“Not my will but yours…” (Matthew 26:39)
Do you know you are called by God, Creator of the Universe, to make a difference in this world?
Has He told you a specific Call?
In my case, I know my role but not my Calling. I am a Watchman. Like Nehemiah, I am to stand on the wall, look out for any danger, and pray.
I don’t know when, how, or even if an attack will come, but I am to “be ready”: to look and to pray.
Sometimes the most difficult thing to do is to wait for action. You may be waiting for some specific thing to do. That specific Call may come, but the most important step toward it is simply to surrender.
Surrender to the Call unconditionally. Surrender even to the possibility that a specific Call may not come.
In this “Me” climate of society, we are programmed to receive attention, to be important; we may feel overlooked or unimportant without a specific, huge responsibility being given to us. But huge responsibility is born out of real pain, character development and isolation. There is nothing romantic in being called to serve. It is a long, tough, sometimes lonely road that only some have the strength of character and endurance to face.
When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, on that night, before he was arrested he prayed first, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me”. Later, he released, surrendered and said, “nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” to his Father.
We do not know exactly when Jesus knew the Call to crucifixion. We know he asked for that cup to pass. But in the end, he surrendered his will to the Father’s. And all humanity was given the opportunity, through that surrender, to be saved.
You may be called to something specific. Or you may have to hunt for your purpose as I did, and it may be general. But how will you ever know a specific Call, unless you seek your role – the identity and purpose of your personality + God’s gifting in you – and grow in that first?
You may be like Samuel, whose mother bore him to give him back to God for full service. You may be like Anna, who waited a lifetime until Jesus was born, and she was given to prophecy. Or you may be like countless of us across the generations who are called to live our lives as role models to a dying world.
The Call may be huge, or it may seem tiny. But in surrendering to God’s Call, seeking out your identity and purpose suitable to who He has created you to be, you will be ready to serve.
That’s a Calling in itself, and a first step to receiving a specific job or role in His kingdom.
Are you ready to be who God created you to be?
Sometimes, in myself, “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41b) and my role is simply to allow Him to perfect my unconditional surrender.
Go with God this week; bless Him, bless others and receive His blessing.
This particular post is crying out for dialogue. Through the website, post your questions or comments so that we who share can learn from one another, how to seek out the role that is perfect for who God has designed us to be. It took me three years of searching simply to discover my identity in Christ as a Watchman. I’ll answer your queries about how I did that and look forward to hearing from you.
God bless.
11 replies on “Total Surrender”
I feel moved, Sarah, to share what I believe to be a very important aspect in this; if we are to achieve our full potential spiritually and to achieve what God wants us to be, we must apply forgiveness in our lives. It can seem comforting to harbour anger and bear grudge, but it is anything but. By doing so, we erode our wellbeing and peace. Early this week a family in Ireland – husband, wife, three young sons – were wiped out in a murder/suicide with no apparent prior indications of anything being amiss. Relatives have stressed that they must all be buried together and that the husband, a deputy school principal, should not be demonised for what he appears to have done. It may seem remarkable that they have chosen this way of thinking but isn’t it so much better for them than choosing an alternative path of hatred, judgment and bitterness. May God help all affected by this tragedy get through their shock and grief.
Oh David, such wisdom amidst so much tragedy.
When we surrender unconditionally, that includes our attitudes, doesn’t it. There is a fine line between righteousness and self righteousness or entitlement. Forgiveness hurts us sometimes, before we see the healing and power in it.
Yes, let’s be sure to surrender bitterness and vengeful thought at the end of every day, and awake with peace of mind.
Blessings, Sarah
Big help, big help. And sualveptire news of course.
What is sualveptire?
Hello Sarah
I have been dealing with a medical condition which is very elusive to be well managed. This has been going on for 5-6 years, there have been moments of recovery but it has kept me from being able to work. During this time I have petitioned my close friends, my pastor at my church, and I have even contacted prayer lines repeatedly. I am seeking the Lord requesting for healing from this condition. Right now the medication seems to be working. Praise God. This condition affects my ability to think clearly and lowers my mood.
I am not sure what my calling is, but I know I love making people laugh and touch their lives in a positive way. I enjoy being around people when I am healthy. This last month I have been considering being trained in Laughter Yoga and to go work with elderly and spread laughter in Retirement homes/nursing homes or to any groups/business. I would have to start a business after I receive the two days of training in Toronto.
My question is how can I seek God in this goal…is it His leading or am is this just my idea?
If anyone has any insight in this please respond
Ideas give birth to new hope. Is this a call from the Lord? Does He not say He gives us the desires of our heart? Does He not bless us when we share what we have, and encourage us to use our gifts?
What about this as a possible strategy? Why not lay it out to the Lord, taking steps forward and asking Him to confirm direction thru release into this new way of expressing yourself, or if He is opposed, ask him to close the doors and prevent you investing too deeply to start with if He is not in it.
Bless you, brother.
After ruminating over your comment over night, Steve, I wanted to add that your condition and your rising above it, is a true testament to your faith and a great example to myself and others. Thanks so much for sharing, and I hope you’ll keep us posted of your comic antics! God bless.
Thank you for your insight. This past month has been month has been very humbling, as I have returned to the work force cleaning rooms and now I have just started reading gas meters which I find very overwhelmimg mentally and physically.I feel lost and vulnerable trying to find my way. Not sure how to proceed to find God’s will for my life. I have always envied those people who have “heard from God”. Some people state they actually heard him talk to them in words or others say they felt his definitive leading.
I my life to date I can’t say I have ever had any indirect or direct words or leading from God that I can refer to as a moment or road to Domascus experience. I try to strain to “hear” and feel God’s leading. I must admit I really have not been consistent in digging into His word
And my mental health has hinder my thinking.
Bless you, Steve. Challenge is usually from the Lord, I think, as He stretches us beyond where we think we can go. And yet, “His yoke is easy, His burden is light” seems to contradict that doesn’t it? Well, I know for me, He is always working on me letting go of control. I ask Him to show me the way, and yet I “hang on for dear life” my ways of doing things. Life is a struggle. The difference between those following God and those not, is that He carries us and He sustains us.
I am sorry for your challenges and yet we both know He is in them too.
As for hearing from God, yes, we all receive in different ways and some through prophetic words. My husband “hears” through the study of God’s Word and so perhaps that may be a clear way in for you too.
Sometimes, the Lord doesn’t appear to “speak” and He trusts we have the Faith He’s given us to walk His way without personal specifics. In those cases, it would seem to me that as we use the gifts, talents, urges we have, so long as they are not ungodly, He will encourage and help us.
Your comic niche may well fill a hole you have, and in so doing, you will nurture others. It’s so important to delight in what the Lord has given you, and to trust in small beginnings.
We seek to walk in the Spirit, and this is a difficult thing to do. But Paul says, pray without ceasing, and I know too, that praise got a lot of psalmists through hard times.
Bless you for your dialogue with me, and perhaps others have been reading and are also built up through this.
This is lovely Sarah and definitely speaks to me. I surrendered 31 years ago, and yes, life has formed me but God has transformed me. Now I’m old I feel that I must accept that I may never really achieve anything BIG for the Kingdom, that’s hard as I’m a grafter, I keep on keeping on… Always believed that my Call was to be a godly wife mother and now finally daughter to my elderly frail mother. As the bible teaches, true religion is to care for widows and orphans.
What a lovely, humble, caring response to your circumstances. The LORD blesses us with circumstances that teach us and bring us into a deeper knowledge of Him. You are a true giver and a your attitude and commitment are a true statement of Jesus in you. Every blessing, Angie, as we continue on this journey, together, and with Him: the Author and Finisher of our Faith.