Surrender is Freedom

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Our own human limitations and inadequacies will forever be remedied, explained, changed and comforted by God. He is the exception to all things.

but God is capable…but God knows…but God sees and understands and is not limited.

I struggle to remember God isn’t me. With my limitations, my inabilities, my shortcomings. God is complete. He is all things. This world is inhabited by people unable to grow out of their need for others. We try hard, but it’s not in our capacity.

We were designed intentionally for dependence and community. It’s in our DNA so to speak. But we seem forever convinced that relying on others is shameful and weak. Thus, we are forced to pretend we’re complete despite being far from it.

Maybe it’s our desperate striving toward full independence that skews our sight. Seeing that God is all things to all people. ‘but God’ applies to everything. He is the answer, resolution to my endless needs, questions and all the great mysteries of the world.

How cool is this truth? I’m not complete and perfect, but God is. AND He sees beauty in that. Depending on and trusting God for all things seems a hard pill to swallow each day. My pride wants to be fully responsible for all my abilities and accomplishments. BUT GOD doesn’t create that way. He isn’t impressed with my vanity and arrogance. BUT GOD is patient, wise, smart, strong and a myriad of other great things I aspire to be. So I need Him and that will never change.

I’ve been listening to a CD series by John Eldridge on prayer. Very interesting and helpful. This morning, while I drove to work he quoted Oswald Chambers. (the paraphrase) ”When we pray, it is not to get answers from God about issues, situations, needs and/or wants that we have. It is to join God in unity. To aspire towards ONEness with Him.”

In prayer, God already knows what we are going to ask and what we need long before that time comes where we sit down to actually tell Him about it. In turn, prayer is about uniting with God in His desires. We are to ALWAYS be praying what God is praying. So then what…that means our ‘prayer times’ are in large part about discussing what God is praying on any given thing. To align our hearts (our whole being) with the desires, thoughts and plans of God Almighty. In this, we are allowed to enter into the comings and goings of God with Him.

God no doubt wants to bring His fullness into the lives of His people. Life is about God redeeming all things back to Himself. I believe He wants us to join Him continually in that process and experience. By His side, to take part in divine healing, prophecy, Spirit-filled community, the salvation of souls, bringing glory to His name, expressing our gifts and much more.

Eldridge encourages that our prayers should always be filled with praises to God, as well as questioning as to how then we should pray. Not to say simple words and simple prayers are not affective, but he suggests not all prayer is the same. I back this statement with referencing the disciples asking how to pray. They understood the basics maybe, but saw Jesus communicating with God and acting on a whole other level.

We are entrusted with playing a role in greater and greater opportunities for advancing the Kingdom. As we mature, the degree of responsibility increases. Our need to surrender and pray like Him, WITH Him is also every increasing.

God wants unity, to connect with us, even when we are little monsters. To be like-minded with God. He wants to share the advancing of His great Kingdom with His children. It requires openness, humility and complete obedience. Throwing off our expectations and assumptions of how God should respond to our prayers. Instead, He desires to ”make all things new” for us according to His will. To put us on track with what He is already doing instead of begging Him to move along our own agenda.

“…you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer…” This is difficult for me to understand, but I want to consider this. If prayer is about unity with God, then it means - when you seek Me in prayer and connect with Me your desires and requests change. They become those things I already have planned-. Now, whatever you ask will be given because it’s already in motion. We are asking God to play out and fulfill the plans He shared with us in prayer. We become an intimate and crucial character in that plan.

I pray these things continue to reshape my life in Christ and existence here on earth.

I’ve got the urge to get back on board with posting. Good outlet. And if people have to read, cool.

Are you ever overly humbled by God? To the point where you’re unable to speak, unable to think beyond the thought which invited such humility, and unable to feel so highly about yourself? It’s happens to me a ton lately. I’ve been challenged also with a desire to chase after my dreams. Even having others say, “yes of course, find your passions and pursue them without hesitation.” Sure sounds nice.

I just want to go for it. I want to pursue my dreams and ambitions without excuses. Without hesitation. Without fear and doubt. It sounds dangerous and overly risky, doesn’t it? Maybe it’s just me. Frustrated with the potential of living a life that’s less that ordinary even. I fear never accomplishing what it really means to live. I feel an unspeakable pressure and weight upon my life to succeed, achieve, accomplish and to do all without fail. To be the example, the exception, the bright shining star.

In regards to scripture and the life Christ brings to His people…I feel comfortable rejecting many of these thoughts and feelings. Disallowing myself to worry about vanity and self-glory. It’s ignorant. It’s a waste. It certainly is not the life my Father longs to live through me.

As I grow in my knowledge, faith and obediance to Jesus my desires change. I hold everything up to the Light. I feel different longings and burning desires. My passions change. I’m called to live for Gods glory. So, no doubt my life will change and my heart will be shaped by Him; not the things of this world. I want to satisfy the longings of the Kingdom. That they would be the apple of my eye.

Been awhile since I posted anything. I haven’t felt there was anything I wanted to share. God has been busy pursuing me on several areas of my life. It’s left me forced to be open and available to learning and growing. Being challenged out of some fears and doubts. Challenged into trusting God to do those miraculous things I’ve long doubted. Or at least found confusing.

God is so passionate and relentless in pursuing His children. It looks different that how my parents handled this subject of pursuit. I’m confident God is big on the idea of overwhelming us with His fullness. It’s hard getting to a point in life where you have to ask, “Now what God?” However, giving Him the freedom to answer changes everything. It’s letting Him lead and have control.

My Savior isn’t one to leave me hanging too often. I’ve found that my laziness to press into Him is almost always to blame for my thoughts that He isn’t listening. When I commit my time and thoughts, my heart and burdens, He hears. I have to say that when God starts pressing into us though, making Himself more known and present, there is nothing like it. There is a comfort and an excitement that comes. It changes everything.

People often share how they feel God isn’t paying attention or answering prayers. That He’s just letting them fall and struggle. Perhaps. Right now I’m here to say that very often God is 100% dedicated to a healthy pursuit of our entirety. There is no area He doesn’t want to fill, placing Himself between us and the evil one. God is showing me my limits and boundaries. Making me aware of how He parents and dives right into the core of my life. He has my attention.