Letting Go

“What do you need to surrender?

Surrendering to God is an act of humble submission. It is admitting that Jesus is Lord; that he is God and you are not. It is trusting God with every aspect of your life, to the point of submitting all to him. When you think you couldn’t love God any more than you already do, try surrendering something important to him. It will be an interesting and difficult exercise, to say the least! When you can release something that you have held on to tightly, you will fall more in love with the one whom you can never outgive.

God wants you to give him our despair, worry, feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, secret sin and checkered past. He wants you to turn over to his care your aspirations, favorite pet, most expensive jewelry, worst enemies, parent’s failing health and fear of being burglarized. He is to be the Lord of your job, home, bank accounts, vehicles and even your hobbies. He is there to help you with every part of your life – your emotions, education, possessions, talents, health, awards and more – as you surrender all to him. Would you be willing to give him your credit cards, sugar addiction, children’s future, control issues, evening wine, or agenda for the day?” (taken from Praying for Purpose for Women by Katie Brazelton).

In high school, I was an overachiever to say the least. Maybe I wasn’t so much an overachiever but a people-pleaser. If anyone ever suggested a contest, I would try my hardest to succeed and win.

I feel like I had a great relationship with God but I had a need to be the best, which wasn’t a good thing. It wasn’t until after I graduated from high school that I realized I had spent so much time studying and practicing for competitions in addition to the actual contest that I had neglected my relationships with the people around me.

I’m nowhere near where I need to be with surrendering the need to be a people pleaser, but I’m working on it.

Luke 14:33 says, Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

What do you need to surrender?

To contact Kristen, email her at kristen_odom@hotmail.com or send a letter to The Wellington Leader, Attn: Kristen’s Corner, Box 992, Wellington, TX 79095.

Happy Trails & God Bless!