Does the Life of a Surrendered Person Impress You?
Impress- to feel admiration or respect, to leave an impression or mark -(Oxford Languages)
This probing question, is layered in great intentionality of examining the word “impress” and it will be used to build the discussion. In the natural, there are people who immediately come to mind when you are pursuing a career goal or an athletic achievement pursuit. We are often enamored with individuals who excel in business &/or sports. As I follow the NBA and now the WNBA, I see how quickly we form imaginary alliances with people whom we have never met. We are intrigued by their sacrifice to earthly greatness.
There is this affinity to that which resembles what we either desire or admire. The mark that these individuals make on the heart of the one who is impressed often inspires the on-looker to do what it takes to follow suit. The on-looker will put in the hours that the mark maker has suggested; make the sacrifices that they are told are required; and welcome the mantra, “Whatever it takes!”
If you have been with us on this journey of appreciating the Divine Design of the Creator, you know the conversation is going into elevation mode. The question asked was, “Does the Life of a Surrendered Person impress you?” Does it leave an impressionable mark of pursuit when you think about what a Surrendered Life looks like in God?
Many confuse surrender with just loss, but one who goes through a Surrendered Life begins to embrace the loss because it has brought about the greatest gain. John 15:2 says, "Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he takes away; and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit". What lies within Surrender is exponential growth.
Let’s look at the pruning before the growth. Ladies, you will be able to relate to this example. Going to the Hair Stylist was always an influx emotions, especially when it was time to get that hair trim. We were so excited with our hair growing and here they come saying they have to cut our split ends. Those ends represent what is dead and what could hinder the growth of our remaining hair. You see, the pruning process is necessary because it rids us of things that adversely affect our growth.
A Surrendered Life…
•Walks away from relationships that continue to feed the flesh to Walk into a life that honors God through righteous courtship
•Walks away from a life of Idolatry to Walk into a life of Lordship
•Walks away from only seeing their own desires, and Walks into a life with a strong desire to see the Will of God performed
What would this world look like if every Surrendered Life transferred “Whatever it Takes” to “impress” God?
Divine Work & Pray:
Work: Jot down in your journal what the Surrendered Life has been like for you. If you do not feel like this journey has taken place, jot down what you feel the process would be for you.
