Surrender, Words of my Heart by A Texas Artist Laurie Pace

Surrender

sur·ren·der  (s-rndr)

v. sur·ren·dered, sur·ren·der·ing, sur·ren·ders

v.tr.

1. To relinquish possession or control of to another because of demand or compulsion.

2. To give up in favor of another.

3. To give up or give back (something that has been granted): surrender a contractual right.

4. To give up or abandon: surrender all hope.

5. To give over or resign (oneself) to something, as to an emotion: surrendered himself to grief.

6. Law To restore (an estate, for example), especially to give up (a lease) before expiration of the term.

When you say the word it sounds almost romantic or it sounds like wartime. Quite a contrast in thought. How can giving up be a positive thing? How can abandoning something be a good thing? How can relinquishing control make things work?

How do you surrender to God? Can you give up your heart with out your body and soul? Yielding one with out the others is impossible. We cannot separate ourselves.  To relinquish power to Him has to be totally all of you all of the time. Not part of your some of the time. 


When I was reading and studying on this I read the story of a man and a woman getting married and the man saying, "Sweetheart, I want to marry you, but I can only give you half of my heart."  She looks at him and asks, "Why only half?"  He replies," The other half is for my old girlfriends, whom I still visit through out the week."  What woman in her right mind would marry him?  

God does not fail you or ever stop loving you and He certainly loves you with all of His heart, grace, love and joy.  Yet most people who claim to love Him have other loves in their life. Could be a job, a hobby, could be anything that draws you away from spending time with Him and surrendering your all to Him. What are you holding back?


In this season of Lent it is time to reflect the word surrender and instead of giving up things for Lent, give yourself up to God.  You are not 'whole' until you do. You are living half-heartedly.


Words of my heart, Laurie

Job 11: 13-19 


"Surrender your heart to God, turn to him in prayer, and give up your sins--even those you do in secret.  Then you won't be ashamed; you will be confident and fearless. Your troubles will go away like water beneath a bridge, and your darkest night will be brighter than noon. You will rest safe and secure, filled with hope and emptied of worry. You will sleep without fear and be greatly respected."