Surrender

For the last few years instead of a New Years resolution I have chosen a word for the year. I pray about what word I will choose because I want it to be something that God will direct me to be aware of in my everyday life. I think about my special word all throughout the year. I see where it is used in scripture and when that word comes up in anything I read or sing. The words I have chosen over the past 5 years are mercy, grace, joy, prayer, and community. 

So, since Christmas, I have been once again wondering what word the Lord will direct me to.

I just started studying the book of Proverbs and so I thought about the word listen, as this word is used quite often in Proverbs. That is an area of my life I could really use some work in! So I was thinking that I would choose that word but God had other plans. 

I was really praying during the worship service last Sunday that somehow He would confirm the word, listen. Pastor Brant preached on the Twenty-third Psalm and my heart was thinking Shepherd. That kind of defines my job right now as Grandma babysitting my grands and I need to remember that they are little lambs that need guidance. They have lots of my love, that comes naturally, but I need to remember the guidance and not so much the spoiling. Then after the sermon we sang this song.

Surrender

I need the One who holds tomorrow
To give me peace about today
You never said this would be easy
God give me faith to say

I will walk through the flames and I will praise Your name
I surrender, I surrender all
I won’t wait for the mountaintop, I’ll claim You here
I surrender all to You

So I won’t worry about tomorrow
I will give my all today
My life I live to make a difference
God give me strength to say

I will walk through the flames and I will praise Your name
I surrender, I surrender all
I won’t wait for the mountaintop, I’ll claim You here
I surrender all to You

Give me faith that moves the mountains
A perfect love that casts out fear
God I know You'll never leave me
You’re here with me to stay

I will walk through the flames and I will praise Your name
I surrender, I surrender all

I surrender all,

I surrender all

All to thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all

You can listen to our service with this link. The song is at 1:16:33.

Martinsburg Grace Brethren Church

God was impressing upon my heart that I should choose the word Surrender. But I wanted to give it more time. It was still a few days until the new year, and besides I didn't have to have my word by New Years Day!

I looked surrender up on Blue Letter Bible. Even using different versions it isn't used in the Bible but a few times and then it only refers to surrendering in a battle. The Hebrew and Greek words they use mean “to deliver, give up, give over, give into the hands of another.”  I wasn't sure. Did I really want to "surrender" every day?

Then I read this article:

Hindsight, Eyesight, and Insight

and Ravi Zacharias said,

“Twenty-twenty vision calls for us to see clearly what ultimately matters and not be blinded by things temporal. A daughter who went all too early and a diagnosed fatal disease are sobering reminders to love while we have the opportunity. It is in surrendering to God that we win, and it is in dying to self that we live. For ultimately, we look forward to a destiny where He who defines love will hold us accountable.” 

He who defines love will hold us accountable. That sealed it.

Surrender is my word for this year. Can I possibly do anything but surrender to my Lord's will for everything He brings daily into my life in 2020?