Introduction: Surrendering is opening up for blessing

 

Surrendering to Christ is not a one-time decision—it’s a daily laying down of our lives to follow Him, that comes with a promise (Luke 9:23-27, Matthew 11;28-30). You might even agree with me that it's a moment by moment giving up of your will, what you thought was best, and your reactions, and choosing to remember you are a child of God, and that changes everything.  Many women long for deeper intimacy with Jesus but don’t realize how much they're holding back.  If you think about it:  if you are "holding" anything, what is the position of your hands, and your heart?  Your hands are closed and there's a control and power over the object, idea, or person.  Your heart is saying "nothing in and nothing out."  When you are closed, you are not open.  You cannot hold on and receive at the same time.  True freedom comes not from control, but from surrender. Trusting God to truly surrender to Him what He gifted to you in the first place will actually decrease your anxiety, and increase His presence, which is blessing, in every area of your life.  Test Him on this!  (Malachi 3:6-18)

In this book, we’ll walk through what it means to submit every area of life to the Lordship of Jesus.  The first part of the book focuses on our personal relationship with Christ, and how that really does mean a daily and moment-by moment as well as future-surrendering posture.  (John 17:21-23, Proverbs 3:5-6, James 4:7)  The second part focuses on that deeper intimacy that we long for with our spouse: our soul-mate, the one for whom our heart longs to become one with, because that was God's original intent.  (Song of Solomon 3:4, Genesis 2:18, Luke 1:45)  Your relationship with your spouse really can get better: Just hold on!  Giving up of ourselves to God, and letting Holy Spirit indwell us is the first and most important factor in our intimacy with our husband, no matter where he is in relationship with Christ (so stop preaching at him!).  (1 Peter 3:1)

Throughout this book I will use mostly the New Living Translation, or New International Version (1986/92) of the bible, and encourage you to look at multiple versions as you pray and study with this book.  Holy Spirit wants to speak to you: these translations are the ones that I usually have on hand, but are not in everyone's language (whether that means translation or your ability to understand it!).  I also encourage you to journal as you study.  Write out the verses, especially, and let God use them to re-write your story.  Realize that the more scripture we write and speak, the more our stories will reflect the heart of God.  There really is power in speaking it and writing it.  Pray, and let Holy Spirit interpret for you and tell you what's next.  (Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 119: 105, Isaiah 55:11, 1 Thessalonians 1:5)

I will also reference songs, of worship or testimony, I encourage you, when you can, to play them while you read the chapter, or while you're journaling, or worship with it.  Remember, too, that He sings over you, and delights in your worship! (Zephaniah 3:17, Psalm 147:11, Psalm 22:3, Psalm 149:4-5)

Take up this mantle with Mary, mother of Jesus:  "Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her!"  Open your hands and open your heart.