Total And Complete Surrender

I stumbled on this quote towards the end of last week and I felt determined that this is how my Christian walk should reflect on the non-believers around me. Little did I know that I was setting myself up for a fight or more appropriately, a lesson. Everything that I was counting on to happen, or that had seemed to be on the right track, backtracked. I could not believe it.

I found myself on my knees wanting to pray, but wondering if God had forgotten all about me! The whole weekend I had found it difficult to spend time with God, either in prayer or Bible study. But by this morning, I had to find out what was going on. Albeit reluctantly I began to pray.

We are always told not to ask God  ‘why’ but to just trust. I could not do that. I had to ask! In that asking I was reminded one, that spiritual things take time. In a generation that wants instant answers, we get impatient. It was a reminder for the need for perseverance. Two, when you are on the right track, there is always opposition. The devil knows that once you get this thing, you will have gained enormous ground, and therefore does all he can to dissuade you by making it look like things are falling apart. Thirdly, I remembered the song, Praise You In This Storm  by Casting Crowns, just the title itself stopped me in my tracks. I felt like I was being torn apart, because we are required to praise God in all situations.

How do you give praise, when everything around you shouts that there is nothing to give praise for? That for me speaks of total surrender to The Almighty. A complete trust in Him; the kind that has nowhere else to turn to, by choice. It hurts, but at the same time, it gives freedom. That peace that surpasses all understanding, the knowledge that everything is under control much as they seem to be spinning out of control.

God is always with us, at all times. His Word says he will never leave us nor forsake us.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and be faint Isaiah 40:29-31

 

 

 

Musically Inspired For Him

Sitting in a public transport vehicle recently, I found myself enjoying the music. It was secular music; something I have slowly distanced myself from over time. I love music, I love to sing (in private) and I am working on learning to play a musical instrument. But I digress…

I found myself wondering why secular music is a no-go zone for Christians. The answer came almost immediately … in the form of a question. Where does the inspiration for secular music come from? A verse came to mind where Jesus is speaking to the crowds and the Pharisees and he said that those who are not for me, are against me.

He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. Matthew 12:30

I was a little taken aback. Is it that serious? But The Word is clear, if it is not of God, then it can only be of the devil. Consciously or unconsciously. My mind struggled with that one. The song was nice and mellow and spoke about everyday things … Why could it just not be a nice song about life?

I looked around and saw that everything around me in nature has been created by God. The man-made things have a touch of godly inspiration in them because it is God who gives us the ability to be creative. The devil will do all he can to corrupt that creation through death and darkness.

When I took a moment to contemplate on the things that God had created, or allowed to be created, I was filled with awe, and I could not help but worship Him and give Him praise. It then occurred to me that to burst out into song about anything, you will at some point have to acknowledge the creator. In the case of the Christian, the ultimate creator is God. If we should heap our praise on the object of creation, or the person through whom the creation was expressed, we would be practising idolatry.

It seems extreme doesn’t it?  But think about it ….when you worship anything other than God, it is idolatry.

Food for thought. It puts a whole different perspective on what you listen to, read or watch.