Obedience and Surrender

I am in a blogging mood this morning.

I've been thinking about surrender and blessings lately. Maybe it's from experiences that I am going through, my friends experiences or just what God has been laying on my heart.

Not too long ago a great friend of mine was sharing his heart with several of us. He had just ended a relationship with a girl and God had asked him to do something that would take him completely out of his comfort zone. He had been asked to go back to the ex and apologize. If she had accepted his apology he was supposed to ask the ex to become his wife. wow. This was so hard for my friend not something he wanted to do. However, he had a choice. He could obey or ignore. He obeyed. To make a long story short he is not an engaged man. The girl did not accept the heart-felt apology and my friend went on his way (very relieved I will say). But it got me thinking about obedience. God had asked him to be faithful and obey. Abraham comes to mind when I think of obedience. He was willing to sacrifice his own son for God. Have I always been obedient to God...certainly not. There were and still are times when I want to control every situation and just tell God "I got this one" "I'll handle it." This makes me sad because I think that I have missed out on the blessings that follow this obedience.

In Genesis, because Abraham believed, God said that He would make Abraham's descendants as numerous as the stars. This is encouraging folks! When we, God's children, simply obey and surrender those things that we hold most dear (relationships, insecurities, dreams, etc) He is waiting to "send the wealth." I once read the "the moment of your greatest sacrifice will also be the precise moment of your greatest and most miraculous blessing." The greatest gift we could have ever received is Jesus Himself. I can't fully wrap my head around that sacrifice that my heavenly Father made. But I do know that I want to live a life of sacrifice and obedience. Those times in my life when I've brought my own desires for my life to the cross...God has blessed beyond measure.

My good friend was a wonderful example of obedience and surrender. He is now blessed with a wonderful lady who is encouraging his ministry and him as a believer. Wow!!

"Indeed, there is nothing God will not do for those who will dare to step out in faith onto what appears to be only a mist. As they take their first step, they will find a rock beneath their feet." F.B. Meyer