A Lifetime Of Surrender

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” – Luke 9:23-24 
 
Yesterday I told my story of saying “yes” to God. Maybe you said “yes” to Christ when you were 12 like I did. Regardless of where you were 20, 30, 40, or 50 when you gave your life to Christ, life consists of saying “yes” to Jesus. This makes me think about the 92-year-old man who gave his life to Christ recently in our church, and he followed that with baptism. As God’s children, you don't ever get through saying “yes” to Christ.  
 
Let me ask you a question. Have you ever said “yes” to Christ for the first time? Have you had that one moment when you turned from sin and placed your faith in Christ? If not, I pray that today would be that day.  
 
Don't confuse church membership or church attendance with saying “yes” to Christ. It is an individual heart experience where God wants to change you from the inside out to make you His child. Have you had that encounter with Christ? Have you turned from sin and placed your faith in Christ? If not, I pray that today you would make that decision to surrender your life to Him.  
 
Maybe, on the other hand, you are struggling as a child of God right now. You are saying to God, “I just want to use common sense.” God wants you to use common sense too because He gave it to you in the first place. But He also wants you to say “yes” to Him even if it doesn’t make sense. That's what faith is. It is standing on what God says and treating it as truth. I pray that you would say “yes” to Christ today.  
 
Regardless of when God sends you, or where He sends you, or what He asks you to do, say “yes.” I promise you will be glad you did. There is joy in obedience and peace in the release!