As You Go – Pray

“Oh, that we might know the LORD! Let us press on to know Him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.” Hosea 6:3 NLT

 

Growing up in a fairly traditional small-town Oklahoma Baptist church, we had lots of church services during the week, which meant many opportunities to sing. The words of the hymn, “I Surrender All” still echo in my mind:

“All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence  daily live.

All to Jesus I surrender, Humbly at His feet I bow, Worldly pleasures all forsaken, Take me, Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus I surrender, Make me, Savior, wholly Thine. Let me feel the Holy Spirit, Truly know that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus I surrender, Lord, I give myself to Thee; Fill me with Thy love and power, Let Thy blessing fall on me.

I surrender all, I surrender all, All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.”

“I Surrender All” challenged me each time to live a surrendered life for the sake of Jesus. I came to my first understanding of “I Surrender All” as a young third grade child moving away from the comfort of my church pew during a revival service, as I surrendered my life to Jesus. Somehow, I found it easy to say the words but not always easy to live out a surrendered life.

I wish I could say I surrendered everything, every day but unfortunately that wasn’t nor is the case. Thankfully, I live in God’s grace. Living a surrendered life is a daily commitment that spans a lifetime. However, it is in the surrendered life that real living takes place.

“Readiness for God means that we are ready to do the tiniest little thing or the great big thing, it makes no difference…. Be ready for the sudden surprise visits of God. A ready person never needs to get ready. Think of the time we waste trying to get ready when God has called! The burning bush is a symbol of everything that surrounds the ready soul, it is ablaze with the presence of God.”  (Oswald Chambers)

Moses didn’t fully understand what surrender would look like for him standing before the burning bush but most likely he knew his life would never be the same when he responded to God, “Here I am.”  (Exodus 3:4)

Hannah’s emotions were probably raw and tender that morning as she extended her arms to surrender her toddler son to the priest making the decision, “For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD.” (I Samuel 1:27-28)

Samuel didn’t know the challenges of a surrendered life that night when he heard God’s voice and as he responded, “Speak, for your servant hears.” (I Samuel 3:10)

David could never have imagined what the surrendered life would be for him as the oil flowed over his head as Samuel obeyed God’s instruction to “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” (I Samuel 16:12)

Isaiah responded to God’s call of “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” by giving up everything with the simple words, “Here am I! Send me.” (Isaiah 6:8)

Jesus understood fully what the surrendered life would mean for Him as He earnestly prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane that night and reverently spoke the words, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39)

Moses would leave the burning bush to lead a people out of bondage. Hannah would grow old with other children out of God’s blessing. Samuel would anoint the head of the future king. David would become a man after God’s own heart. Isaiah would write of the future Messiah. Jesus would surrender all for us to be redeemed and restored to life with God.

I may have sung off key during “I Surrender All.”  I may have lived occasionally out of tune. However, God has taken my poor singing and turned it into a beautiful harmony as we sing a duet together in life. “I Surrender All” is worth every stanza of life.

God is great,

Pastor Lynn