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I had an interesting experience while horseback riding yesterday. I hadn't had the opportunity to ride in two weeks, and no one else had ridden “my” horse during that time either. He is always one who is willing to move; but yesterday he set all-time records for wanting to run. Asking him to slow down was like asking the rain to stop falling, and I was exhausted from trying to hold him back. In the end, I allowed him run off his energy.
Why didn't I just let him run at first?
Because it was his idea and not mine. He should not get the idea that he is in control! This isn’t what you want a one-ton creature who is under you to believe!
I am also a bit like my horse. I like to be the boss! Every morning I ask God to please be in charge of my day, to show me my needs and to turn my eyes to Him, my only provider. Meanwhile, I am busy trying to control things on my own. God's arms must be exhausted from trying to hold me back, and I can almost hear Him: "My dear child, did you not pray this morning, 'give us this day our daily bread' (Matthew 6:11 NASB)? Why then are you trying to do it on your own? Stop! Let Me answer your morning prayer!"
Every time I try and do things on my own, I fail; but the moment I surrender, there is success. Funny thing about that!
Sometimes, however, I think that God understands my need to be in charge. Just like I did allow my horse to run himself out yesterday, when I've surrendered something to God He sometimes seems to let me go for it! Just like I knew my horse would eventually tire enough to slow down to a comfortable pace, God knows that I will also get tired as well.
My goal is for my horse to understand that I don't mind a fast ride, as long as he realizes I'm still in charge. My spiritual goal is similar: To come to understand that God doesn't mind a fast ride either, as long as He is still in charge and I know it!
The Bible tells us numerous times to submit to God, and there are almost always good reasons attached. Here are just a few:
1. "Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7 NASB). Before we can resist the devil, we must submit to God!
2. “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, this is the one who will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24 NASB). When we deny ourselves and submit to God, we are saving our lives!
3. "Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need." (Hebrews 4:16 NASB). When we approach the throne of grace -- read "surrender", we receive mercy and grace for our needs!
4. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB). When we acknowledge God in everything -- read "surrender" -- our paths are made straight! And one more:
5. “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work." (John 4:24 NASB) When we surrender to God's will, we are nourished and also equipped to accomplish His work!
There are so many more examples of the advantages of surrender, but suffice is to say, surrender doesn't mean we can't ever do what we want to do! Remember, once my horse surrendered to my command yesterday, I did let him do what he wanted to do, and I had fun riding him at that pace as well! God also knows our hearts' desires, and complete and total surrender to His will opens the doors for us to fully receive the desires of our hearts!
Remember Psalms 37:4? The promise we so often quote when we are trying to get God to do what we want Him to do? "He will give you the desires of your heart." (vs. 4b NASB).
What we forget is that this popular verse is also prefaced and followed by encouragement to surrender! "Trust in the Lord and do good; live in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord...Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him..." (Psalms 37:3,4a,5-6a NASB). Only then does the Bible tell us, "...and He will do it. He will bring out your righteousness as the light, and your judgment as the noonday." (Ps. 37:6b NASB) And notice that God is defining here the "desires" of our hearts! Our righteousness and judgment!
In the end, though, this is truly what our hearts desire, isn't it? Oh, we may think our hearts’ desire a new SUV or to not have to work so hard, but when we submit to the Lord He gives us what we truly want, even if we aren't aware of it.
I had a pretty happy horse when I finally dismounted. He was tired, but he was content. And when we submit fully to God, we can be assured that we will be the same: content! Why not give it a try?
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart
Author, Moderator, Acting Director, Answers2Prayer Ministries
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