Surrender and Suffering
I said yesterday (see post titled "Surrender and Approval") that there were two verses that come to my mind when I think of surrender. One is Gal. 2:20 from the Message Bible and the other is this one.
Since Jesus went through everything you're going through and more, learn to think like Him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you'll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.
1 Peter 4:1 Message
Surrendering is not always easy and sometimes it is down right painful. But it is always worth it. We cannot mature in Christ without the struggle that comes from doing what God wants instead of what we want.
There is a struggle that occurs within us when our human appetites do not match up with God's word. It is foolishness to think that we can overcome this without help. Using verses of scripture like this one to help us stay on God's path instead of our own is the key to victory.
The idea of suffering in some Christian circles is considered wrong but here the Bible clearly warns us to how to stand up against ourselves armed with the word of God in order to receive the prize of freedom.
Our desires keep us trapped on a ride of futility and frustration.
I remember one time when I was struggling with wanting to live for God and yet wanting the approval of my non-Christian coworkers. It was a huge conflict within me. I felt like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde constantly going back and forth between what I knew was the right thing to do and what I wanted to do. It was a huge conflict within me but I chose to do the right thing and pursued God.
What we want to do often appears to be more attractive than doing right thing but misery and heart ache are hiding behind it.
There comes a point in our sufferings that we have to make the choice. Am I really going to live for God or am I going to continue living for myself?
Surrendering your life to God is a decision we make every day.
Live today for God and not yourself.
Heidirn
Since Jesus went through everything you're going through and more, learn to think like Him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you'll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.
1 Peter 4:1 Message
Surrendering is not always easy and sometimes it is down right painful. But it is always worth it. We cannot mature in Christ without the struggle that comes from doing what God wants instead of what we want.
There is a struggle that occurs within us when our human appetites do not match up with God's word. It is foolishness to think that we can overcome this without help. Using verses of scripture like this one to help us stay on God's path instead of our own is the key to victory.
The idea of suffering in some Christian circles is considered wrong but here the Bible clearly warns us to how to stand up against ourselves armed with the word of God in order to receive the prize of freedom.
Our desires keep us trapped on a ride of futility and frustration.
I remember one time when I was struggling with wanting to live for God and yet wanting the approval of my non-Christian coworkers. It was a huge conflict within me. I felt like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde constantly going back and forth between what I knew was the right thing to do and what I wanted to do. It was a huge conflict within me but I chose to do the right thing and pursued God.
What we want to do often appears to be more attractive than doing right thing but misery and heart ache are hiding behind it.
There comes a point in our sufferings that we have to make the choice. Am I really going to live for God or am I going to continue living for myself?
Surrendering your life to God is a decision we make every day.
Live today for God and not yourself.
Heidirn
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