Surrender

This week was the final week of a wonderful Bible study, with a group of wonderful sisters, in the book of James. What an amazing and convicting book. We were given much instruction on Godly living. Be slow to speak, lay aside wickedness, be doers of the Word, keep oneself unspotted from the world, do not show partiality, and the list goes on. Sometimes the "to do" list as a Christian seems so overwhelming and even impossible. But, PRAISE GOD, HE has made it possible. All He asks of us is to choose to surrender to Him. At each moment of our surrender, He equips us with all we need to accomplish His "to do" list. No, not OUR "to do" list! HIS "to do" list. (That would be His Word, the Bible, our instructions from Him.) James tells us that as the body without the Spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (2:26) We have the body, but He gives the Spirit, which is life. We have the faith, but He gives us evidence of life, called works. Works are evidence that He lives within us, for without the equipping power of His Spirit such works are impossible. But by surrender of self, we are filled with His power to fulfill His commands. So when James exhorts us to live a life of works, what does that really look like? It looks like women who surrender and a God who works. When we are taught to be slow to speak, this means we surrender our tounge to be bridled by Him. (He is able to bridle the whole body, which we are a part of, for He was a perfect man. -3:2) When we are instructed to be doers of the Word, this means we surrender our minds and bodies to Him, and He does His Word through us and in us. When we are warned not to show partiality, this means we surrender our tendancies toward judgement to His powerful control. HE IS ABLE to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine... And we are able to do all things THROUGH HIM, we need only surrender. How grateful I am to have only the restful requirement of continual surrender.