Surrendered and Submitted
Hey there beautiful!
Have you ever thought about what it truly means to live a fully surrendered and submitted life? I know many cringe at the idea, it seems a bit extreme to some and impossible to others.
I can relate because I have probably had emotions ranging from one end of the spectrum to the other, but as I listened to a song play on the radio one evening on my ride home from work this very question consumed me. I was in a space where I felt like nothing made sense but it all had purpose, and all I could say was, "Lord give me a heart Surrendered and a life fully Submitted to you." Where I'm less concerned with me and more concerned with you.
I had no idea what that looked like, but the vision that immediately came to my mind was - eyes closed, arms raised, and hands wide open.
So wherever you are... take a few seconds to close your eyes and put yourself in your surrendered position. I don't know what that is for you, but for me it is arms raised high in the air, hands open wide, heart softened and mind focused on Jesus. Only He can truly quiet my thoughts and speak to my heart in a way that brings peace, and on that night He reminded me of that in a time when I needed it the most. When life for me seemed out of control, the peace of God reminded me that He was in complete control.
See when I think of a surrendered life it is one that says, "I release me, and receive you. Have your way." The definition of surrender is to give up or hand over. In that moment God was dealing with me, and He is dealing with me even now. There are some specific things that God wants us to give up and to hand over to Him. When your hands are open you are able to give up and hand over, but sometimes we refuse to LET GO. But God is telling you to open up your hands:
Give up your will for His.
Hand over your ways and take His.
Give up your ideas of love, and receive His.
Hand over the purpose you have for your life and walk in His.
His voice whispers~ Surrendered and Submitted, Surrendered and Submitted.
The most valuable part of the Surrendered life is not just that you give it to God, but that you actually invite God to come in.
With your invitation He will love you unconditionally and remind you that you are His and He is yours.
Imagine that. The God of all creation wants a space in your heart. He could choose anyone, but its you that He wants.
All He asks in return is that you submit your life to Him. To submit means to accept or yield to a superior force or to the authority or will on another person. So submit to the will of the father whose ways are higher than your ways and thoughts higher than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55: 8-9 gives us that sweet reminder.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.EndFragment
Not just any kind of thoughts and plans. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us clearly what plans God has for us.
"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."EndFragment
I don't know what that sounds like to you, but to me it sounds like a plan I want to be Surrendered and Submitted to.
So eyes closed, arms raised, and hands wide open. This walk will take a blind faith.
He's been knocking at the door of your heart and now is you the time to answer His call. Hopefully you will respond and say, "wherever you tell me to go I will go. Whatever you tell me to do I will do"
I am fully and completely Surrendered and Submitted.
These are my letters for life...
Thanks for reading!
Love and blessings,
Antoinette
