A Posture of Surrender

I've been hearing a lot about surrender lately in my reading, my prayers as the Holy Spirit speaks to me, in different messages I've heard.

Philippians 2:3-8 ~

Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,

who, existing in the form of God,

did not consider equality with God

as something to be used for His own advantage.

Instead He emptied Himself

by assuming the form of a slave,

taking on the likeness of men.

And when He had come as a man

in His external form,

He humbled Himself by becoming obedient

to the point of death—

even to death on a cross.

Surrendering to God requires humility and a laying down of my will. 

It is daily - moment by moment.

It means setting aside my pride and my need for others to notice. It means staying in a hard place in my life until the Lord has taught me all He wants me to learn.

At times it will mean that I will be maligned and need to keep my mouth closed and not keep trying to defend myself or give my position in a matter. 

It is intentionally looking to build up others and not tear them down. It is keeping other people's interests just as important as my own. 

It is hard.

Philippians 2:9-11 ~

For this reason God highly exalted Him

and gave Him the name

that is above every name,

so that at the name of Jesus

every knee will bow—

of those who are in heaven and on earth

and under the earth—

and every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus is our example. As He laid down His position in order to obey the Father's will, He humbled Himself. He surrendered His will.

He did this for us. He had our best interests at heart.

And God was the one who lifted Him up and placed Him back in a position of authority. God made it so people everywhere will bow in humility and worship Him. 

Philippians 9:12-13 ~

So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose.

We have been given the ability to do these hard things because of the work of God in our life.

Because God is working in me I have the desire to surrender to Him.

Because of the work of the Holy Spirit, I daily come to the foot of the cross and lay down my desires and wants.

Because Jesus humbled Himself I have been given an example of how to do this.

As I surrender, God is molding me into a woman that can be used. He is transforming into someone who reflects His character. 

As I lay down my wants, my motives, my pride He is stripping away everything that keeps me stuck.

God whispers in my ear, "Let it go." "Trust me." "I know what's best for you."

As I open my hand, trust that He is good and kneel in a posture of surrender, God is glorified in my life.

Surrender is painful and difficult. 

It is necessary for our spiritual growth. 

It is beautiful when let go and allow the work of God in our life.