As a stay at home Momma, I consistently find myself addressing the cost of absolutely everything. Groceries, vacations, entertainment, utilities; the list goes on and on. Everything MUST balance in the family budget or the answer is no!
I really hate the answer no because I’m a shopaholic……..
with an intense shoe addiction.
When I thought about surrendering my heart to the Lord, I never thought it would actually cost me anything. My egotistical, high and mighty self even THOUGHT I surrendered my whole heart to God years ago. Then a six year old little boy, a gallon of paint and a rambunctious German Shepherd taught me otherwise.
That’s a story for a different day.
Today, I want to get right down to business!
Surrendering your WHOLE heart to the Lord comes at a high price and is soooooooooo worth it!
Total surrender costs the ‘thing’
Total surrender to the Lord involves a huge sacrifice on your part. Remember the young man who could not part with his fortunes? Matthew tells us about a young rich man who asked Jesus what good thing he could do to secure eternal life. In other words, ‘What’s it going to cost me?’
As I read through scripture, I see the young man checking items off his list as Jesus has him review commandments. With pride, he claims to have completed each task! Jesus then tell him he must give all his money to the poor and follow Him. Simple as that! Unfortunately, the young man cannot complete this final task. His riches were the ‘thing’ that separated him from God.
What is the ‘thing’ that separates you from God? Money, friends, work, romance? Fear, selfishness, maybe feeling unworthy? What causes you to lose focus? This can be tricky because sometimes that ‘thing’ gives you security and stability when you should be looking to your Lord and Savior for all provisions. What seems harmless actually weighs you down and blinds you from the light God shines upon your darkest hour.
Total surrender costs your ‘self’
Paul discusses the ‘Fruits of the Spirit’ with the Galatians. When we give our ‘self’ control, we live in the flesh and entertain all kinds of foolishness such as immorality, impurity, anger, distention and all kinds of selfishness.
Surrender your ‘self’ completely to the Lord and become alive in the Spirit! Your actions transform into something more loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled. God tends to His vineyard with a merciful hand. Yield your branches so that He may prune the dead fruits away and allow the good fruits to grow healthy and strong.
Total surrender costs your ego
Have you ever thought there could be strength in humility? Jesus explains that the Spirit of the Lord is upon Him, that he has been anointed to proclaim the good news to the weak and broken-hearted as promised in the Old Testament. We think we are ‘big and bad,’ we have control of our daily lives and can take charge of all decisions. The ego prevents us from seeing how very small and broken we are.
Bring yourself down a notch or two and then three or four more until you find your self on the ground at the foot of the cross. God has no desire for heaven without us so he sent his son to surrender, to become a sacrifice, to pay the ultimate cost for your eternal life.
Humble your self and see His light bursting forth from brewing rain clouds that darken the road ahead. Hear Him cry WITH you as your heart breaks over mountains that cannot be moved. Feel hope, love and peace no human can describe welling up within your soul.
Now, you tell me if it’s worth the cost!
