Let go and lean into God
In a time of information overload, I pray the words you read in this space will be an oasis in the desert, a peaceful stream in turbulent and ruffled times.
Let’s be honest, we are living in a weary world shaken to it's core. It’s hard not to be influenced and affected by this.
Yet, there's scope to be encouraged, empowered, and strengthened, beautiful reader. You carry a distinct message of hope that will sound above the prevailing noise and break through the barrier of fatigue. God wants to ignite a fresh fire in your heart for the times in which we live.
Life becomes meaningful when we take time to reflect. Still your heart and meditate on these verses:
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My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises!
Psalms 57:7 NLT
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Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Proverbs 3:5 MSG
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Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.
Psalm 37:7 NLT
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Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.
Psalm 27:14 NLT
Ask yourself:
- In whom or what do I put my trust and confidence?
- Which voices do I listen to?
- How easy do I find it to be quiet?
- How do I tone down external and internal noise?
- How do I patiently wait for the Lord?
The other day, I heard the Lord whisper to me, ‘Let go and lean into me.’ In the middle of trying to figure things out in my strength, it was an invitation to take a breath and surrender. I accepted.
Suddenly, I felt His presence and became aware we were doing life together. My Father invited me to stop striving and to lean into Him. In this place of union, He opened my eyes again to His incredible goodness, love, mercy, grace, and ultimately a way to proceed. It filled my heart with peace and excitement - consciously doing life with my Father.
This reminded me of something I read about Mother Teresa. It profoundly impacted me. Tyler Staton writes about her in his book Praying like Monks, Living like Fools,
In her Nobel Prize acceptance speech, she claimed that anyone who viewed her life as being about social work or even compassion had it backward. In reality, she claimed that she, along with her fellow servants, were nothing more than ‘contemplatives in the heart of the world.’ She was saying that everything she was being awarded for … all of it just accidentally happened in response to prayer.
She surrendered to God and responded to situations from a place of union with Him; a life of prayer. She let go, leaned into Him, and was available. God used her for His glory.
What a way to live!
How countercultural!?
Society convinces us to hold on tight, to lean into methods, strategies, plans, etc, in order to make something of our lives. God woos us to surrender, to let go, to unite with Him in prayer; to let Him have His way.
Methods, strategies, and plans are not wrong. They have their place. But when we lean on them more than on God, we’ve got a problem. Our connection with Him becomes skewed.
Saying ‘yes’ to God involves surrender. One of the hardest things for human beings is to relinquish control. Why? Control gives a sense of strength, power, success. Although flawed, it promises significance and security. Giving up control goes against the grain. It seems weak. There’s a feeling of loss. It’s scary.
But in losing ourselves to God, we gain His very best. His love defines us. His joy sustains us. His peace guides us. Surrender gives up the need to fix, manipulate, strive, and fight. It knows how to be still, how to wait, how to trust. It recognises the value of God's rule in life.
Like Abraham, a life of surrender doesn’t need to know details to obey.
Like Joseph, surrender doesn’t hold grudges.
Like Mary, surrender declares, ’I am the Lord’s servant.’
Like Isaiah, surrender cries, ’Here I am, send me.’
Like Job, surrender doesn’t lose sight of who God is.
Like Jesus, surrender finds nourishment in doing the Father’s will. It has nothing to prove or justify and nothing to lose.
Surrender lets go and leans into God.
Am I willing to respond to God’s invitation and do just that?
Are you?
What would our communities look like, how might our lives speak, if we lived surrendered to God, responding to our world in prayer?
Next time control knocks at your door with counterfeit promises, choose to surrender to God. Lean into Him and respond to life's circumstances in prayer.