PSALMS 2:10-12
“Now then, you kings, act wisely! Be warned, you rulers of the earth! Serve the Lord with reverent fear and rejoice with trembling. Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry, and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities- for his anger flares up in an instant. But what joy for all who take refuge in him!” (NLT).
As believers in Christ Jesus, one of the things we often see in time of worship and prayer is the Lifting of hands. It demonstrates our joy and praise to God, a sincere desire to be connected to him. However, lifting your hands doesn’t always signify joy or praise. Biblically, the gesture is actually a sign of surrender. According to Exodus 17:8-16, When the people of Israel were attacked by the Amalekites, Moses commanded Joshua to choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek, and while they were fighting, Moses went to stand at the top of a hill, holding the staff of God in His hand. Moses didn’t go up the hill alone, for Aaron and Hur also went up with him. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had advantage, but whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. When Moses arms started to get tired, with no strength to hold them up, Aaron and Hur stood beside Moses holding up His hands. As a result, Moses hands stood steady until sunset, and Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle.
Moses, a man called by God to lead the people of Israel, understood that leaning unto his own way, would lead to death. For the Bible says, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12). Moses knew that they couldn’t defend themselves against the Amalekites without God. The Holding up of his hands, proclaimed his own weakness, frailty, and unworthiness to do anything without the Spirit of the Living God. People of God, the Lord knows our weakness or shortcomings, but we must “TOTALLY SURRENDER” our will to the Lord. We can’t fight the battles of this world with this flesh that we live in, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12, KJV). We were all born in sin and shaped in iniquity (Psalm 51:5), making us spiritually dead without Christ living in this mortal body. Paul tells us, in Romans 7:18, “And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t” (NLT). Therefore, as children of God, we must surrender our will (carnal nature) to the Lord Christ Jesus who brings us Spiritual life to overcome all things.
Paul the Apostle, to whom I love to make reference, is a great exemplary who knew how to “TOTALLY SURRENDER”. In 2 Corinthians 12:10, Paul states, “Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong” (NLT). Totally Surrendering his weakness to the Lord, allowed Christ to be glorified in His life. He was able to rest in peace knowing who holds His future. Paul, had confidence, that nothing would separate him from the Love of Christ. Many of scriptures could be referenced, like Jeremiah 29:11-13, “For I know the plans I have for you, “says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me” (NLT). So, how do we TOTALLY SURRENDER! All to Jesus? We must repent of our sins daily (choosing to genuinely, change in whatever way is necessary to please God), acknowledging that we can’t do anything without the Lord Jesus. We must keep His commandments, for even Solomon, known as the wisest man- whom also had weakness, said, “……. Here now is my final conclusion: fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, NLT).
Are you going through a challenge in your life, that you feel like giving up? Let us be encouraged, just like Moses, Aaron and Hur who never lost hope; they knew that iron sharpened iron as they continued steadfast in the Lord. At times, we choose to lean unto our own understanding, to deal with a situation we might be facing. However, the Bible tells us in Proverbs 3:6 “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight”.
The Lord desires for us to fall in love with Him. To have a sincere relationship with Him daily, that grows sweeter and sweeter as the days goes by.
Through the studying of His Word, prayer, and worship we live a life of “TOTALLY SURRENDER”. Having a made-up mind to sincerely take refuge in Jesus, and totally yielding that we are satisfied with God's will for our lives. Our focus scripture, Psalms 2, highlights those (kings) in authority on this earth, must act wisely and be careful to fear the Lord, rejoice with trembling, knowing that the Lord has total control over all things. As we continue to walk by faith, lets stand firm on the promises of God, that no matter what we face in this life, Jesus is the only way to safety.
Our total surrender is trust without borders!! Let down all your borders, open your heart to Jesus!
Please take the time to read the scriptures throughout.
Prayer
ABBA FATHER, WE THANK YOU, THAT IT'S IN YOU WE LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING! YOU OH LORD ARE THE REASON WE ARE BREATHING, MOVING, AND IN OUR RIGHT MINDS. YOU MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO LIVE AND SEE ANOTHER DAY AND BECAUSE OF THIS WE ARE GRATEFUL. THANK YOU FOR MAKING A WAY WHERE THERE SEEM TO BE NO WAY. YOU ARE THE TRUE AND LIVING WORD THAT GIVES US LIFE IN THIS FALLEN WORLD. LORD, WE PRAY YOUR WORD BE A LAMP UNTO OUR FEET AND LIGHT UNTO OUR PATH. KEEP US HUMBLE AT YOUR FEET, KNOWING THAT WE ARE JUST CLAY AND YOU ARE THE POTTER. MOLD US AND MAKE US IN YOUR WAY. WE TOTALLY SURRENDER ALL TO YOU ASKING THAT YOU DIRECT OUR PATH; AS WE LEAN NOT UNTO OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING, BUT ACKNOWLEDGING YOU IN ALL OUR WAYS. WE ASK OH LORD, THAT YOU GIVE US A HUNGER AND THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS, SO WE CAN BE FILLED DAILY IN JESUS NAME. FOR WE DESIRE YOUR WILL FOR OUR LIVES TODAY AND FOREVER MORE, IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.
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