We must "rock" before we "walk"

 

Chapter 2: Surrendering Our Desires

The Bible speaks of exchanging our desires for God's, a process of aligning our will with His through faith and surrender.  This involves delighting in God, which leads to a transformation of our desires, causing us to crave what is aligned with His will. This doesn't mean desires for good things are eliminated, but rather, they are submitted to God's ultimate plan and purpose, which is for our good!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you." Jeremiah 29:11

Our desires can lead us closer to God when they are aligned with Him, and our focus is to please Him—or away from Him when we are focused on ourselves, our circumstances, or pleasing others. Surrendering what we want means aligning our longings with His will.  His will does include blessing us and unity with believers, but not at the cost of breaking relationship with Him.

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” — Psalm 37:4

"One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard; that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord are loving.  Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done." Psalm 62:11-12 

God reshapes our desires when we surrender them. Life goals and momentary reactions will all bring less conflict without and within when we are at peace with and driven to please God.  Going back to the picture of the baby who learns how to walk.  The first position we must choose is on our stomach.  Though we may think we can see things clearly on our back, we must turn to our stomach, lay prostrate, and begin to lift up our head.  Though we may have accepted Christ, accepted that we have a Creator God, we must trust Him enough to lay prostrate before Him.  Surrendering all.  Then, lift our head, begin to get our arms and legs under us, and "rock".  Find the rhythm of prayer and praise that is communicating with Him. Then, as we learn to sit up, we can see more clearly His ways.  But we must return to the other positions- literally and figuratively.  From sitting we learn to pull up, stand, and walk.  From the standing position it may seem like we can see even more clearly, but there is also the opportunity for a clouding of our vision: for now we can see the things around us and may be propelled by temptation rather than God to reach them.  Return to the question, is this the way that God wants me to go?  Before stepping, we must have spent enough time prostrate and rocking to walk well.  

There is a time for rocking, and there is a time for walking; all focused on the Lord.

"Wait for the Lord, be strong and let you heart take courage; wait for the Lord!"  Psalm 27:14

"Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."  Psalm 46:10

May we say with the psalmist, David in Psalm 63:

"O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my body longs for you in a dry and weary land where there is no water.  

I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld you power and your glory.  Because you love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.  I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.  My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.  Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.  My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.  

They who seek my life will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth.  They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals.  

But the king will rejoice in God: all who swear by God's name will praise Him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced."

Consider spending a little time searching "stand", and look at how God commands us to "get up", ready to do his will.  Here's a few to start:

"Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord."  Exodus 14:13

"Get yourself ready!  Stand up and say to them whatever I command you.   Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them."  Jeremiah 1:17 

"Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes....  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."  Ephesians 6:10-14