You may or may not be familiar with this famous hymn, but I remember singing it all the time as a kid. It was a staple of many Sunday mornings. Even today I find myself singing these lyrics from time to time as I think about everything that Jesus has done for me. He deserves it all because he “paid it all” (Another one I enjoy deeply). 

But let’s be honest, it’s hard to surrender ALL. It’s easy to sing the lyrics but it’s a whole other beast to actually surrender ALL. It means giving up our control on situations. It means trusting in this person we’ve never actually seen face-to-face before. Trusting God can be a dangerous thing if not a fearful event. It’s hard enough to trust someone we have seen face-to-face. I’m not a parent yet, but I can imagine how fearful I’m going to be dropping off my kid with someone – yes, even someone I know well. 

I recently shared a post on Psalm 46:10 (Hebrew Bible v. 11). The Psalmist writes, 

“Be still and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations;
I will be exalted in all the earth.”

What we often don’t read are the verses before it. For example, v. 2 reads: Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” And v. 6 reads: Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.” 

The psalmist is writing about the geopolitical turbulence the world was facing in his day. Whether it was David and the Israelite’s struggle with the Philistines. Or the two Kingdoms struggle with Assyria, Babylon, and Egypt. There were plenty of battles and wars raging day after day. And as can be seen in hindsight, the Ecclesiastical writer was right, “there is nothing new under the sun.” Thousands of years later and while technology has changed, human hearts have not. In spite of this, in spite of the world up in arms, in spite of people being terrible to one another, the psalmist writes, “Be still and know that I am God.” 

This word for “still” in Hebrew is harpu (הַרְפּ֣וּ) which comes from the root RPH (רפה). In its most basic form this word means to release or to sink. However, in its Hiphil form, which is what harpu is in, this word means to let go or abandon. So if we translate this verse a little more literally it would say, “Let Go and know that I am Lord.” “Surrender and know that I am Lord.” 

Like I mentioned above, it’s hard to let go and to surrender. Recently, Lauren and I embarked on a new journey which comes with a lot of unknowns. Lauren and I found out we’re pregnant. I’m stepping out of my current job and into a season where I don’t know if I’ll have a weekly income. So you know…bills and all that. 

So a long story short, I was recently asked to interview for a Campus Pastor position and when that happened, after spending time in prayer, Lauren and I both felt like God was asking us to step out into a new season. Whether I got this position or not, we knew God was asking us to trust Him in this next season. Needless to say, after 4 interviews, I did not get the position. BUT God is providing left and right. 

So as I’m out for my evening walk the other night I was praying about all these emotions I’m processing and said, “Alright, God! I give it all to know. I give you my student debt. I give you this transition. I give you everything. I am trusting you! But how do I live out that trust? What does it look like to practically trust you? It’s easy to say it but how do I live it?”

The Holy Spirit responded, “You trust me practically by living out what you’ve been given today.” 

It was one of those “OH…right…of course! Why didn’t I think of that?” moments. Matthew 6 came to mind as I began pondering the Holy Spirit’s words. We aren’t promised tomorrow. I can’t worry about tomorrow because who knows if tomorrow will come. What I do know is that I’ve been given right now to live for Him, to honor and glorify Him, and to be a steward to what He’s given me today. 

So here are a few questions for you to ponder today:

What do you need to let go of this week? 

What do you need to surrender to Jesus?

How can you be a wise steward of what you’ve been given today so that you can glorify Jesus with your life?

Justin

Here are some scriptures you can use for Lectio Divina or daily meditation/devotion.

Psalm 46:7-11 (8-12 HB)
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields[d] with fire.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Matthew 6:25-27
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Matthew 6:31-43
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

The Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 5:9-13:
This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’

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