Surrender.....

I have always been somewhat of a control freak, but I have learned to control it. Now that's funny! Maybe there is a better way to say that. I have learned from experience that you can't control everything and guess what......there are people who can do a better job....at somethings.......sometimes......okay maybe more than somethings and sometimes.

Truth is we all have strengths and weaknesses and different personalities are better in some areas but not so much in others. Interestingly enough I am not the typical 'Type A, B, C or D' personality. Yes can you believe it there are more than two personality types.  I am what the working world likes to label as a 'Type X' personality, meaning basically I am a personality type mutt. You may think that this could be a good thing but it poses many challenges. I like to do a good job, but I am not a perfectionist. I have many talents and skills, but its difficult to hone in on just one when deciding a college or career path. When I am working on something, especially that requires creativity, sometimes I am so focused I forget to eat. (Wish that would happen mire often) Other times, if I find it boring, I just try to get it done as nicely and quickly as possible so I can move on to something more interesting. I like order but I am not always great at keeping things in order. I am creative but my creativity is limited by my moods. So as you can see I am simply a hot mess, as my friend Brandy would say.

So, I have rambled on to bring you this question: How can one struggle with self control when they can be controlling? I believe the word we are looking for here is SURRENDER. Surrender is a battle term. It implies giving up all rights to the conqueror. When an  opposing army surrenders, they lay down their arms, and the winners take control from then on. Surrendering to God works the same way. God has a plan for our lives, and surrendering to Him means we set aside our own plans and eagerly seek His. The good news is that God's plan for us is always in our best interest (Jeremiah 29:11), unlike our own plans that often lead to destruction (Proverbs 14:12). Our Lord is a wise and beneficent victor; He conquers us to bless us. Now that's a battle I would be okay to losing.

There are different levels of surrender, all of which affect our relationship with God. Initial surrender to the drawing of the Holy Spirit leads to salvation (John 6:44; Acts 2:21). When we let go of our own attempts to earn God's favor and rely upon the finished work of Jesus Christ on our behalf, we become a child of God (John 1:12; 2 Corinthians 5:21). But there are times of greater surrender during a Christian's life that bring deeper intimacy with God and greater power in service. The more areas of our lives we surrender to Him, the more room there is for the filling of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we exhibit traits of His character (Galatians 5:22). The more we surrender to God, the more our old self-worshiping nature is replaced with one that resembles Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Romans 6:13 says that God demands that we surrender the totality of our selves; He wants the whole, not a part: “Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.” Jesus said that His followers must deny themselves (Mark 8:34)—another call to surrender.

The goal of the Christian life can be summed up by Galatians 2:20: "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Such a life of surrender is pleasing to God, results in the greatest human fulfillment, and will reap ultimate rewards in heaven (Luke 6:22-23).

Well this should certaintly help me as I allow His fruit to develope and grow in me. I hope as a teach/preach to myself that can you benefit, we are all just a work in progress!

Have a great weekend!