by Hillary Mortensen
Interesting that from the time I hopped in my car to the time I made it to the library to use the Internet, I had just about decided to write on surrender. Then, opening up the blog, I found Adrienne had already written on the matter. Instead of giving up or changing directions, I have decided it's just that important to warrant our attention again.
Have you ever found yourself having surrendered an area of your life to God, only to realize later that you took it back into your own hands?
There is no better time than now to surrender it over to the Lord again. If you didn't have time to reflect on this earlier, read the Lunch post and consider different areas of your life in which you need to give God full control.
I encourage you to then consider specific areas of sin (those things that cause separation between you and our holy and perfect God) in your life that need confessed and surrendered. James 5:13-16 is a powerful passage that emphasizes the importance of prayer, as well as healing and confession. Verse 16 states, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." It is a call to identify our sin and confess it.
Ask God to examine your heart. Are you envious? Are you seeking glory? Have you been selfish? Did you offend someone? Have you neglected your relationship with God? Have you held on too tight to anyone or anything in your life? Do you battle with lust? Have you gossiped about or slandered another? Have you taken credit for another's work? Have you failed to love in the way that Christ asks us to love?
After you have considered what may be keeping you from experience a full, powerful, fulfilling relationship with God, meditate on this promise: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
What a blessing that we can be forgiven, cleansed, and have a "powerful and effective prayer" as we ask God to intercede in this situation. Let us give thanks to God for that!
As FFH sings in this song, let's come "undone," surrendering our pride, our lies, and our secrets.
Interesting that from the time I hopped in my car to the time I made it to the library to use the Internet, I had just about decided to write on surrender. Then, opening up the blog, I found Adrienne had already written on the matter. Instead of giving up or changing directions, I have decided it's just that important to warrant our attention again.
Have you ever found yourself having surrendered an area of your life to God, only to realize later that you took it back into your own hands?
There is no better time than now to surrender it over to the Lord again. If you didn't have time to reflect on this earlier, read the Lunch post and consider different areas of your life in which you need to give God full control.
I encourage you to then consider specific areas of sin (those things that cause separation between you and our holy and perfect God) in your life that need confessed and surrendered. James 5:13-16 is a powerful passage that emphasizes the importance of prayer, as well as healing and confession. Verse 16 states, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." It is a call to identify our sin and confess it.
Ask God to examine your heart. Are you envious? Are you seeking glory? Have you been selfish? Did you offend someone? Have you neglected your relationship with God? Have you held on too tight to anyone or anything in your life? Do you battle with lust? Have you gossiped about or slandered another? Have you taken credit for another's work? Have you failed to love in the way that Christ asks us to love?
After you have considered what may be keeping you from experience a full, powerful, fulfilling relationship with God, meditate on this promise: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
What a blessing that we can be forgiven, cleansed, and have a "powerful and effective prayer" as we ask God to intercede in this situation. Let us give thanks to God for that!
As FFH sings in this song, let's come "undone," surrendering our pride, our lies, and our secrets.
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