I Surrender

Every New Year's, lost in the sea of social media posts, you can often find a short novel from me. And the reason I persist in posting these short novels year after year, is because the beginning of a New Year is something I find magical. A simple switch in mindset that says "it's time to start over".

That's also why every year, lost in my short novel of a post, you will find a word that I declare over the year that the Lord has laid on my heart. I pray over this word for the year, and inevitably, the Lord so wonderfully intertwines it in the story of that season.

In 2021, my word was "purpose", specifically being passionate on purpose... ringing any bells? At the time that the Lord laid this word on my heart, I had no idea what would come of it, and most certainly not that the Lord would show me my purpose in so many simply beautiful ways, teaching me that our purpose is not some grand big picture that suddenly hits us one day, but rather a series of steps: it is practicing the act of trusting Him to show you the next right thing each day.

This "next right thing" led me closer to my family, to the school I'm now at, the job I am so blessed to have, the relationship with a wonderful man I have long since prayed for, and so much more - and inadvertently my purpose: to use my passion for the Lord, for life, for writing, to spread joy and Jesus to those around me. It led me to this blog right here, and the life I am so thankful to have.

Now, was every moment some beautiful picture and highlight reel? No. But was it worth it? Absolutely.

That's why year after year, I choose a word. It's my way of purposing in my heart my goal for the year, and then opening my hands to the Lord to do with it what He sees fit.

Now, let us fast forward to the week leading up to New Year's Eve. If you've been following me on Instagram, then you've seen that I have been going through a Week of Worship leading up to New Year's Eve for the last two years. This is where I pray on a series of worship songs that speak to my year, and share them with a small message for others during the hectic last few moments of the year, in an effort to redirect the world's attention to Jesus in a season that is supposed to be about Him.

But, I didn't share a final song on New Year's, and that's because I want to share it here now!

My final song for the year was: Living Sacrifice by Brandon Lake

The lyrics I specifically wanted to focus on were: "I will be a living sacrifice, all my heart and soul to glorify, I offer nothing less than all my life for Jesus Christ".

And now for my why....

When I was praying for my word for the year, the Lord continually impressed the word "surrender" on my heart. I was unsure about this word at first because it's a scary word to pray, especially when you've welcomed so much new in to your life in the course of a year. My school? My job? My boyfriend? My family and friends? My joy? I found so much good in 2021, so why surrender now? If that were my word for the year, how far would the Lord expect me to go to "fully surrender"?

Then, I listened to this song; I offer nothing less than all my life. Nothing less than all my life.

Our lives are the bare minimum of what Christ wants from us, because that should be the price for our sins. Jesus died in place for us, and got up out of the grave, covering our sins and offering us the choice of forgiveness, but that doesn't negate the cost and gravity of His actions. God is still the same passionate and reckless God that He has been since the beginning, that should command our full attention, which is why as Christians we are called to surrender control and offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to Christ - a vessel for the will of God on earth.

This got me to thinking about Abraham and Isaac in the Bible. Abraham's deepest desire was to have a heir, so he prayed fervently and God delivered. However, once Isaac was born, God told Abraham to sacrifice his son as a offering to God (Genesis 22). His only son whom he loved dearly, was to be offered up to the God he loved even more. Nevertheless, Abraham is faithful: he takes Isaac up to the mountain to be sacrificed, and at the final moment before Abraham his about to sacrifice his son, God sends an angel to stop him and provides a ram in Isaac's place.

God is not blood thirsty or vengeful, He didn't want Isaac's death, He wanted to test the condition of Abraham's heart: how far would he go, how much would he be willing to surrender, if God asked him to? How much control would he relinquish?

I think the first step to truly enjoying the things the Lord blesses us with, whether that be people, a place, or a job, is giving them back to the Lord. It is a willingness to love with open hands, and understanding that God will use every beautifully intimate detail of our lives in a purposeful way, that will be infinitely better than anything we can fathom, we just have to get out of our own way.

That is the heart condition I am entering 2022 with: not the fear of losing anything, but the praise of loving those things the way God intends. Submitting to those older and wiser that God has placed in my life. Opening up my hands to be guided to do the work of the Lord. Learning what it looks like to love like Christ, and recognising that I don't have as much figured out as I would like for the world to believe. It is surrendering my fear, my control, my worry, my vision to Him and knowing that His way is best (1 Peter 5:7 & Proverbs 16:3).

To surrender is sweet, because surrendering leads to trust - and if there is anyone we can trust, it's the Lord.

So, don't be afraid this year. Choose that word, make that change, take the leap, even if it scares you. Open your hands to the Lord and loosen the grip on things you fear losing - the Lord's plan is for us to prosper, not to be harmed, to have a hope and future, not exist in fear that the Devil would so readily relish (Jeremiah 29:11).

Let's do it: Have hope. Take heart. It's time to surrender.

Wishing you a wonderful New Year...

-Emma

"Be fearless in pursuit of what sets your soul on fire."