Surrender - what a sweet sound...

sur·ren·der

səˈrendər/

verb

1. 1.

   cease resistance to an enemy or opponent and submit to their authority.
2. 
   
3. The word surrender can bring up feelings of fear and anxiety. 
   After reading the definition no wonder these feelings come about! For some the word surrender may bring thoughts of, "That's not for me" or "That's too much work." Feelings of guilt may come up when the word surrender is mentioned. I've heard many times, "I thought I surrendered that to God but clearly I've taken it back 
4. because I'm messing up."

This past Sunday we sang two songs that have been around for a long time, "I Surrender All" followed by, "I Love you Lord." As I was playing and singing that revised edition of

 "I Surrender All" the Lord was speaking to me through these words:

"All to Jesus I surrender

Make me Savior wholly Thine

May Thy Holy Spirit fill me

May I know Thy power divine"

The Lord began to show me all the times that I have battled with Him only to realize He desired me to surrender to Him so He could fill me with His Holy Spirit. The life I live filled with the Holy spirit is FAR better than the life of holding circumstances within my own clenched fists. 

We followed that song with, "I Love you Lord." 

I love You Lord

And I lift my voice

To worship You

O my soul rejoice

Take joy my King

In what You hear

May it be a sweet sweet sound

In Your ear

In that moment the Lord whispered to me, 

"Surrender is such a sweet sweet sound to me."

God did not create us to live in this world to carry burdens on our own. He created us to rely upon Him in ALL that we do. It may be the mundane of feeling overwhelmed with a routine busy week or it could be the loneliness that is not often shared. The loneliness that only you feel deep within your soul. Whatever if may be, God does not call us to carry it on our own.

I have found such FREEDOM in my life by surrendering so many things to Him. When we relinquish our grip on anxiety, fear, money, parenting, what others may think, or our search for fulfillment the Lord replaces those strongholds with His Holy Spirit. Where turmoil once resided freedom will now reign. It may not be instant. You may have to surrender over and over again but that moment will come where you realize that stronghold is no longer yours because the Holy Spirit now claims that place.

I encourage you to ask the Lord what areas of your life He is asking you to surrender to Him. Take some time to truly listen. Pray. Journal. Read scripture aloud. Walk with Him and He will rush His peace upon you as you surrender your life to Him and experience the mighty joy His Holy Spirit can offer.