“Christ is either Lord of all, or He is not Lord at all” Hudson Taylor (1832-1905)
The day that I chose to start a lifestyle of fasting I was scheduled to pray for our company with a wonderful woman of faith. She asked me how I was doing and so I openly shared with her my struggle, my renewed commitment and what a lifestyle of fasting looked like for me.
She told me about a saying that fits perfectly for the struggle I’ve been having. “If God isn’t Lord of all, then He’s not Lord at all.”
Wow – that hit home. If I know that I have to submit in a certain area of life and I willingly choose not to, despite God giving me all the help and tools and support I need, then I’m in essence taking Him off the throne of my life. I’m not addressing the times when I inadvertently sin because I didn’t know better… I’m talking about my situation where God has repeatedly, lovingly, patiently told me what He wants me to do, how He wants me to find freedom in this area of my life and I choose to continue to sin despite those loving invitations.
When you boil it down, I’ve been choosing to make ice cream my lord instead of my Heavenly Father. I’ve been choosing to make donuts and candy and things I don’t even like my lord because I’ve been too stubborn to completely surrender to His way of eating. For someone who claims to love God with my whole heart, I haven’t been doing a good job of showing Him or others around me. I act differently when I’m holding tightly to food and when I’m eating with open hands, acknowledging that it’s all His and a gift from God Himself.
The same can be true in any other area of my life. Whatever part of my life that I don’t give completely to God to use me in whatever way He wants, if I’m holding back or keeping myself from fully surrendering, then I’m choosing to be lord instead of letting Him lead.
I thanked my friend for sharing that tidbit with me this morning. I wonder if remembering that truth when I want a cookie or other trivial piece of food will help me remember how much He gave up for me and put things back into perspective. How can I not be willing to give up all of me to Him?
When I choose to do life (or even parts of life) my way without fully surrendering to His will, especially when He’s specifically outlined His will for that area of my life, then I’m telling God He’s not Lord at all. Ouch! I never want to say that to my Heavenly Father. And that’s what I’ve been saying for months. That is choosing to live outside of His blessings and I certainly don’t want to live outside of His will.
I’m so thankful He is a loving God who helps me see the truth in a loving way instead of punishing me or shaming me into submission. God wants me to come to Him willingly. He knows that deep inside I love Him with all my heart. I just need to fully surrender my will to Him so that I can walk in complete freedom. I want Him to be Lord of all and now that I’ve surrendered, it’s about time I start showing Him exactly that.
© Cheri Swalwell 2017