The writers of Encouraging.com are celebrating their fifteen year landmark by making their 365 daily devotional book, God Moments, available as a free digital download! A total of thirty-six GABC writers have faithfully captured “moments of God’s presence” in their lives to encourage your own spiritual journey. You can find God Moments on amazon.com, iTunes, and BarnesandNoble.com.


NIV is used unless otherwise noted.



Sweet Surrender

Take your everyday, ordinary life...and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.
Romans 12:1 MSG


I’ve read that verse many times in different Bible translations. I find myself saying, Yes! I want to do that!

I am reminded of Jesus asking the sons of thunder, James and John, if they would be willing to endure the same sufferings that he would be going through. “Sure!” they replied confidently. However, they had no idea what that entailed.

Like James and John, I am eager to offer myself to God - as long as what he wants is in my comfort zone. Start moving beyond that and I get a little resistant.

I’m comfortable behind the scenes, away from the focus. A line in the movie The Princess Diaries pretty much sums up this sentiment. “My expectation in life is to be invisible. And I’m good at it!”

I received an email from someone who asked to interview me on camera for a show. No way! The same day God led me to today’s verse.

Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Did I really want to be living sacrifice?

But, God, does it have to be on TV? You know that’s not my personality. You made me this way.

Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, ‘Why have you made me like this? (Romans 9:20).

I agonized over this decision for a couple of days before choosing to submit to what God wanted to do in and through me. Since my Father opened this door, I am willing to take a step and see where it leads.

This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a child-like ‘What’s next, Papa?’ (Romans 8:15 MSG).

Papa, may I embrace the wild ride you have for me in this wondrous, resurrection life!

Terri

No comments: