Voluntary Surrender
What happens when the place that you are right now is not necessarily the place you want to be, but It's where you know the Lord wants you?
Sometimes we think that because there is a calling in our life everything in front of us has to align perfectly so we know we are on the right track. But then you start following Jesus and it feels like you are living in a roller coaster where there are so many unexpected turns, highs and lows, and you just have NO type of control of where you are going. I don’t know you but that’s how I feel most of the time.
Knowing Him comes with a price, and most people don’t want to pay that price, but as you get to know him more you start realizing that He is so worth it. The laying down, the surrender, the price to pay, it’s so worth it, because there is no other person in the whole universe quite like him.
Surrendering day by day
Now in the big picture of life it is so nice when people of God say: “Yes! He is so worth it! The price is so worth it”. That sounds like a super hype/ spiritual phrase to say. But in the day to day, that’s when that phrase is not so fun.
What if your christian life doesn’t look so cool and perfect? What if your life feels blah? What if you feel like God’s strongest warrior, lol, and you are being thrown everything in life? What if the place that you are right now is not where you want to be, but you know is where the Lord wants you?? What if the only answer the Lord gives you is: just wait?
Personally I have been going through that. For more than a year I have been struggling to find my place where I am. I have felt many times like I don’t have much community and friends. I have felt like God has had me hidden in a small town in Puerto Rico where nobody can find me, haha, I know that’s so dramatic, but that’s how I have felt.
I have said to the Lord many times: “Why did you put me in this place? What am I doing here? Why do I feel alone in this? I could be doing more somewhere else, I feel so out of place, nobody understands me.” I have tried to make my case before him so many times, but it hasn’t worked… yet. But honestly, What sense would it make to move if He is not with me?
...One day while praying to the Lord I asked myself these questions:
“What if where I am right now & what I am doing brings joy to Jesus? Am I able to live for his joy rather than my own? What if in this season even when I am not feeling it, I do it for Him rather than for myself? Will I love him more than myself and my wants? Will I be able to put aside my feelings and say: <Jesus, I surrender this season of my life, I will love you even when I don’t understand what you are doing?>”
I’m being so real with you when I say, that loving Him when I don’t understand what he is doing is hard and it sucks most of the time! It is easy when all is good and comfortable, but what about when you have to sit down in the uncertainty and uncomfortability? It’s a struggle for real!
How can I love the Lord in the midst of uncertainty? How can I love him in the midst of troubles? How can I love him when I have been ready to give up so many times? How can I love him when I don’t feel like continuing?
Fixing your eyes on Jesus
What I’ve come to realize is that the answer to all those previous questions is that you just have to put your eyes on Jesus, and not only put your eyes on Him, but fix them on Him.
If you look up the definition of “Fixing your eyes” it means to: Focus intently on something, often to the exclusion of other distractions. In a metaphorical sense, it often involves concentrating one’s attention, thoughts, and affections on a specific goal, person, or ideal, particularly in the context of faith and perseverance.
Fixing your eyes on Him is also about removing things that distract us from Him. Often what dry and uncomfortable seasons do is bring out of us the things that are hindering our love towards him.
So what are the things that are taking our attention, thoughts and affections off Him? Is he your constant thought? Is the first song of your day about him? Is the scripture always on your mind? When the pressure of the day comes, does your mind and heart lean on him? Where is your attention, thought and affection?? Is it on Jesus?
When you decide to practice fixing your eyes on Him, you are voluntarily surrendering your own way of doing things and actively saying to Him: “Im going to do it your way Lord.”
“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2
4 Ways to Fix our Eyes on Him
1. A life of worship
“Through Him, therefore, let us at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.” Hebrews 13:15
2. Meditation on scriptures
“You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character], Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].” Isaiah 26:3 AMP
3. Obedience to the word of the Lord
“If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments.” John 14:15
4. A prayer lifestyle
“Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].” Philippians 4:6-7
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About me
Hi everyone! my name is Gabriella but you can call me Gaby.
Welcome to my blog!
I created this space with the purpose of sharing what the Lord has put in my heart in a way that is as real and genuine as possible. I want to invite you into my journey of following Jesus and I hope I can inspire you in your journey of following Him too.
