Surrender, Obedience, Righteousness, Love

[All scriptures quoted are from the NIV translation, unless indicated otherwise. My insertions are underline, and I have included my highlighting for emphasis.]

I include selected scriptures here to illustrate some of God’s guidance in these areas.

Intentionally seek God’s deeper meaning in scripture by looking at various translations and commentaries, and summarize all this for yourself to reflect your understanding.

Proverbs 2:1-5 “My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding , and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as if for silver and search for it as if for hidden treasure , then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.”

Jesus’ most important commandments in the New Testament are contained in Mark 12:29-31 “The most important one,…Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”

Fully surrender each situation to God, trusting in Him to work things for our good in His time and way, requesting His peace and strength as we wait in faith, also asking for clarity of His will and plans and to give us conviction accordingly.

Per Google search, “To surrender in spirituality and religion means that a believer completely gives up his own will and subjects his thoughts, ideas, and deeds to the will and teachings of a higher power. It may also be contrasted with Submission. Surrender is willful acceptance and yielding to a dominating force and their will. And Obeying God means moving aside and allowing God—His Word, His Holy Spirit and His way of operating—to move in our lives. It means trusting (having faith) that He will be true to His Word. ... We cannot claim to love God without obeying Him and His Word”

Philippians 4:6-9 ”Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Isaiah 40:31 “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength,”

John 10:27-28 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.”

Romans 10:17 “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”

James 1:22 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things (food, clothing, health) will be given to you as well.”

Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

Proverbs 21:21 “He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity (or righteousness) and honour.”

A righteous person not only does the right thing for other people, but also ensures that he follows God’s teachings so that he is in right standing with God.

Isaiah 58:11 “The Lord will guide you continually,”

Proverbs 16:1 NLT “We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer.”

Proverbs 16:9 “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.”

Step out in faith, and he will meet, equip and use you. Walk in step with the Holy Spirit and you will see the Fruits of the Spirit grow and flourish in you.

Galatians 5: 25 “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

This is not intended to be any form of a prosperity message. Life and our faith journey in particular are full of challenging experiences. In John 16:33 Jesus says “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”