Day 10: The heart of worship

"Give yourselves to God … surrender your whole being to him and be used for righteous purpose."Romans 6:1 (TEV)

So, if the heart of worship is not singing the latest songs, then what is it? Rick Warren challenges us to look deeply at true worship and that true worship=surrender. I agree that in our culture the word surrender is negative, implies, losing, giving in and giving up. However, in the heavenly realms it is only in our surrender to God that we can find our purpose, peace and joy.

I was struck by Rick Warren's statement "look at Christ with his arms outstretched on the cross saying, "I love you this much! I'd rather die than live without you."" It's true, this is what Jesus said and did for each and everyone of us. "I'd rather die, than live without you." So, if Christ's love is so deep what prevents us from total surrender. Rick Warren says three things: fear, pride and confusion.

In order to surrender you just need to walk through it. There is no magic, no guarantees, no 3 steps or 7 promises. It is believing what God is saying and walking in it. Many of you know that when we came to Antioch, Noel was working for a large firm making a six figure salary. I had it all planned out in my head. I remember the process and that I was not in agreement with Pastoring a church, but Noel refused to do it without my consent and commitment. I asked God to speak to me and he did, very clearly. I remember that there was no way to keep the two lives, the corporate life and the Pastor life. With a one year old and a new mortgage, that was several thousands of dollars more than the salary he was offered, we just took the plunge and just believed that the God that was directing our path, would supply our needs. I was scared and I was worried and I wasn't sure how things would work out, but I just walked ahead and believed. Ten years later I can stand strong and say that God has been more than faithful. It wasn't the way I planned it, but it has been great. That is hindsight, when you are doing it all the fears and anxieties rear their ugly head. 

I wish there was an easy way to surrender. Surrender means to believe in God, to walk in his promises. It means to walk away from things that are not edifying and to challenge relationships, to place everything from your career, to your education, to your job and your friends in His hands. It means commitment to pray and seek God.

Recently, Matthew and I went to open up a bank account for him. However, he was concerned that the bank account was linked to me. He wasn't sure if I wouldn't "steal his money." The only thing that I could say to Him was that I loved him and that he needed to trust me. He said to me, "even though my brain is saying don't trust you, I'm going to do it." This is  similar to surrendering to God, our brain and heart screams all the reasons why not to move forward, but if we just do it, we will see how immense and good is His love.

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