Life of Full Surrender

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    In living a life of full surrender to Christ, often it seems like living in a Dr. Seuss book, doesn't it?  Everything is so opposite of what we think is natural and the way our human minds want to think. Our human nature is so sinful and Satan has distorted the messages of the culture to the point that we don't always even know what is up or down.  Satan is the author of confusion and delights in seeing us flounder and wring our hands in frustration. Paul said it best in Romans 7:19-20: 

 "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not do, that I do."

 (If that doesn't sound just like a Dr. Seuss book!)
    The fact is that if we desire freedom from confusion, as well as true peace, we must undergo a complete submission to the Spirit of God. A life of full submission to the Savior is one of complete freedom. To be the greatest of all, we must be the servant of Him who is the Creator of all.  Blessed are the meek. To reign with Christ, we must also suffer with Him. It all sounds like "Opposite Day," doesn't it? Well, in a way, it is.  Satan and our God are on opposing teams and Satan is fighting for our hearts and minds.  He keeps fighting in spite of the fact that Almighty God has already won! If that isn't the height of silliness! However, many souls are following the Loser and will never know the blessings of a life surrendered to the Lord because they cannot let go of the glitz and glamour of this world. 
    How are we to live? Psalm 123:2 says:

"Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that He have mercy upon us." 

 A fully surrendered  Christian looks to the Lord for everything.  Living as a handmaiden is so antithetical to our culture, isn't it?  That very term is basically taboo.  What our culture is missing is the freedom that comes with enslaving ourselves to the Master.  Freedom from what?  Freedom from sin!  Freedom from the curse of the law! Paul tells us this in Galatians 3 and 4.  Romans 6:18 tells us we have been set free from sin and are now slaves to righteousness.  
    This can all seem very confusing.  However, the simple truth is that Jesus is the answer.  As cliché as that sounds, it is the truth.  Remember that Jesus is truth.  He is our peace.  He is righteousness. He is life.  He is Living Water.  He is wisdom. In order to experience any of those things, we must possess Him! He gives us His Spirit and clothes us in His righteousness, if we accept it.  We then hold the keys to true success and joy. It just looks differently than the world claims it should look.
    Abundant living in Christ looks like complete surrender. True joy comes from brokenness before Him.  Freedom from legalism of the law comes as we become slaves to lives of righteousness.  Peace comes from stepping out of the entrapments of this world and living in daily dependence on the provision of God. Christians will think, act, even look differently from the people around them.  We can walk through this world with a different perspective. 
    My prayer is that we will not be lured into the world's view of success and "joy." May we choose to surrender and serve the King of Kings, that we may know true freedom, joy, and peace.
    Thank you for reading my ramblings each week!

Soli Deo Gloria!
💓Heather Sparks💓


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