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

 " Be still and know that I am God” - Psalm 46:10   Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend, and my King,    For the past several decades, I’ve entered each new year with a list of goals and achievements I hope to accomplish by year’s end. That list covered all the primary domains of my life; physical health, fitness, marriage, family, work, ministry, finances, recreation, education, friendships and spiritual health. As I sit here and reflect, I realize for a “get-it-done” personality like mine, the thought of beginning a year without this list is inconceivable. Before the stroke of midnight, I feel I need my list so I can start on January 1. I want to wake up on New Year’s Day and immediately start striving. My inner monologue often sounds like,  “This is the year I’m gonna get it right, this is the year I’m going to check off all these goals”   Jesus, this year, I’ve decided to start with Surrender. At first, this feels like I ’ m giving up, but as I lean into you...

“He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” —Matthew 13:52 Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King, As a teacher and a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven, I want to have a well-stocked storeroom of new treasures as well as old. To me this means having an understanding of your Word that continues to deepen and grow. It's like going deeper in a mineshaft and pulling out brilliant gemstones. You are taking me deeper in my understanding, revealing more and more of your character, your nature, and your ways. When I teach, I want to bring the logos  and the rhema. As I prepare today for Sunday's message, I humbly ask for something from Heaven's storeroom that is a new treasure for your people to hear, receive, and understand. I am not interested in shortcuts, re-purposed material, or even others' insights. I want you to bri...