Thank you all so much for joining me in our six week class, A Surrendered Heart: A Wife’s Journey to Love the Jesus Way. You’ll find the links to each class listed here:
Read Lesson 1: Why I Married This Guy
Read Lesson 2: So, What Does Your Husband Do?
Read Lesson 3: How Selfish is Your Prayer?
Read Lesson 4: Serve Because I Want To
Read Lesson 5: It’s a Choice
Read Lesson 6: Don’t Forget
“What does it really mean or look like to surrender? I want to surrender. But how? How do I surrender my heart so that I can stop worrying, nagging, or (fill in the blank) and love my husband and family the Jesus way?”
First, what surrender isn’t, learned by Laura, the hard way…
I used to think that surrendering self meant that I needed to try harder and harder and harder to be a better Christian. You know, like I should deny self by not ever considering what was healthy for my self. Self is selfish, right?
I thought surrendering meant that I needed to serve everyone (and I mean everyone) whether I felt like it or not and that if I didn’t feel like it, I must not be surrendering my self. (I’d never heard of setting boundaries, or if I had, I didn’t think it applied to acts of Christian service.)
I thought that being more Christlike was completely up to me. The Bible told me what to do, and it was up to me to get it all figured out, to get my ducks in a row, and to be all things to all people. I was ever so frustrated with this because try as I might I continued to fall short, let people down, be hurt, and dwell on all I wasn’t doing right. This, of course, landed me in a great state of worry and anxiety.
Painful though it was, God brought me to a place where I had no choice: It was either live in frustration and anxiety all the time, or choose to let God be God in my life.
I can’t tell you how to surrender. I can only tell you what God continues to teach me on this journey. I can also tell you that with surrender comes peace. God’s perfect, precious, indescribable gift of peace. I never had peace when I was trying to do all and be all. Only God can be all things to all people. We need not take on that job. Our job is to simply surrender our hearts and let His Spirit work though us!
What is Surrender? I’ve written the following as if the Father was speaking these words to me. This is how God has been gently leading me to surrender my heart fully to Him.
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Surrender
Laura, you know what is right. You want to do right. You love Me. You want to please Me and serve Me. Your heart seeks righteousness! But Laura, you are weak. For all your striving to do and to be – you fall short. This is discouraging, because in your heart, you strive for good! But alas, the weakness, the worry, the struggle – it remains.
This is good news! Yes, it really is. Your weakness, Laura, is in place so that you will turn to Me. Where you are weak, then I AM strong. I AM here to be your strength. Let Me be your strength. Let go, and let Me do my work in you. It really is that simple.
I have already won your battle. I know what you’re up against. I know what you need. I’ve already provided for each need. I love you fully. I love you gently. I love you unconditionally. I love you.
Laura, do you trust me? Do you believe all that I have promised in the Word? Do you recognize my constant work in your life?
Then…breathe. Let the tension in your shoulders release. Open your hands to release each thought and to receive my peace. I have already conquered all of your struggles. Rest. Breathe in my peace. Take joy in all I have to offer when you let go and let Me be your God.
Surrender.
In place of your anxt, I fill you with joy and peace.
Each time your thoughts threaten to take you back to that place of fear or doubt or hurt or worry – remember that I am here, ready to gently fill you with My peace as you let go and surrender. Every time.
You are human. You will forget. I love you unconditionally. Take every thought captive (every single thought) and make them obey Me. Release them all to Me. Each time you do this, I will change the pattern of your thoughts toward godliness and trust.
I promise that I will never, ever let you down. When you let go of the control you think you have – which is harming you and instead, putting you in a place that is very much out of control – the peace that passes understanding will fill you.
Every time.
Surrender.
I love you, child. I love you.
Above all, remember my promise to fill you with my Holy Spirit. I was on the earth for only a short time as a man. When I left, I gave you even more – my Spirit which dwells in you to be your guide, your strength, and your comfort. My Spirit is a deposit guaranteeing your inheritance in heaven. Release your self and your thoughts to the work of the Spirit. He will answer every question about what you should do and how you should do it. I promise you this.
I am with you, always. You can trust me. I will never leave you or forsake you. Believe. Let go of self and simply trust Me to do My work in you and through you.
I love you.
Surrender.
With surrender comes peace. God is faithful. He rules. He is our God. Praise Him!
Read Lesson 1: Why I Married This Guy
Read Lesson 2: So, What Does Your Husband Do?
Read Lesson 3: How Selfish is Your Prayer?
Read Lesson 4: Serve Because I Want To
Read Lesson 5: It’s a Choice
Read Lesson 6: Don’t Forget