Devotionals

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Recently, I have been reading the writings of Andrew Murray. In his book, Receiving Favor from God, the Blessings of Obedience, Murray outlines the idea of a life lived in obedience to God’s will. A life fully surrendered to His word and to His plans for your life, whatever they may be.

I personally find the idea a convicting and challenging one. I wonder how much of my life I’m unwilling to surrender to God, because I’m perhaps afraid of what He will ask me to do.

It seems to me that this fear is not entirely unfounded; God sometimes asks us to do difficult things. As C.S. Lewis put it: “We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.”

I realized, however, that this fear of self-denial was really a lack of trust in God. It really proves how little I know about my God. Several verses came to mind as I struggled with the idea of entire surrender to God. First, was a verse found in the book of John. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”(John 10:10)

This verse disposes of the idea that God does not have my best interests at heart, when He asks hard things of me. When the Lord asks me to do something which is against my sinful nature, it is only because He wants me to have “life more abundant”.

The second verse which spoke to me concerning this subject was Luke 9:23: “And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Many times in my Christian life I forget the idea of walking one day at a time. I look too far ahead and wonder how I can remain faithful in my surrender to Christ. I forget that every day I must deny myself, take up my cross, and follow Him. This is a commitment to be renewed, daily. I needn’t worry about the future, which is in the hands of God, but I can take this journey of surrender one day - one step - at a time.

Again, as I thought of the daunting task of surrendering myself fully to God, this verse came to mind: “For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.” (Psalm 103:14)

My Lord knows my weakness. He knows I am incapable of full surrender. He remembers that I am only dust. I am so thankful for His compassion, listed in the previous verse of Psalm 103: “Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.”

My ability to surrender must rest on Christ alone, for Jesus said, “. . . apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5b)

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