When we talk about having a vision or purpose for our lives we often ask ourselves “What am I here for? Is God saying anything to me, what has He prepared for me to walk in?
But first there is something of utmost importance that needs to be sorted out.
Are we yielded to God?
The bible encourages us to really think about this attitude of our heart. “I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1)
We are entreated to “present” ourselves; to hand ourselves over to the care, keeping, guidance and love of God.
It is not the idea of sacrifice; but a sense of surrender, of abandonment, of giving up the control of ourselves to God.
And this is our “reasonable service,” or, as some would say it is our common-sense service. (Romans 12:1)
It certainly is the most profound common-sense if you take time to think about it. If we are ill, we put our trust in the hands of the great physician, or if we are lost, to put our next steps into the hands of a safe guide; into the care and keeping of the God who made us, and who loves us, and who alone can care for us the best. When you think about it that way, it’s certainly the most profound common-sense of all.
To yield to God means to belong to God, and to belong to God means to have all His infinite power and love engaged on our side. A man is bound to take care of anything that belongs to him; and so is God. Therefore, He invites us to yield ourselves to Him.
However there are two forces at war that we need to take into account. The old desires of the flesh which try to get us to side with our old sinful selfish nature, and the new God nature, which in contrast wants to lead us in righteousness and safety with God.
Since we have the Holy Spirit within us we have to power to choose which path we will yield to.
When we follow sinful desires, our life will produce these results: sexual immorality, lust, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred discord, jealousy, fits of rage, self ambition, envy drunkenness, orgies and the like. (Galatians 5:19-21) From what I can ascertain these things only lead to a lot of pain, loss, wasted dreams, potential and unhappiness.
However when we follow Jesus, our new God- nature will produce these fruits of the Sprit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. (Galatians 5:22-23).
But we have to understand how to yield to God and conquer sinful desires.We are to know and think upon the fact that sin doesn’t rule over us anymore, Jesus does. We “reckon ourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:11)
We look at things through the truth of who we are now that we know Jesus. That sin is not our master. Jesus is.
We have a new nature and we have power over sinful desires. We are not slaves to every whim, or dare I say stupid decision. With Jesus and the power of the Holy spirit within us we now have power to choose.
Our part is to yield our wills and take God’s side against any part of our old self that tries to redirect us away from God, while the Holy Spirit deals with anything that “wars” against our new life in God.
Jesus said it quite simply and bluntly, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). If we love Jesus we will follow what He says. We yield to Him. We, and only we can choose not to follow our old ways, the habits and practices of old friends, the opinions or morals of the latest popular opinion, media or any other voice. If we love Jesus we follow Him and put aside everything else!
The huge benefits of getting this vital step of choosing to yield is that when we do to, He is able to direct and guide us.
He wants us to be so in tune with Him, and so yielded that He can rely on us to trust and obey Him instantly. But really it’s up to us.
God promises, “ I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near.…” (Psalm 32:8)
God longs to speak, to release vision, to reveal mysteries; the secrets of heaven and His plan and how and why we were born in the first place. He promises He will tell us what’s next for our life. But the first step is being yielded. Yielded to listen, trust and obey. That we would go where He says go, do as He asks, know His heart, call Him our closest friend, and be ready and willing every minute of the day.
When we live like that our lives are just one big adventure. Now that sounds like common sense to me!
Prayer: Jesus I choose to yield to you today. I give you my life that you may lead, and that I will follow you. Forgive me where I have been wilful and fighting your guiding hand. In Jesus Name Amen.
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