Finding Freedom In Surrender

“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?”

—Luke 6:46 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

Help me to fully realize that making Jesus Christ the Lord of my life involves so much more than merely calling out to Him, “Lord, Lord!”

Help me to understand and accept the truth that, in order for Jesus to be my Lord, I must freely surrender the liberty of my free will over to His will for me—and then, and only then, find true freedom from the things that hold me captive.

Help me remember that my obedience to His commands and instructions is the best measurement of His Lordship over my life—and that the example of how He lived His life is the only standard of comparison by which I should examine my own life.

Keep me from the hypocrisy of claiming Christ as my Lord, while choosing to go my own way—allowing my own fleshly desires to control me, rather than living surrendered to the Spirit of Christ that lives in me.

Help me to fully realize that making Jesus Christ the Lord of my life involves so much more than merely calling out to Him, “Lord, Lord!”

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Examining My Way

For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.  They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.

—Philippians 3:18-19 (NLT)

Heavenly Father,

Throughout every day, in every moment, may I examine the way I conduct myself in life here on earth—that I might not be found to be an enemy of the cross of Christ.

I don’t want to be that guy who having been given the opportunity to embrace everything that the cross of Christ has purchased for him, foolishly and thoughtlessly turns down a path that brings sure destruction to his joy, his peace, his purpose and even his very life.

I don’t want to be that guy who allows his appetite for the deceitful pleasures of this world to rule over him—who makes the desires of his flesh an idol, serving his own will, seeking to satisfy his lust for more by chasing after his own plans and only submitting himself to his own desires, making them the object of his worship.

I don’t want to be that guy who, being so deceived, brags about his sin, as if it were not sin at all—or the one who admits there is sin in his life, but makes light of the sin, as if it were not a stench in the nostrils of a Holy God.

I don’t want to be that guy whose thoughts are consumed with the pursuit of the ultimately empty and unsatisfying things of this life—who misses the fullness of life that was purchased for him and freely offered to him that he might simply receive it.

I want to be that guy who carefully considers his way, chooses to submit his will to Yours, resists temptation and flees from sin, and seeks with his whole heart a life hidden in Christ.

Throughout every day, in every moment, may I examine the way I conduct myself in life here on earth—that I might not be found to be an enemy of the cross of Christ.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

You Are God, And I Am Not

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 

How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 

You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."

--Matthew 7:1-5 (NIV)

Just and Holy God,

Help me to keep this straight: that You are God, and I am not.

Remind me that I have no business having a self righteous, critical spirit about me.

Remind me that it is not my place to jump on every opportunity to point out the faults and failures of others and pronounce judgment on them for their shortcomings.

Remind me that I would not want to be treated that way by others…with no mercy or love.

Remind me that as I allow Your Holy Spirit to guide me to the truth, that You will help me properly discern the character of others, so that I can make right choices between good and bad people as well as good and bad things.

Remind me that as the character of others is revealed to me, that I must allow the love of God to cause compassion for that person to rise up in me…rather than condemnation.

Remind me that I must be continually examining my own thoughts, motives and actions, willingly submitting myself for correction and redirection, so that I can be available, for You to use me, to help others…not as I might choose, but as You direct.

Help me to keep this straight: that You are God, and I am not.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.