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

 “The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” — Mark 6:30-31 Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King, What an accurate picture of ministry. The scenario: we gather around Jesus, excited about all He is doing through us, praising our Savior for the lives changed and disciples made. People are coming and going... Yes, people are coming to our fellowship, and people are going—being sent out, departing, leaving. It's a never-ending cycle it seems. People coming... people going... And in all that movement, one scarcely has a chance to eat. No time for physical nourishment for sure, but it also seems no time for spiritual nourishment. When do I have time for myself to just eat? To get the energy I need for more doing and teaching, for more coming and more going? That...

“The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.” — Luke 8:38-39 Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King, This man had a TESTIMONY! He had encountered You, the Messiah, and had been set free from a life of demonic oppression enslaved to the enemy of his soul. You gave him a new life, an abundant life, a changed life that was walking, talking evidence of what You can do! Then when he wanted to follow you, you sent him home. You knew his greatest impact was going to be with those who knew who he once was and would see who he had now become. Lord, why do we resist going back home? The people and places that know us best—all our stupid mistakes, all our immature actions—I don't want to face them. I don't want to return home. Because to do that means surrendering pride. It means facing what once was in...

“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...

  “Look (seek) to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” - Psalm 105:4   Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend, and my king,    This morning, in relation to our worship time, I sensed you saying,  “ Why wait?” I asked you to  confirm  this in your word, and it wasn ’ t obvious - I had to SEEK it out.    Your word indicates that we are to seek you and your strength… it’s described with an action word. It’s deliberate. It’s active. It’s not passive. We are to go to you. It also means to PURSUE you, to seek for you, to look for you.    Lord, what I sense this morning is to not wait for you… but to seek you actively. To not just “wait for the Lord to visit me” but for me to visit with the Lord. For me to run toward you as if in pursuit of that which I came here for - an encounter with King Jesus.    You are a God who invites us to seek you, come toward you, and enter into your presence. You are not a far-off God who is una...

  “But Samuel replied: Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices so much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than to sacrifice and to heed is better than the fat of rams” - 1 Samuel 15:22   Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,    Today my heart is again heavy by a rough exchange with a dear friend last night. I feel like I can’t win. I sit here contemplating all the “sacrifices’ I’ve made for this friend. In this moment, I feel the sacrifices should result in gratitude, kindness, and respect. As I’m struggling to process the hurt in this relationship, I’m reminded that if I’m disobedient to what you are asking me to do toward my friend, then all the sacrifices are meaningless.    So, Lord, work me over. Reveal what still needs to change in ME. What needs to be softened? Where have I gone wrong? Where do I need to admit fault and repent? Have I lacked empathy? Have my actions warranted my friend's loss of respect? Truly, I need to ...