Dear Ones,
Hope you have a wonderful weekend! Last night I slept like a baby and so thankful for the answer to prayer to get into the chiropractor yesterday. Time with our pastor missionary friend was a blessing as it had been a long while since we could fellowship together.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
How much time do we spend worrying and trying to figure everything out, especially when it comes to our loved ones? But so much time is wasted that way and the result profits nothing, for it doesn’t solve a thing. But how much better to trust the Lord, admit we don’t know the answers and surrender everything into His hands. That involves death to self and that is something we must do daily if we are going to follow closely to the Lord. Jesus gives us all the invitation in Luke 9:23, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” The cross is a symbol of surrender or death to self. Jesus disciples were all martyred for their faith, as some are today, but most of us will not suffer literal death because we are His disciples… but it does mean daily dying to our self.

Dying to self is not easy and it means surrender and obedience to the Lord. Why do we fight so hard for our own will, only to find that it leaves us worrisome, frustrated and lacking in peace. One night some time ago, I had a hard time sleeping as there was concern in my heart for someone who I dearly care for whose life was hanging in the balances. Would they surrender to the Lord or keep going on in their own crooked way that was choking the joy out of their life and their family? I didn’t know but I continued to pray and then had to surrender it all up to the Lord. “Lord, you know and although I want to save them from suffering and pain, I put it all in your hands.” The bottom line is that in order to save our life we have to lose it, but when we lose our life for Him and the gospel, we save it.

Any one of us who follow our own path will live with regret, for we will lack deep joy and peace that only comes from the Lord. Of course, even after we surrender, we will sometimes fall in our spiritual walk and it is humbling, but we must get up and begin again. Let us not waste another moment relying on ourselves, trying to solve things on our own, but surrender and give it all to the One who is full of mercy and grace.

Challenge for today: Pray the words to the song, “All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him. In His presence daily live. I surrender all, I surrender all, all to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.”
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy