Beautiful surrender…….As I drove a friend in her third year of alcohol recovery to a medical appointment out of town she said, “Surrender was hard. I struggled, but once I finally made the first surrender (of a hurt from the past), the others began to fall like dominoes. It has been very freeing.”
Surrender of “self” starts the process of peace and it enlarges around us like ripples from a dropped stone. God told me at a point of decision over a hard choice, “You hold the stone..” I knew what I was to do with it, what we all must be willing to do with it….. drop it, even when we would prefer or be entitled by law to throw it. The Spirit calls for a truly supernatural response….
-posted by Carol Custer Perry
As I prayed this prayer this morning I was reminded, we can’t be the Church Jesus is building if we don’t truly belong to Him.
Jesus, I belong to you. – Jd Walt
I am no longer my own, but yours. You are my Lord and my God.
I give you my complete, undivided, and whole-hearted attention.
I give you my desires and affections and only receive them back as they have been granted by you.
I receive from you the mind of Christ, . . .
to think as you think,
to imagine as you imagine,
to ponder as you ponder,
your curiosities,
your impressions,
your insights,
your joys,
your sadnesses,
your longings,
your loves.
My work will find its origin and fulfillment in the gifts, talents, skills, and creativity you have entrusted to me.
Jesus, I belong to you.
Henceforth,
Your vision will be my sight,
Your word, my food,
Your Spirit, my breath,
Your resurrection, my power,
Your suffering, my fellowship,
Your Kingdom, my ambition,
Your people, my passion,
Your love, my life.
Jesus, I belong to you.
I covenant with you the following exchanges:
My emptiness—for your fullness,
My brokenness—for your wholeness,
My sin—for your righteousness,
My guilt—for your pardon,
My lust—for your longings,
My drunkenness—for your sobriety,
My shame—for your glory,
My pride—for your humility,
My thirst—for fame for your desire for holiness,
My striving—for your rest,
My impossible burden—for your easy yoke.
Jesus, I belong to you
You are to me:
The Word made flesh
The image of the invisible God
The exact representation of his being
The first fruits of the Resurrection
The bright and morning star
The Ancient of Days,
The Son of God and the Son of Man,
The Bread of Heaven,
The True Vine,
The Way and the Truth and the Life,
The Resurrection,
The Light of the World,
The Good Shepherd,
The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,
The Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world,
The Messiah, the Savior,
The Lord of Heaven and Earth.
Jesus, I belong to you.
By your commission I am called.
By your calling I am chosen.
In your communion I am consecrated.
Through your fullness I am overflowing.
In your holy love I am joyfully alive.
Jesus, I belong to you.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
prayer for our world…. Terri Renfrew
I pray for wisdom from God. We do not want the talking heads of state to determine our future. So, how do we begin to make change? Our consternation will not get it done. Lord give us both wisdom and unction; a revelation from YOU and reserve to step into that new life. Use us, our knowledge, our experience, our abilities, our gifts, our fortitude. May we map a world that will honor YOU our Lord who saved us for such a time as this. You are our ALL, guide us. The question for me today is; “Do I surrender ALL?”