|
|
|
|
|
Today's News & Notes probably looks a little different to you, especially if you haven't signed up for our daily 21 Days of Surrender emails. (Don't worry, it's not too late to opt-in!) For the next two Thursdays, we will be inserting the daily devotional from our 21 Days of Surrender here rather than having an extra message from Erin in your inbox. Weekly announcements will still be at the bottom and a Just for Fun clip to brighten your day!
|
|
Thursday, Jan 4 - Surrendering Your Desires
|
|
|
|
DEVOTIONAL: “SURRENDERING YOUR DESIRES”
|
In the hustle in our everyday routines, it is SO EASY to let our desires dictate our lives. As we journey together during these 21 Days of Prayer, let's explore what it truly means to let God lead in the area we tend to hold pretty closely and often tightly: our desires.
|
In Psalm 37:4, we find a timeless promise:
|
|
|
|
"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
|
|
This verse isn't a blank check for wish fulfillment; rather, it invites us into a transformative relationship. To delight in the Lord is to find our joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment in Him! As we surrender our desires to God, we discover that through His sanctifying work (i.e., God making us look more like Jesus), our hearts begin to align with His will. However, sometimes sanctification is a messy process.
|
Imagine a beautiful garden where each desire is a seed planted in the soil of our souls. Some desires may be wholesome, while others may be tainted by the lusts of the flesh, the powerful influences of the world, and the cunning deceptions of our enemy. The process of surrender is akin to allowing the Master Gardener to tend to our garden, pruning away the weeds of selfish ambition and nurturing the seeds that align with His purpose – ultimately, flourishing for His glory and our good!
|
In Matthew 16:24, Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow Him. Surrendering our desires involves laying them at the foot of the cross, acknowledging that God's plan surpasses our finite understanding. It's an invitation to trust that His ways are higher, and His dreams for us are greater than we can even fathom. (Isaiah 55:9)
|
Consider the story of Abraham and Sarah in the book of Genesis. Their desire for a child seemed unattainable in their old age, yet in their eventual surrender to God's timing, Isaac (the child God had promised) was born (Genesis 21:1-22:19). When we surrender our desires, we make room for God's miraculous work in our lives.
|
Today, let's continually choose surrender over control, trust over anxiety, and God's pleasing and perfect will over our own. As we celebrate the gift of life on this special day, may our surrender be a sweet aroma to our Father in heaven, bringing joy to the heart of our Creator. In relinquishing our desires, we open ourselves to the abundant life God has prepared for each one of us.
|
Heavenly Father, help me surrender my desires to you. Please purify them. Root out the desires that do not honor you and are not profitable for my spiritual growth. Plant within me Christlike desires that will bring you glory and joy to my heart. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.
|
|
|
|
Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Food Pantry
|
|
Join us this Tues from 4:30-6:30 PM at the Civic Center for an opportunity to serve our community at the mobile food pantry. Sign up here!
|
|
|
The Table
|
|
Women of Waverly - it's not too late to join us as we dive into the topic of discipleship using the “Better Together Discipleship Guide” from Daily Grace to guide our discussion and learning. We will meet Jan. 15 at 7 PM in the home of Sara Corcoran. (email us for address)
|
|
|
|
|
Growth Groups
|
|
If you've been looking for a way to get connected, join a Growth Group this year! We currently have small groups that meet Sundays and Wednesdays and are always looking for those who want help to start up their own!
|
|
|
Just For Fun
|
|
If you haven't had enough of Christmas music yet, here's Tim Hawkins (Christian comedian) breaking down and questioning some of the lyrics in one of our beloved Christmas classics.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
