say that we cannot continue on the path we chose-because we were wrong!  The courage to do exactly that arrives when we have the spiritual clarity and courage to kneel in surrender to a Holy God!

Spiritual Truth of it:
 When seeking Spiritual change through surrender we must be willing to let go of all our desires and plans. Surrender can be defined as "a giving something up as a courtesy".  That's a polite way of seeing it.  But we humans don't comprehend courtesy as part of surrender and instead see it as a devastating blow.  With our hearts spilled out we must find a willingness to only allow truth back into our minds and then freely allow God to speak to the recesses of our soul.  We must pray, and wait for direction that will arrive only when our minds are quiet, our desires have truly ceased and our faith has risen to the point that we know without a doubt that God can and will work in our lives-visibly, literally, spiritually, practically, kindly, compassionately!  With true faith, we must literally believe that He is a force that can move through the material realm to take care of the one He loves.  We must firmly believe that He can be trusted to attend to our needs, our hearts, our minds, and souls and that He will indeed do it.  We must believe with such a depth that unbelief is absurd!

THIS IS SPIRITUAL SURRENDER!

“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely,
and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless
at the coming of our lord Jesus Christ.
He who calls you is faithful and he will do it”

1 Thess. 5: 23-24

Song Recommendation:

I Surrender
By:  Hillsong Live

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFORjUcHkKU

The Job Syndrome Page 53

Scriptural Reverence: The Book of Job-Chapters 1-2

Wikipedia defines the word syndrome as “the collection of signs and symptoms that are observed in, and characteristic of a single condition. ”As a simple citizen of society and a fellow life-traveler I can say that I have the Job syndrome.  I have a collection of signs and symptoms that can be easily observed and are characteristically part of that single condition Job suffered called Calamity. 

When calamity arrives on my doorstep, I try to recognize the asset of self-admittance of my frailties but this philosophy isn’t well received!  Many on this plane walk in such a way as to avoid discussion of such things as “syndromes” and  personal calamity, and I get that!  If life’s troubles are not avoidable then they are certainly deniable.  Deny! Deny! Deny!  We present the façade that all is well and we do it so well that even our answer to the polite inquiry “How are you doing?” is automatically answered with a “Fine! How are you?” This compunction to remain neutral is one of the signs in the collection of symptoms that make up the Job Syndrome! 

Perhaps we don’t function this way with our friends.  Unfortunately, Job had a wife and friends who didn’t quite get him, support him or even trust him.  His friends decided to ask him what he may have done to anger God, Almighty.  That’s a fine Howdy do!  Job searched his heart and remained steadfast in faith to God.  Interestingly, Job’s plight with personal plagues began even though he “was blameless and upright; he feared God”.  (Job 1:1) I wonder what we would have done or what we would do if faced with a colossal calamity that is undeserved and beyond our control?  That is what we are looking at here!  

It is generally our main goal to tread far away from even just one of the calamities that Job suffered so we set out to juggle well and avoid it all.  We do not want to be distressed financially so we work hard.  We do not want the stress of social pressure so we stand back and sit alone! We do not want the distress of pain or death anywhere near us- so we play it safe.  We do not want to be hit with life’s circumstances or society's judgment calls, so we strive to cover all the bases in order to fit in, win approval, be neutral, socially acceptable or simply to save face! Hey, I can admit I do some or all of these things.  Like I said before, I don’t mind admitting my frailties.  I find admittance liberating!  (Perhaps not redemptive-but freeing!)

On the other hand, when we refuse to look in the mirror and face truth we become a prisoner to our own façade.  With this style of life-management we reserve no space for the distress of personal reflection or revelation.  Losing here is not an option. But, then this Job Syndrome creeps in, as if out of nowhere, and with its calamity destroys our façade.  There is no way around it; we’re down for the count and our failure and loss stand before us in seeming victory! 

I know first-hand that this type of loss comes, like a tidal wave, into the lives of those who run a tight ship; just as it does with those who don’t.  It’s as if the pain of this life tracks us down and slams the trap of reality in front of us that is inevitably unavoidable. This is, in fact, the truth of it!

Here is the spiritual truth of it:  Scripture says that the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for whom he can devour. (1 Peter 5:8)  That is a frighteningly simple explanation.  Evil prowls! That very same evil played a part in Job’s syndrome of calamity and loss.  God, himself, asked the fallen angel Satan “Have you considered my servant Job?’  (Job 1:8)  In great confidence God asked that question! God permitted Job to be tested and Job was forced to face many challenges and eventually lived up to God’s expectations despite all costs and received recompense.  Scripture tells us “The lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first.” (Job 42:12) May it be with us as well! 

God says:

“I am the beginning and the end!”
Revelation 22:13

God also says:

“You shall have no other gods before me.”
Exodus 20:3

When humanity tries to interject our will or way into any aspect of those two statements

 calamity ensues!  It’s that simple! 

Overview: We can trace the original calamity of loss back to Adam and Eve.   Their fatal decision became known, worldwide, as “Original Sin”.  To believe in the Biblical explanation that one choice can be that fatal is to be willing to simplify even the most in-depth issue down to godly obedience….and in that we find the genesis of the Calamity of Man.  

Song Recommendation:

All I need is You

By: Jesus Culture

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voW1VfybF14

Broken Together-A Marital Lesson Page 52

With childhood dreams as evidence…and with the ups and downs of a 24-year marriage as an example  (that includes a divorce and a re-marriage) I write this page.  I feel that sharing this info as words of encouragement or perhaps to deliver a “revelation” is important because, in my experience, some things just aren’t talked about and I believe many people have the same, subconscious misconceptions that need to be outed!!!  With uncertainty as to whether these words should be shared…but with the deep conviction that everyone can and will relate…I’ll share this passage:

To seek fulfillment from another human seems normal but simply is not wise.  It’s not talked about much but lived out daily with much drama!!!  Here it is:  We all seem to inherently hold to the psychology that within marriage we should find a romantic haven, the better part of ourselves; our other half, or in the least, some deserved or even earned happiness from our beloved.  Living within my marriage, reflectively looking around and respectfully peering into the marriages around me I can say, without a doubt, that happiness is not the central premise of a marriage.  Happiness is hopefully a part of it, yes…but not the overall result of our marital unions. 

With many folks stepping into their 2^nd or 3^rd marriage I’d say that the dream of finding contentment or “wholeness” within a marital union is a misunderstood concept and an unrealistic goal of marriage.  Many folks have stepped out of Divorce Court with a devastating awakening to reality that marriage isn’t as easy as it looks and certainly isn’t an institution where in one finds their other half.  Blessings to those who have come to that realization; “Hold on tight” for those just coming to this realization and “Hello” to those who have not yet seen this coming! 

Even though years have past since my childhood dream of a perfect wedding and a happy-go-lucky marriage- life has proved those lost dreams to be a derivative of undisclosed information about how difficult marriage truly is.  I suppose most people just believe that “it goes without saying”.  With the divorce rate where it is I can confidently say  “it doesn’t”!!!  Even still, with romantic socialization burned into my brain, I subconsciously cling to the notion that I am supposed to find my life’s happiness and some sort of “deserved” or  “serendipitous” contentment from my spouse.  Why do I think that?   Why in the world would a person, just as scarred and broken as myself, have what I need to be content? This isn’t an insult to my husband…. just a repercussion of living in a sinful, cruel world.

This devastating awakening brings to vivid color a thing called “reality”.  What it truly is- is maturity.  When reality slaps our marriages around enough we have the opportunity to pause and see the truth that marriage is a union that purposely tames our selfishness, puts away our personal expectations, tucks away our tempestuousness,  and opens the door to long-suffering wherein one finds patience.  Then, after years of enduring, managing, hoping, wishing and (if divorce doesn’t happen 1^st) waiting, the doors that are usually slammed shut with marital discord will fling open with the power of maturity at hand, ready to set up house in our marriage.  

Seeking this said maturity, my husband and I worked through about a year of Christian Marriage Counseling and within that year we learned a thing or two.  The main thing this did was give us an hour every week or so to speak out-loud to each other and with mediation, find a way to hear what the other said.  It did not inherently change me or him…but it became a glue that was a welcomed balm and it opened our eyes to what we could change….and that was simply our self!  

Change is a stealth creature.  It lurks in quiet places and doesn’t reveal itself until much time has passed.  Even then, it’s not quite noticeable, for it has morphed ever-so-slowly into existence and barely into our consciousness.  Wouldn’t it be nice if change would present itself with all the hoopla of a ticker tape parade?  But, it just does not happen.  The habits of a lifetime and the stubbornness of humanity simply will not be that accommodating. 

When we allow marriage to smooth away our sharp edges it balances many things inside us.   Our outside demeanor takes on the countenance of what time brought:  we have found balance!  The word balance, in itself, recognizes that this is a work in progress.  For something to remain balanced it must sit just so- in it’s place.  There will be teetering and tottering…. but the maturity that time created will find a way to steady itself!   The household will have balance and so will those who live within it.  We will take balance with us to work, the kids will sense it and find contentment in the perseverance that we parents exhibit and balance will do its job!

 Just as the cake topper of man and wife sits nicely balanced on the top of the wedding cake….so it goes with the entire marriage.  We stand, shoulder-to-shoulder, facing the precarious on day one and this never changes!   Balance takes consistency and the statement “till death do we part” allows time to say “gotcha”.  With those  sacred words we agree to a lifetime on a Teeter Totter!  With the implications of that- we find that marriage isn’t a wedding or making it to next year’s anniversary…. it is a living institution that becomes a life-style that takes a lifetime and produces a legacy for the two that lived it and for those who watched--- as time etched and scratched, crept and crawled, and maneuvered itself in and through two people’s lives.

This is dedicated to my parents, Bob & Ruth Abrams-

 who just celebrated their 55th Wedding Anniversary!

Also, to my husband who has been on the Tetter-Totter with me for almost 25 years!
At times we lose our way- but then, through grace, we find each other again
 and regain balance...and peace!   

Song Recommendations:

Broken Together

By:  Casting Crowns

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhxELo-uD3c

Beloved

By:  Jordan Feliz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgJFUW3VenY

Scripture Says.... Page 51

Scripture says:

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 
For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;

the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

Where is the wise man?  Where is the scholar?
 Where is the philosopher of this age?
 Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
 For since in the wisdom of God
 the world through its wisdom did not know him,
God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached
to save those who believe.
 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
but we preach Christ crucified:  a stumbling block for Jews
 and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called,
 both Jews and Greeks, Christ (is) the power of God and the wisdom of God.
 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom,
 and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength. “

1 Corinthians 1: 18-25

Scripture says:

“And we have the word of the prophets made more certain,
and you will do well to pay attention to it,
 as to a light shining in a dark place,
until the day dawns and the morning star rise in your hearts. 

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about
 by the prophet’s own interpretation.
  For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man,
 but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. “
2 Peter 1: 19-20

Scripture says:

“No longer will there be any curse.  The throne of God and of the Lamb
will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 
They will see his face and his name will be on their foreheads.
  There will be no more night.  They will not need the light of a lamp
or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.
 And they will reign forever and ever.

The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true.
 The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets,
sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”
Revelation 22: 3-6

Scripture says: 

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches.
 I am the Root and the Offspring of David,
 and the bright Morning Star.”

“The Spirit and the bride, say, “Come!”
 And let him who hears say, ”Come!”
Whoever is thirsty, let him come;
and whoever wishes,
 let him take the free gift of the water of life.

Revelation 22: 16-17

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An2zkNmK6Ns 

Song Recommendation:

Water

By:  Anthony Brown