NOTE: In no way is this writing intended to be preachy and/or judgmental. The soul purpose is to share the love of Jesus by expressing what fully surrendering to God means to me. Should someone benefit from the following text then all Glory and Praise be to the One who is in charge of my life.
Being a Christian since I was a small child didn't prevent me from getting off track - time after time. Just being saved wasn't enough! Being saved but not fully surrendered was my downfall. Although I was baptized in water and Spirit in 1955 (and again in 1980) I was a partaker of the world by trying to please people and not God. But in 1994 I totally surrendered my all to the One who was worthy (stopped playing Russian roulette with my soul) and started my long overdue walk towards God with the guidance of the Blessed Holy Spirit.
I'm ashamed to admit that there have been times when I was tempted to wonder off the right path since that special day in 1994. It wasn't meant to be easy and so easy it isn't, but it has gotten easier with each passing day. Daily dedication while striving to be more like Jesus and trying to always be pleasing to God is what keeps me on the pathway to Heaven. At this point in time, I no longer blame others for my past or present experiences and own up to everything I've done and do that was and is displeasing to God. We all have choices to make and I've made more than my share of wrong ones, but by the Holy Spirit's guidance they are fewer and longer in-between. My life is the way God intended it to be, now that I've chosen to fully surrender my all to the One who matters most- the One and only True God!
My trying to please God consists of faithfully reading the Bible and devotional books; sitting before Him and praying to Him in the Name of Jesus; talking with the Holy Spirit throughout the day and listening intently (with my heart) to hear His soft small voice; and witnessing to others when ever a door opens that allows me to talk about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Also, I watch my share of Christian programming on T.V. or just sit and do nothing at all - I believe, with my whole heart, that it's alright to just sit and rest in Him (Daily Devotional - Streams in the Desert - by L.B. Cowman - December 26th).
And "Be still and know that I am God" (NKJV Psalm 46:10). Praise His Holy Name!
Many people have status, wealth, and power, but they may not have what really matters. I never had those things and never desired to. My desire has always been to serve the Lord, even in my most down times when I didn't realize that just being saved wasn't enough and that totally surrendering to the will of God was the key that would secure my salvation. With me, this is a daily endeavor. By trying hard to follow God's Word, rejoicing and delighting in the Lord, and giving Him continued thanks and praise (that only He is worthy of), I'm gaining all the good things in life (the things that really matter): faith and trust in our Heavenly Father, a forgiving heart, a peaceful and joyful spirit, a healthy mind and body, and a deep genuine love for Him and for one another.
"You will keep Him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You" (NKJV Isaiah 26:3).
Our Awesome God takes care of all my needs by faithfully serving Him (He also takes care of most of my "I wants"). But mostly, He has given me a promise for eternal life if I continue trying to be obedient and striving to remain totally surrendered - what more could a person ask for.
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart" (NKJV Psalm 37:4).
In no way do I think I'm perfect, I'll be a sinner until the day I die. But when I sin, even if it's just an evil thought that springs to mind about someone, the Holy Spirit speaks to my heart about it and I instantly ask God for forgiveness - this keeps my survival kit in working order. I'm just a work in progress and don¡¦t know everything and never will - not in this life, anyway. I'm so very grateful that the Holy Spirit has patience as He teaches me what He wants me to know; although the progress can be and often is very slow (I've never been the sharpest knife in the drawer. One thing I've learned and learned well is the fact that we can live in the world and not be partakers of it. Also, that it's possible to be extremely happy and content by letting God take control of our lives. He expects us to enjoy all the good things that He created, in both the natural and spiritual realm - so I do. Praise His Holy Name!
A ROSE A DAY - sharing the love of Jesus, at http://www.aroseaday.com, is going strong. This website has gotten so big that the Holy Spirit sent my sister Jean to help me with it. There have been 23,253 visitors and 194,650 total hits and growing daily. We have gotten emails and guestbook signings from all over the world. A ROSE A DAY is non profit, but there is a donation page pleading for donations - very, very seldom does it happen, though. Regardless, there have been 1,630 hits to the salvation prayer page and this is worth more than all the monies in the world. Since I don¡¦t drive (due to light and night blindness steadily worsening with age), this website is the main way I have of sharing the love of our precious Lord. Thank God for computers! What a God send when used to Glorify Him!
Serving God is sometimes difficult because people often tend to be cruel and judgmental -They mainly judge me for the ways of my past. This brings much sadness to my heart and soul, but He gives comfort and undying love with many, many blessings and some gifts of the Spirit and this makes up for all the cruelty I endure along the way. It's my belief that He showers these things upon me for encouragement so I will persevere in spreading the gospel - He loves each and every one of us so very, very much and wishes not one to perish. The blessings and gifts He bestows are my "Streams in the Desert".
Paul says, "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (NKJV Philippians 3:13,14).
Totally surrendering my all to God, loving Jesus and walking in the Spirit is bringing forth good fruit.
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (NKJV Galatians 5:22). If we live in the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit (NKJV Galatians 5:25).
My striving to always be pleasing to God has secured my salvation. I'm so looking forward to seeing the glorious face of my wonderful, beautiful Savior and my loved ones who are waiting for me in Heaven. What a glorious day that will be!
I don't really live alone, you see,
My dearest friend is always near to me,
I can't get enough of this faithful One,
Who is my Jesus, God's only begotten Son.
Thank you for reading "MY WALK TOWARDS GOD" - may it be a blessing to you and/or someone you know.