4 Steps to Surrender: Step 2 Acknowledge
God is omnipotent which means he is all powerful. Not only is God all powerful, but God is sovereign.
Miriam-Webster defines sovereign as: possessed of supreme power, unlimited extent, enjoying autonomy. Relating to, characteristic of, or befitting a supreme ruler. Having undisputed ascendancy.
God’s sovereignty means that He alone is in control.
He’s all powerful, he’s sovereign – he is in control.
Step 2 in our process of surrender focuses on acknowledging this truth.
Control is an interesting thing. I like to be in control. It feels good… but in those moments when I can’t get a grip – or control is not mine to possess, it leaves me a bit disheveled, and is something I’ve spent lots of time trying to understand and learning how to allow myself to be led (I’ve not perfected this – I’ve already told you, my flesh is thick – this is one of those force a pause, and focus concepts where we have to be intentional).
As we’ve been discussing, we can’t be everything – we are imperfect. We are an imperfect creation requiring a perfect Savior, who happens to be omnipotent and sovereign all wrapped up in one.
It’s pretty amazing, isn’t it? Think about this truth for a moment and make this statement personal: “I can’t be everything, but the One who died for me (so that I can live) – is.”
Jesus – is God. (John 1:1-14)
(Keep making this personal) He took control of my sin the day he died on Calvary. But in order for me to receive his redemption, I first had to acknowledge that truth, and surrender my life to him. It was my acknowledgement of him that allowed his grace and mercy to wash over me, and wipe away my sins through waters of baptism. Acknowledging his sovereignty was the first step there, and it’s the first step in every other area of life.
For some of us, it’s so easy for us to come to terms with the fact that Jesus died, conquered death, and reigns forever. We’ll give him our sins and let him cleanse us. We’ll acknowledge he has power over death and raised himself up from that grave, but to allow him to reign over certain areas of our life – we begin to question… “Can he really do it? Can I really trust him, here?”
Feels a little silly when we put it like that, doesn’t it?
God was so serious about reconciling us to himself that he chose nails, thorns, and a brutal beating, yet we have the audacity to wonder – “Can I really trust him, here?” We serve a God we cannot see with our eyes. We serve a God that requires us to have faith, a belief in things unseen. Trusting him to have control over everything when we can’t see him – it can be a hard thing, and it requires that forced pause, I mentioned, and intentional focus on who He is – and the control that is already his…
4 Verses Acknowledging God’s Control:
1) Colossians 1:17, “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
2) Psalm 29:10, “The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever.”
3) Job 42:2, “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”
4) Jeremiah 32:27, “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”
Focusing on our imperfection easily shifts us into a defeated mindset. We begin thinking we’ll never have peace in our home. We’ll always be a mess. We’ll never be able to get a grip on everything. We’ll never be the wife/mother/ woman we are called to be. It’s easy to think about the things that we can’t control and begin to wonder, “Can I really trust God, here?” But that negative self-talk does nothing for us except keep us bound – and that isn’t the abundant life that God calls us to live. NO! These, are hopeless thoughts that are not in accordance to God’s word. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
I wonder today if you need a forced pause with time spent meditating on these verses? I wonder, if you need to allow these words that remind us of his omnipotence and sovereignty to walk through your mind to transform your thoughts, shifting them away from defeated thinking, and toward surrendered living wrapped in the arms of our Savior… the one who was strong enough to conquer hell and the grave for our redemption, and the one who is strong where we are weak, the one who is perfection in our imperfection… The one we can trust no matter what, no matter where, no matter the thing. I encourage you today to choose this good part, this part that won’t be taken from us – this part we find in his word – this part that lets us know without question – “Yes! we can trust him.” Choose in this moment to see the Lord as the sovereign, omnipotent, in control God that he already is, and when you do, and you acknowledge that he is these things – then… my sweet sister – you make a move and allow the God who is already peace, love, joy, and comfort to step into your home and reign where maybe you haven’t before…Let’s be like Mary today. Let’s let go of our Martha mentality that stays busy with the cares of this world, and let’s just bask at the feet of our Savior in acknowledgement of who he already is – Choose Him.
Let’s Pray:
Jesus,
You are Lord of ALL. You conquered hell and the grave. You’ve redeemed my soul. You’ve washed away my sin. Thank you. I praise you for this mighty work and the ultimate sacrifice that you made. I ask for your forgiveness in the areas that I’m limiting your work in my life. I acknowledge that you have all things in your hand. You control everything. There is nothing in this world that you cannot and do not already have control over. Today, I release my perceived control over the false perfection I portray. I release this to you, and ask you to reign in my life where you already want to and are able to. Mold me in these areas Lord, and be the perfection I keep failing at. Thank you for hearing this prayer, and moving. Thank you for taking control and helping me to be the woman you have created me to be. I trust you, Lord, and I love you.
In Jesus Name I pray.
Amen.
4 Steps to Surrender; the day I stopped trying to fix it.
4 Steps to Surrender: Step 1 Admitting
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