“I Surrender All”

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Life is full of little moments that test our love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.  Galatians 5 tells us that people who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  I try to make that decision every single day.  But then, out of nowhere, something happens to let me know that my “old nature” isn’t going out without a fight.”

 

God has a way of testing me when I’m the next person in line, whether at Walmart or a  drive-through.  Some time ago, a person in front of me at a drive-through was ordering rather loudly, so I could hear every word.  They struggled mightily to make their first choice of items.  But then, I heard them say, “On second thought, can I change my order?” They begin their new order, but then, I hear these words proceed out of the mouth of the person in front of me.  “You know what, can I just go back and get what I ordered to start with?” That’s when I heard that “small still voice,” reminding me of Galatians 5:22-25.   

 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

 

It’s one thing to read our bibles, go to church and spend time in prayer, but it’s another thing to allow God’s spirit to control our actions as we “walk” through each day.  Yet, walking in the spirit is necessary because doing so results in joy, peace, love, and patience.  In short, we get to be happy and enjoy the journey as God’s blessings “fall on us.” I love the lyrics of the old hymn written in 1896; “I surrender all.”

 

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.

All to Jesus I surrender; now I feel the sacred flame.

Oh, the joy of full salvation!  Glory, glory, to his name!

 

That’s my prayer,

-Joe

 

Contributors:

Joe & Dawn Barrett, Jeff & Haley Rowland, Megan & Adley Shuford, and Heather Barr. 

 

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