Hey friends, how are you today? It’s another beautiful day in our neighborhood. Although the clouds have completely covered the skies with not even a hint of blue to be found and although we are under a winter advisory, still our God is in control.  Because even the ‘wind and the waves’ obey Him, I know that today is another beautiful day.  But not just outwardly beautiful, but beautiful in the choices I make as the day unfolds.  WOW! That’s a lot so soon, anyway how are you today? What are your plans for today? 

Last week, we made plans to successfully close out the year.  If we begin well, then we set the pattern to end the year beautifully also.  Have I told you before, I think I have an addictive personality?  Thankfully, the Lord called me to His precious family as a child.  I can’t even imagine my life without the Lord.  I’m not sure I would still be alive today, if not for the work the Lord is doing in my life.  Thank You, Lord, for salvation.  

I believe that trait lies in me because I struggle with bringing balance to my life.  That’s one of the reasons, I must indulge in list-making.  Writing a list keeps me on track because I have the tendency to be ‘all or nothing’.  If I’m going north, I keep that north trend until the roadblock literally makes the way impassable.  If I can find a way to go through, beneath, above, or around, I will continue on the northward trend.  

The Lord has ‘pulled the rug out’ from under me so many times, that I am learning to surrender.  That feeling of sinking, of being overwhelmed was a constant in my younger days, because as my mom would say, “that’s a stubborn one, right there”.  

(haha, did you see where I went with that verse?} NO? Its okay… I will leave that one alone). Even my list and plan making, I must hold on to gingerly.  For years, I would struggle with the Lord to uphold my plans.  After all, I’ve analyzed all the ways to accomplish set purposes and I arrived at the best ones, therefore my plans are perfect, or so I thought.  Oh, the disappointments in store for such thoughts.  Thankfully the Lord never gives up on His people.  His love and kindness are evident in the much grace and mercy He continues to shower on us.  So, I’ve learned to hand my plans over to the Lord for His adjustments.  

Well, actually I should say rather, I am learning to allow the Lord full authority to do with my plans as He sees fit.  I know, I know… I know I should not be a novice at this, but sometimes, I feel as if I am though.  I have come to the conclusion, that surrender, which is what the Lord requires of me, has to be intentional.  

Surrender isn’t a natural attribute in my character, I fight to the death.  Defeat isn’t in my nature.  Yet defeat isn’t what the Lord has in store for me when I surrender to Him.  Quite the opposite actually, He desires a victorious life for His people. My surrender is implied in my obedience to the Word of God. Obedience without surrender though possible, brings very little benefits.  Someone once said, “a man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still”. 

I’ve been reading the book of Daniel in recent days.  Actually, I began the year with the Book of Daniel, currently, I am reading chapter six (6).  Do you know what I’ve noticed in the first five chapters? It’s okay, I’ll tell you… Again, and again and again the Lord sends warnings before He disciplines.  He warns again and again, then He allows the consequences to unfold.   

The Lord sent warnings to Nebuchadnezzar through his dreams.  He even sent someone, namely Daniel to interpret the dreams and still He continued on his path.  I thought to myself, “wow, Nebs, you were warned in detail, you were even told the consequences if you persisted.  And yet you continued to do as you please”.   Well… I think the Lord said to me, even before that thought was complete, “you’re a fine one to talk, Brenda”. Yep, nothing to see here, I’ll just wave my white flag. 

The Lord gave very detailed instructions of His standards for His people.  He said how to love, how to pray, how to worship, how to live life abundantly and still I waver.  “Prone to wonder, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love”.  In His Word, He also shares the consequences for disobedience. He didn’t want us to fall into that trap of saying, “Lord, I didn’t know”.  We are without that excuse.  

The problem arises when my way goes contrary to the Word of God, and I insist that my way is the best way.  See where surrender come in, now? Of course, I know that the Lord knows best, but at times, when my head is down, then my list becomes ultra-important, then I miss the mark, because my eyes were not on Jesus.  When the waves came, I was not prepared because like good old Nebs, my way took precedence over the Lord’s.  

“Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it, seal for Thy courts above”.  As we move forward into 2024, let us intentionally choose to surrender to our Lord.  Let us make our plans and create our lists but let us hold on to them loosely.  Remember with me, obedience to the Word of God is part of our devotional time with Him.  It makes very little sense to read the warnings and still refuse to heed them.  Did you make plans for this year? What are your plans for 2024?

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