Our minds are powerful. They like to control everything we come in contact with. They change how we see life. That’s how so many people can witness the same thing and all of them see something different. Our minds fight against anything we don’t want, reject things that are different, resist change and manipulate us to keep things the way they are. It’s important to understand that’s how they work because God calls us to grow which invokes change. Our minds will try to keep us where we are instead of where He’s leading us. It’s a battle we have to fight against ourselves every time we try to do what He asks. Surrendering to His will is key. We must relinquish the plans, ideas and thoughts our brains want for what he wants. It’s a fight we are all in, and will continue to be in, so learning to surrender is key.
After Israel left Egypt, they had to fight some battles in the Sinai. Joshua, one of the men whom Moses sent to spy out the Promised Land and said they could take it, became their military leader. He led this wandering nation to victory several times with God’s help. When they entered the Promised Land he became their leader and led them to Jericho. After sending in spies, I’m sure he was forming a plan to take when he encountered God’s commander carrying a sword. Joshua 5 says he asked him if he was for them or against them. Verse 14 says, “‘Neither one,’ he replied. ‘I am the commander of the Lord’s army.’ At this, Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence. ‘I am at your command,’ Joshua said. ‘What do you want your servant to do?’” (NLT) Immediately Joshua surrendered to the Lord and His plan.
In Luke 9:23 Jesus said, “If you truly desire to be my disciple, you must disown your life completely, embrace my ‘cross’ as your own, and surrender to my ways” (TPT). Following Jesus requires surrendering on our part. We think of surrendering as bad because it means losing or giving up, but that’s what we must do with our own plans and desires. We must be willing to surrender the, for His plans and ways. Romans 8 reminds us there’s a battle going on in all of us between our flash and the Spirit. It’s up to us to resist our brain’s wiring and our fleshly desires, force them to surrender and ask the Lord what He wants us to do. We must disown our desires, embrace His cross and surrender our ways to receive the victory in His Promised Land for our lives.
Photo by Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 