Lord teach me the power of absolute surrender.

Years ago I was blessed to have a pastor who taught me the value of these words – yet as is true so often in the Christian life, some things are easier said than done.  I had no idea of the journey the Lord would take me on as I prayed those words and read them every day.

Now six years later, I have a friend from Generous Giving who encourages others by asking, “Will you live in a posture of surrender?”  Those words also ring in my mind and cause me to ask myself, “Am I challenged by the sacrifice and generosity of others, and am I “living in the tension” of asking God, what would You have me do with all I have and all I am?”

Whichever way we look at it, both of those statements encourage us to seek the “life that is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:19), if we open our hands and surrender all He’s entrusted to us, for the eternal outcomes He has planned.

As one privileged to be called to the ministry of encouraging givers hearts, I am learning to live in a posture of surrender, at times because God’s hand has put me there,  but intentionally now because I desire to be used of God and have seen that it is in that place that He can use me most.

 I used to think generosity is something you would do.  I now know generosity is something you are.  It starts with simple acts of obedience. Yet, as Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 9:13, Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 

Unless we are struck and moved by Jesus – we will never be moved to give and to live generously – it will always be a burden….and the same is true for those believers God has entrusted to our care through the ministry of our mission advancement work.  We have been entrusted with the biblical message of generosity and the power to not only be free ourselves, but to be a part of the journey to help set others free as well.

What if daily giving flowed from our lives because of the power of the Holy Spirit as we surrender all instead of it being a response to someone’s “ask,” or another generous act? – What if we held nothing back?  What if we encouraged others to hold nothing back? 

Leave a legacy and chose to live generously.  Psalm 119:60 – I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.  Will you invite the Lord to teach you the POWER of absolute surrender?