surrender

I Surrender All

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“Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”

Luke 9:23-24 NIV

Father God, I surrender my life to You.  You can have it all.  All my doubts, all my fears, all my worries…every insecurity, every selfish desire and past mistake…I give it all to You.  Every area of my life that does not honor You…take it.  Take it all and use me, change me, transform me, love me and love others through me.  Take all that I am, and use it for Your glory.  In Jesus name, Amen.

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“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Surrender

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“Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”

Luke 9:23-24 NIV

I once read in a daily devotional these words…”God does not need our help or cooperation in establishing purpose in our lives…only our surrender”

We need to remember that God is with us and within us always and at all times…instead of thinking He is only near when we pay attention or recognize His presence

We need to ask ourselves…What have I been trying to plan and control that I need to surrender to God?

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“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Hope, Joy And Peace

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“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

“You make known to me the path of life;
    you will fill me with joy in your presence,
    with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

Psalm 16:11 NIV

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27 NIV

We have hope because Jesus Christ has risen from the dead and He is alive

We can have joy when we understand that nothing in this life is too big for God to help us overcome

We can have peace knowing that God loves us, provides for us and will never leave us or abandon us

Know this hope, be filled with this joy and you will have peace that surpasses understanding

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“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13 NIV

(This photo was taken at a Fish Sunflowers Field in Buffalo, Minnesota)

A Prayer Of Surrender

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“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

Romans 12:1 NIV

Father God, help us surrender our ways to You.  You can have all of us…every thought, action, behavior and desire.  Guide us to Your way in all that we do.  Help us listen and obey You.  Thank You for sending Your Son to save us so that we can have a personal relationship with You.  Take all that we are and help us to be a Light in the World for others all year long.  In Jesus name, Amen.

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“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

Romans 12:9-13 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)

It Takes Courage…

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“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.”

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV

Courage is not the absence of fear…Courage is the willingness to move forward without knowing the outcome…to admit we don’t know the answers…to be patient…Having courage is placing your trust in God ahead of fear…it is about not allowing fear to stop you or defeat you.

  It takes courage to seek the Light…to surrender your plans for God’s plan…

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“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

2 Timothy 1:6-7 NIV

(This photo was taken on Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands)

The Battle Belongs To God

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“He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

2 Chronicles 20:15 NIV

Battle Belongs by Phil Wickham

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“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Romans 12:11-12 NIV

(This photo was taken in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)

Surrender

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“Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”

Luke 9:23-24 NIV

Father God, my life is Yours.  Please take every part of it.  Every area of my life that does not honor You…take it.  Every insecurity, every fear, every selfish desire and past mistake…I give it all to You.  Please put those things to death so that I can experience Your abundant life.  In Jesus name, Amen.

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“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20 NIV

(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)

Surrender and Rest

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“Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”

Luke 9:23-24 NIV

Father God, please show us what in our lives we are withholding from You.  We want to live fully surrendered.  Teach us how to prioritize following You and loving others.  No matter how hard it may be, we want to daily deny our self-focused desires and seek You first.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

(This photo was taken at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)

Humility

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14 “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV

Good and Gracious God, please show me the things I am withholding from You.  I want to walk humbly with You.  Teach me to prioritize Your ways over my ways.  No matter how difficult the circumstances, I want to deny my self-centered desires and seek You first.  In Jesus name, Amen.

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“He must become greater; I must become less.”

John 3:30 NIV

(This photo was taken at Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)

Character Building

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“Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Romans 5:3-5 NIV

Father God, I am Your child.  Thank You for adopting me into Your eternal family.  Please shape my heart.  Teach me how to act in a way that honors You in my daily life and circumstances.  Help me correct my thoughts and perspective along with any patterns of behavior in my life that displease You.  Replace these things with characteristics that show how much I love You.  In Jesus name, Amen.

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“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

Philippians 4:8-9 NIV

(This photo was taken at sunrise at a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)