Hearing God in the Noiseনমুনা

The Doorway of Surrender

“Rivers of pain and persecution will never extinguish this flame. Endless floods will be unable to quench this raging fire that burns within you. Everything will be consumed. It will stop at nothing as you yield everything to this furious fire until it won’t even seem to you like a sacrifice anymore.” Song of Songs 8:7, TPT

It won’t seem like a sacrifice anymore!

Most of us have known some form of sacrifice.

I remember saving for my first car. I was determined to save the money needed so I was ok to go without shopping for clothes or buying takeout, even missing movies with friends knowing that the price I paid to go without would serve the greater vision, the greater goal I had for buying my first car.

As parents, we know sacrifice.

The sleepless nights as we comfort our children who are sick with high temps or who’ve had scary dreams. We sacrifice our sleep for the love we have for our kids and our desire to care for and love them through what they are experiencing. We don’t hesitate to sacrifice for the ones we love. Seeing them happy, healthy and full of life is a blessing.

Jesus sacrificed for each of us. His sacrifice cost him his life yet in the sacrifice was a vision, a heart’s desire, an absolute devoted love to see each of us step into resurrection life, made new and set free because of His sacrifice. There was a joy set before him.

I’ve been thinking about surrender, a heartfelt, wholehearted surrender to the Lord. Considering the times I have in the past surrendered and thought how scary and hard it was to let go of all in exchange for more of Jesus. In the process, I felt like God was killing me in the most loving of ways. It was uncomfortable, it was stretching, it was challenging. It was a sacrifice.

As I look back now though I can see the exchange that has taken place. Every surrendered yes sacrifice became the doorway into a greater measure of knowing Him, knowing His nature and experiencing the truth of His love made whole in my life. It was literally like being in heaven and receiving a greater measure of His love while walking it out here on earth.

I think this is the beauty of becoming. This precious process of setting our heart's intentions to seek His face, know His voice and experience His love, transforms us from the inside out and we become ALL we were meant, designed and created to be.

Today, I’m thankful for the process and journey that led me here because I can say now that it doesn’t seem like a sacrifice at all anymore. I got Him in the exchange and that’s ALL I ever wanted and so much more.

My Prayer for you:

My friend, I want to bless you in this moment. I bless the dreams and desires of your heart for the MORE of Him. I bless the steps you are taking to come close and hear His voice and know His heart of abundant love for you.

I bless you as the Holy Spirit teaches you and brings you into greater measures of revelation and knowing. You will look back over your story and see the golden threads of life, love and goodness that He has weaved through your life and you’ll, like me, be forever thankful for your Yes and His Amen!