Why do you think we seem willing to settle for less than all God wants to do with us?
This reminds me of the hymn “I Surrender All”. We are control oriented, it is hard not to be in charge. We need to totally surrender every aspect of our lives to Christ lest we be the chafe left on the floor and burn in Hell’s furnace. Not a good though!
We are definitely called to surrender everything in our lives to the Lordship of Jesus. Yet we even need help surrendering--we'll hold on even though we know we shouldn't and that it would be best if we didn't. That's where Jesus' refining fire comes in. When we surrender to Him, as best we can, we're saying yes to Him purifying/burning away the chaff in our heart and soul--to Him helping our desire to surrender become full surrender. It's a work of grace, but that doesn't make it easy. I think there's a connection here to the "prayer of examen" from Psalm 139:23-24, which invites God to do His purifying work in us:
Why do you think we seem willing to settle for less than all God wants to do with us?
This reminds me of the hymn “I Surrender All”. We are control oriented, it is hard not to be in charge. We need to totally surrender every aspect of our lives to Christ lest we be the chafe left on the floor and burn in Hell’s furnace. Not a good though!
All to Jesus I surrender
All to Him I freely give
I will ever love and trust Him
In His presence daily live
All to Jesus I surrender
Humbly at His feet I bow
Worldly pleasures all forsaken
Take me Jesus take me now
I surrender all
I surrender all
All to Thee my blessed Saviour
I surrender all
All to Jesus I surrender
Make me Saviour wholly Thine
Let me feel the Holy Spirit
Truly know that Thou art mine
All to Jesus I surrender
Lord I give myself to Thee
Fill me with Thy love and power
Let Thy blessings fall on me
All to Jesus I surrender
Now I feel the sacred flame
Oh the joy of full salvation
Glory glory to His name
Great connection to that hymn!
We are definitely called to surrender everything in our lives to the Lordship of Jesus. Yet we even need help surrendering--we'll hold on even though we know we shouldn't and that it would be best if we didn't. That's where Jesus' refining fire comes in. When we surrender to Him, as best we can, we're saying yes to Him purifying/burning away the chaff in our heart and soul--to Him helping our desire to surrender become full surrender. It's a work of grace, but that doesn't make it easy. I think there's a connection here to the "prayer of examen" from Psalm 139:23-24, which invites God to do His purifying work in us:
Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.