Surrender

“The man who loves his life will lose it,

while the man who hates this life in this

world will keep it for eternal life.” John12:25 NIV

How many times have we seen small children hold tightly to a toy when another child wants it. They scream and cry, if they are two years old, they yell, “No.” as loud as they can.

At the writing group I belong to, we recently had an exercise in free writing. The lady sitting next to me finished before everyone else. She then said for no one to copy from her. Being in a good mood, I acted like I was looking over at her paper. She reacted by covering her notebook with the upper half of her body. My next remark was that she was territorial. A lady sitting across the table called the first lady possessive. We were all joking but the lesson stuck with me.

We, as children of God have to learn to surrender our possessions to Him. In 1988, we bought or first brand new car, my husband said it was in celebration of our 20th wedding anniversary. I was so overcome with emotion that I made a vow. I promised to use that car for the Lord.

A close friend of mine sometimes prays with her hands held open as a sign of her giving the issues she has on her heart to the Lord. I recently remembered this and held my right hand open and out in front of me during prayer. I found it to be freeing.

Another lady I know has taught me not to be so tied to possessions. We talked one time when we were at the hospital seeing a mutual friend.  I complimented her on her outfit.Her water was acting up, they live in the country. Her granddaughter had done her laundry and carried it around in her trunk for ‘two weeks’. I was appalledI thought of the respect issue. My friend saidit’s just clothes.

Could it be that God is telling us to hold things loosely? Could He be wanting His to give Him the best we have and let Him provide for our temporal needs?