Surrendering and Sacrificial Love

All of us have had to surrender and/or sacrifice something in our lives. This past week I've been really trying to study on what love is, and what surrendering is. What does it mean to sacrifice? 

     Recently, I told my mom, “I need to go out for a couple hours. Get away from all the distractions of this world. Put myself away from all electronics, noises, and confusions. I need to go pray, read the Bible, and think.” I realized that by getting everything done on my to-do list, I forgot the most important thing… putting God first! Jesus showed us what sacrificial love is when He died on the cross. 

     So, with my Bible Study, Journal, and pens in hand, I went out for a few. I parked in an empty parking lot, walked down to a pond, set my blanket down for me to sit on, and I prayed, read my Bible, wept, thought, and wrote things down. I can get distracted so easily, that I forget the most important thing… to go to the Cross of Christ; to lay down my burdens at His feet, and surrender. Surrender my day/life/future/worries/fears_____; and focus on Christ; to sacrifice my time on my computer, in my book, or whatever else; and listen. Listen to Christ! 

     “By this we know love, that he laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives
 for the brothers.” ~1^st John 3:16~

     “Greater Love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends.”
~ John 15:13~  “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all thing… so now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
~1^st Corinthians 13:1-7; 13~

 

The moment of Full-Surrender!

All of us Christians, reach the moment of full-surrender in our lives. The moment when we’ve finally realized that what we have in life, isn't enough. The moment we realize that the only Joy we can get, is through Christ. There was a time in my life when I finally realized that. When I say, “Full-surrender”, I don’t mean, “Okay, God you can have this area.” I mean, “Okay, God, you’re the only one who can fill my thirst and hunger.” The moment, when we bow at his feet, and realize that He is our ultimate and Sovereign King!

     For my birthday last year I got a book called, “Hinds’ feet on High Places” by Hannah Hurnard. This is a book I would definitely recommend! J In this book, Much-afraid comes to the moment of full-surrender. I thought I’d post an excerpt from the book! After you've read the excerpt, I would encourage you to watch/listen to the video below! Enjoy! :)

     The white-robed flowers growing on the High Places that were buoyant and unsullied after being walked on by the Shepherd and Much-Afraid, are perfect examples of what happens when we lay our lives down for Him. Instead of being damaged as we might fear, we rise again to exude a perfume richer and sweeter than before. Is there anything you are hesitant to lay down? Think about it for a moment. Then, with renewed commitment and yieldedness, come to your Lord and say: You are my King-the King of love and of everything that is lovely.

     Kneel before Him knowing that you are kneeling before the One who is gentle and tender, but also full of strength, power, and authority. Express to Him your desire to have burned or pressed out of you all that is not of Him. Hear Him say: “…Lo, this has touched your lips; your iniquity and guilt are taken away, and your sin is completely atoned for and forgiven” (Isaiah 6:7 AMP)

     Thank Him for the reality of the experience when it pleases Him to bring it forth. Patiently wait for His timing!