A few weeks ago, I wrote a post on the surrendered life. As I get into the above topic, I’d like to circle around and give what I wrote another look and, over the next couple of days, add a little (or a lot more) to what I wrote previously.
The reason? Well, mostly because a surrendered person is one in which God is in control of that person’s personhood (or self). In other words, being surrendered to God and having the fruit of self-control are one and the same.
The Surrendered Life
One is, I believe, on the road to living a surrendered life when he or she…
- Does not have to have a particular thing happen (for example, get THAT job or marry THAT person) to feel like his or her life will work out.
- Does not need notoriety; does not need to be noticed, esteemed, or, even, recognized by others.
- Is genuinely happy for a peer when such a one aces a difficult exam, is promoted, lands a fabulous job, wins the heart of the prettiest girl in school, gets in to grad school, gets married, etc.
- Lends without expecting what has been lent to be returned.
- Has fun helping others to discover their dreams, to live-in to their own unique happiness, or just to enjoy themselves.
- Gives back to God far more than just a tithe.
- Listens to the Whispers of God’s Spirit and is readily available to serve God whenever God says, "Now, My friend..."
- Does not have to be the best, the brightest, the most good looking, or the most talented.
- Has an almost unquenchable desire to please his or her Abba-Daddy.
- Speaks the truth in love, even when doing so feels incredibly unpopular.
- Is comfortable with paradox, uncertainty, and ambiguity, and never stops asking questions.
- Would choose 100 out of 100 times to be the one stolen from as opposed to the one who steals from another…even if he or she were assured of never getting caught.
- Actively embraces a heart of gratefulness in most situations, and complains rarely, if ever.
- Forgives without a thought; has chosen to forgive even before anything has been said or done.
- Is not ashamed of Jesus or His gospel.
- Is comfortable with silence and stillness.
- Is an expressive and love-struck worshiper of God.
- Recognizes that everyone on earth is in the same boat: and that is, that we are all desperately in need of God to do for us that which we cannot do for ourselves.
- Loves purely for the joy of loving "the beloved" and does not consider not being loved in return that big of a deal.
- Delights in inviting God to be a part of every thought, every feeling, every word, and every action.
- Always has enough to share with another.
- Endeavors to do the right thing—especially, when he or she is alone.
- Has been thoroughly tamed by God, is of a humble disposition, and treats others with the utmost kindness, respect, dignity, and compassion.
- Sees himself or herself as nothing more than just a conduit of God’s blessings to those around him or her.
- Is happy…pretty much all the time…even when he or she is feeling sad or broken.
- Loves language and words, but speaks infrequently.
- Listens without interrupting or without trying to think of what he or she would like to say while another is speaking.
- Is frugal, yet extremely generous, with his or her time, money, and resources.
Where does one learn self-control? What brings about the general condition and feelings of surrenderedness?
As the folks in my small group might say...“JESUS”
Yes, of course! The fruit of God’s Spirit is just that: the fruit of His Spirit's long-term work and partnership within us.
Yieldedness...surrenderedness...self-control—whatever you might like to call it, tends to grow in a particular garden of trying emotional circumstances. And (at least in my experience) I think that "particular garden" is the garden of suffering.
For today, I’d like to leave things right there, but, before I go, I want to lay before you a particular scripture that has haunted me for a good many years. Perhaps it has you, too. The scripture is found in Hebrews 5:7-8, and it reads like this…
During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One Who could save him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things He suffered.
May God bless all’y’all, tonight, with a cool and gentle breeze…
Dave
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