I spent this morning rereading chapters 3 & 4 of our Bible study book, 'God as He Longs for You to See Him'. I was reminded of the word we discussed in length at our Women's Retreat on Sunday, 'Submission'. Webster's Dictionary defines the word this way "offer, as in surrender, surrender or yield oneself, obedience."
It is hard to yield ones life totally to another. It takes trust and faith. At the very core of our resistance to yield ourselves to God is the sin of unbelief. Allow me to use the words of a dear friend about this very topic - let me paraphrase what she said, "If I really yield my will to his (God's) I'm afraid he might send me to Africa." I have to laugh every time I think about her words & even more so now that she is taking a trip to India with me in January! Just let me say when she yielded-God didn't send her to Africa like she feared- just India! ha! And let me just testify to the work that God has done in and through this dear friend when she finally began to let go & let God! Don't mishear me- yeilding dosen't always mean a trip overseas! But what I love about yeilding is the more we do it the more God builds faith in us to do the things we never thought possible- like going on a mission trip to India!
J.Wilbur Chapman once said "the greatness of a man's power is the measure of his surrender." He said these words after having a conversation with General Booth. Allow me to tell the story to you.
When J.Wilbur Chapman was in London, he had an opportunity to meet with General Booth, who at that time was past eighty years of age. Dr. Chapman listened reverently as the old general spoke of the trials and the conflicts and victories.
The American evangelist asked the general if he would disclose his scret for success. "He hesitated a second," Dr. Chapman said, "and I saw the tears come into his eyes and steal down his cheeks, and then he said, "I will tell you the secret. God has had all there was of me. There have been men with greater brains than I, men with greater opportunities; but from the day I got the poor of London on my heart, and a vision of what Jesus Christ could do with the poor of London, I made up my mind that God would have all of William Booth there was. And if there is anything of power in the Salvation Army today, it is because God has all the adoration of my heart, all the power of my will, and all the influence of my life."
I have to agree with Dr.Chapman, the greatness of one's power is in the measure of surrender! I believe the words of the Apostle Paul sum up today's blog post well:
"But whatever was my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness that comes fromt he law, but that which is through faith in Christ."
Philippians 3:7-9
May God have all the adoration of our hearts, all the power of our wills and all the influence of our lives!
Love,
Lori
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