Surrender: A devotional on desperation, humility, and giving over

“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded” - 2 Chronicles 15:7   Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my king,    Today, as I reflect on the last few days busily spent pouring out for others, I hear you remind me,  “Be strong and do not give up. You may be tired at present, but it’s a ‘good tired’ isn't it? You may not know right now all that this work is producing in people, but take heart: your work will be rewarded. Even if you don’t see it in this life, you WILL in the life to come. Do not give up. Finish strong!”   Lord Jesus, I receive this admonition. I need your wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to finish strong. I need awareness of what you are doing and where you are working. I have to lay down expectations. I have to surrender and even renounce my desire for  validation  through things like words of affirmation, and visible responses. Lord, I choose to finish strong. I commit to finishing strong! I also c...

“Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches,  but give me only my daily bread.” - Proverbs 30:8   Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend, and my King,    You love me so much that you are revealing to me anything that might cause separation between us. Lord, so often I want to pray, “ Lord, protect me from me! ” Identify the  falsehoods , lies, and self-deceit that I am prone to. Reveal the things I must renounce and break off in  Jesus'  name. Lead me to walk in a deeper surrender to you. As I prepare for a major event tomorrow, I realize to an extent (but not the fullest extent) of how completely reliant I am upon you for this event to go well and be a blessing to others.    Lord, I cannot enter the day in a careless way. I must begin on my face in total surrender to you, dependant upon your Spirit to go before me, preparing every conversation, leading me to each and every man, woman and child, that needs you.  ...

  “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.”  - Proverbs 12:15   Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,    What a reminder that I can deceive myself — my way seems right to me. But so does the way of fools. The wise person seeks godly counsel and listens to advice. Lord, please help me stay teachable! Gracious Jesus, even as I meet with friends to give godly counsel, I have to keep in mind that my way seems right to me. But everyone’s way seems right to them.    “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors, they succeed” - Proverbs 15:22    Lord, as I move forward in all plans, I humbly submit them to you, I ask for your counsel and for wise people around me so that the plans I pursue are thoughtful and successful in your eyes.    Today, I surrender my plans to you. I am in desperate need of your  wisdom . I humbly call on you for your wisdom today, for your covering and your protecti...