“…continue to walk surrendered to the extravagant love of Christ, for Jesus surrendered His life as a sacrifice for us.”
Ephesians 5:2b (TPT)
One of the greatest keys to living in prosperity and the blessing of the Lord is learning to live the surrendered life, or put another way, learning to be surrendered to the will of God. God will not force His plan and purpose on you. You have to volunteer and surrender to Him. Surrender is personal and involves trusting the Lord with all your heart.
When we seek the Lord with our whole heart and set our affection on Him, all of the other things will come (Matthew 6:33). When you surrender and begin to walk in the plan and purpose of God for your life, the devil will always try to offer you something of this world. It will look appealing but later on it will always rust out. Don’t waste your best affections on things that ultimately don’t matter. Set your affection on God.
The plan and will of God is an eternal thing. It’s the only place believers can be happy and satisfied. The greatest satisfaction for any believer is to find their place in the body of Christ and serve in that place. It takes the Word of God, the Holy Spirit and supernatural relationships for you to be able to walk in the plan of God. That’s why Life Groups and discipleship are important in our personal, spiritual growth.
The book of Acts tells us that David served his generation according to the will of God. How did David get there? Through surrender, thus David found God’s plan and served according to that plan. There is no greater reward or fulfillment for the believer than to look back at the end of his life and say, “I served my generation according to the will of God.”
Many times we fear surrendering to the will of God because we think the sacrifice will be too great. We all rebel and resist the Holy Spirit at times. We go our own way and do our own thing, but it turns out wrong every time.But when we surrender to God, it turns out right every time. God performs the things appointed for us when we obey Him.
“For He performs the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with Him.” (Job 23:14)
“I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performers all things for me.” (Psalm 57:2)
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
One of the great missionaries to Africa, Dr. David Livingstone, lived a life of surrender to the plan of God. The final entry in his diary simply reads, “My Jesus, my King, my life, my all, once more I dedicate my whole self to thee.” Everyone eventually leaves a mark. Today, think about the mark you will leave with your family, your friends and your associates. Leave no doubt. Leave your mark for the glory of God. (Pastor Art Sepulveda)
TODAY’S DECLARATION
“Because I live a surrendered life, God is performing the thing He has appointed me. His favor is working in my life.”
TODAY’S BIBLE READING
- Old Testament: 1 Chronicles 17-19; Psalms 132
- New Testament: Luke 9:1-17; Colossians 4:1-9
