SurrenderSample

Have you seen that outdoor game where contestants put on a giant inflated sumo wrestling suit and proceed to try to SUMO wrestle their opponent? Because of the extra sense of insulation and protection, each contestant seems to move with a boldness and toughness that far outweighs their normal courage. The added padding does wonders when body slamming designated foes.

Recently, when I read Psalm 91 in the Tree of Life version, the second half of verse 4 leapt off the page and arrested my heart as if I had never read it before. “His faithfulness is body armor and shield.” I could see clearly what the author was saying in the surrounding chapter as well could be summed up right there…. His faithfulness is enough. His faithfulness to me is all I need. His faithfulness is my protection through all things. Because of His character of complete faithfulness that will not change, I am safe.

I am only safe because of God’s faithfulness to me. This got me thinking and I soon realized all the things I have been doing to try to ADD protection to myself just like those sumo-costumes I spoke about earlier. I manipulate, over-think, self-protect, adding my own walls of protection, criticize, take up defense, judge, accuse, assume, predict and plan, thinking I’m increasing my safety. But can any of these things ADD TO the faithfulness of God? Wow, of course not! That feels blasphemous to even suggest that I can somehow ADD to God’s faithfulness to me. Yet there it is to see, all the ways I try.

Out of this clarity and conviction of God’s faithfulness came the heart’s posture and cry, “Lord, I surrender to your faithfulness to me! I don’t want to self-protect anymore and push You away or others away in an attempt to add to your faithfulness.” I began to meditate on this verse over and over, and when we walked into the writing session months ago with my new friends, Stephen Maxwell and Lee Langston, I had this scripture rise to the top of my heart. Steven began to play some chords that evoked my response to the Lord, “All of my life, there is a thread, Lord it’s your faithfulness! I know my heart can rest under your wings. It’s where I belong…..” And we began to sing, “Lord, you have my surrender…..” The song just flowed so fast from there….as we were of like mind and heart. I pray this song connects you to that truth and ability to lay down everything that you’ve taken up over time to try to take care of yourself, and let the Lord take care of you. Let Him protect You and defend You. Let Him show you His life-long faithfulness to You.

Lord, awaken us to Your faithfulness today! Let it change our posture towards you and our posture towards others. Open our eyes and open our hearts. You are our sure body armor and shield. We need no other. You are forever faithful! In Jesus name we pray, Amen.