Read with me, “My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways.” Proverbs 23:26

So often we are invested in making a mark on the earth. We become consumed with doing things for God, for others, for ourselves. The concepts of moving up and forward take foremost priority in our pursuit of significance. We are so busy doing, that we often neglect to be. How often do you initiate actions due to a promised reward? How often do you do accept additional pressure to perform tasks, based on the premise that there is gold at the end of the rainbow? We have allowed fairy tales to replace the word of God in our lives. He tells us to give Him everything, and to rest. We have adopted this fevered rush to do as much for God as we possibly can, all in an attempt to store up reward for one day. But in our frantic pursuit of gold, we have failed to see the delight there is in Him, right here, right now.

If the idea of doing less sparks fear in your heart, fear of repercussion, of eternal repercussions, I want to ask you again, why are you doing the things you are doing. Let me remind you that God is not sitting in judgment waiting for you to fail at simple tasks in order to withhold what He has already, freely and lovingly, given you. He is not a man that lies, He will not dishonor the price Christ paid by refusing you His love and mercy. He isn’t small minded, He isn’t petty. On the contrary, He rejoices over us, even when we have done nothing – NOTHING- to deserve it.  If grace has saved us, we cannot now maintain His good grace by doing things, we cannot now twist His arm for favor and favors. Stop living only for one day, for a reward in heaven, for what you store up. He is good, and He is here now.

He is inviting you to give your heart. There is beauty in surrender. I want you to notice that delight in Him and His way of doing comes after we have surrendered our hearts to Him. He emphasizes the idea that His ways are good and delightful. He also emphasizes the need to surrender your ways, first. Can you, today, surrender your WHY? Are you capable of laying down your motivations and see His way in your day? If you are driven to the point of exhaustion by doing works, surrender it to Him today. Let Him be the keeper of your heart, and see where He leads you to do and be. The reward?  Him. What do you get out of it? The delight of His presence! Is He still enough? Is He what your heart desires? Are you doing the work so you can one day be with Him, or are you doing the work because you are in Him, today? He has an uncanny way of calling us to rest, and to do less. He has such a delightful way of quieting the insistence of the world that says, “if you do more, you will have more.” This is the lie of a worldly system, the truth of the word says, “do less, be with me, see more.”

Surrender means to give over control of something. I want to challenge you today to hand over your heart – your feelings, intentions, business, life, work, children, faith, perspectives, etc. – to Him, and ask Him to show you what to do, by first doing nothing out of your own ideas. Give Him control of the outcome.  If we no longer have control over the outcome of our eternity, and allow Him to be the God that keeps promises, we get to live for Him in the moment. If our concern for one day is replaced with intentionally living in the moment, we get to delight in everyday life, unburdened by what is not in our control. In your heart, allow the belief that He is a man that keeps His promises and that your future, both here and eternal, is safe with Him. Live your everyday in Him, allow His love to compel you to love those around you, simply because He is good. When HE holds your heart doubt becomes very difficult, and affection is easy. Give it to Him, surrender, and let your eyes see His way of doing and loving, without the need and idea of reward.  

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20