Today’s Scripture: And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice–the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Romans 12:1 NLT
I give up. What thoughts and feelings come to mind when you reach the point of giving up? Have you ever reached the point where you finally gave up hope or did you cling to our human spirit that always compels us to “never give up”?
Paul has been telling of the wonders of God and the message of Jesus in the previous chapters. Jesus came so we could know God personally and live in His Spirit. He is teaching all who will listen that God knows and does much more than we can understand.
Now Paul is urging us, pleading with us, begging us to just give up. Give up all of ourselves so we can live. To quit hanging onto what we know but to trust in the mercies and knowledge of the God who loves us and offers spiritual living.
Are you willing to give up so you can live the fullness of God?
Today’s Prayer: Heavenly Father, I give up myself to You. I offer all of me upon Your alter. Please burn away all that offends You and create in me a sweet aroma of life for Your glory. I present all of myself to You and I need Your Spirit to help me in removing all that is unacceptable. Here I am. Amen
Tom Raines
Christian Affirmations 4 Life
If you don’t mind me sharing a little, Tom–this is what sticks in my mind: I lived with depression all my life, and I’d pray for God heal me, and go to healing services, etc etc. One day I “gave up”–I said, “you know what, Lord–maybe the depression is part of the reason I make any effort at all to stay close to You; so from now on, I won’t ask you for healing, I’ll just be grateful You’re here with me all the time, that You saved me from eternal damnation.” And I resigned myself to stop looking for a way of escape, to just settle down and try to be at peace the best I could. This was probably Jan 2011–And then March 2011 came, and with it my deliverance, freedom, and the Holy Spirit washing over me with His grace–and the light and JOY which are now just unstoppable!! That’s my story for today–God bless you and your family–love, sis Caddo
Sis, thank you for your testimony and your transparency. You are a blessing as I was just having a phone call earlier today discussing this very thing. We can be thankful for our “thorns in the flesh” not because we have the thorns but because they are the very thing that bring us to God. I know for a BIG ole FACT that my alcoholism is what brought me to God. Our trials do not keep us from Him if we go to Him and just be grateful we can go to Him as you have stated. In all things give thanks and he will guard our hearts, even in the midst of our trials. I praise Him for your healing and for Him to continue to be there for you in all things always! Keep sharing your story sis as the world needs to hear from you. BIG! We all have something we can trade in for unstoppable JOY:)
And Tom, I celebrate that the Lord delivered you as well!! I love your last sentence above–“we all have something we can trade in for unstoppable JOY”. Makes me think I should ponder yet another banner that Cee could make up for us–a Jesus-slant on those signs about “we take trade-ins!”
Ha, I love that! We take trade-ins! What a great deal that is! We can trade in this old, sinful self for a brand spanking new God filled custom model! Great fuel (the Word) mileage and free tune ups daily!! Thanks, sis for the new air pressure in these old tires:) Have a BIG, God filled day and feel great riding around in that sporty new model. Must be a convertible as I can almost feel the wind of the Spirit in our faces:)
Thank you Tom, for another great prayer and insight . ..that giving up this way is a good thing. It reminds me of all the independent tendencies we are taught and can have, yet I need to be dependent on Him. God bless you!
Amen dear Deb and thank you for another dose of encouragement and confirmation. You are a blessing and I pray you enjoy all the blessings of giving up all others for Him!