Today, in a rare instance, I am opening up my blog to a guest poster. She is excited to get her book out into the world, “My 30-Day Journey to a Fulfilled Life.” Welcome Ifeoma! More details on her book here.
Post by Ifeoma Ezitonye-Samuel
The harder I worked, the more pressured and tense I became.
Cracking, under the pressure of doing things my way, I was slipping into disappointment.
The harder I fought, the more difficult the situation became.
I was focusing too much on me.
This New Year was supposed to be about me!
My goals and not anyone else’s! Selfish? Maybe.
If you have ever given up your personal desires you understand my shoes. If you have laid down your time, efforts and sacrificed your space and comfort for others, then you can relate to my thoughts.
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (2 John 3:16)
You see, everything was tilted – towards me – and in my mind I had the right to justify my actions. I acted defensively.
Until God reminded me of this scripture:
For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. (Hebrews 6:10)
So I struggled within me to surrender my selfish intentions.
Saying, Lord, I want “me-time”. I have been handling everyone’s business.
When am I going to handle mine?
Can I get on with my own business without
receiving your nod of approval?
And God answered.
He showed me that he doesn’t cheat his people.
He will never use you, only to discard you when he is done.
He rewards every labor in the vineyard.
You see, I can’t control what happens in my day
but I can choose to commit my day into His unfailing hands.
Does this mean we don’t set plans?
The truth is: God’s counsel will stand regardless of our plans.
We all want things to go the way we plan, but God’s way of settling issues in our lives may be very different, more profitable and even peaceful than we ever considered.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (Jeremiah 29:11)
The moment I start to control, I remember that God is in charge and not me. This gives me the peace required for that situation. I am free from the burden of control.
We experience freedom
when we yield to His counsel for our lives.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to surrender to your will for my life.
Heavenly Father, I enjoy peace and freedom from yielding my life to you in Jesus Name.
Do you ever struggle to yield yourself to God’s agenda for your life?
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Well I have been there! Asking myself those questions! Feeling tired of being there for everyone and in the need of that “me time”. I have had plans, but I get disappointing when they don’t go the way I expected. I have had trusted in myself! And that needed to change. I needed to the let the open door in every aspect of my life, so God can come and do what He does best: provide me with peace, resting in Him and not trusting in my own strength. Today I had this feeling, of “I need my time” or “I need to retire”, but every time I think about that there was someone calling me because they needed someone to talk and there I was just listening and giving words of comfort, when I knew I needed them too! I had plans, but He changed them for me, because I decided one day “I want to do your will, not mine”. I started controlling my time, but He always reminds me, in some way or another that HE IS CONTROL and that I must rest in HIM. Thanks for this post, I see there is no comments, but I have received today what I needed from God. Thanks and blessings… Keep writing for His Glory.
Love and Blessings,
Tayrina from TGAWrites.
I am so glad to hear that this post spoke to you Tayrina. He is in control and he loves you so much.
Ifeoma, this is a daily battle for me. Every, single day I have to hand my day over to God. Sometimes I do it several times in the day. My human nature leans to controlling my circumstances but God shows me time and time again that I can trust Him with everything.
Thank you for sharing this reminder.
xoxo
Jennifer, thank you so much for joining us here. Yes, we have to keep on handing over again and again and again. I think real faith strides are made in this spirit. Come join us for the linkup today!
Oh Amen! Ifeoma, I love your honesty here! I think we have ALL felt that conflict and that pull! Our illusion of having control sometimes is strong, isn’t it? Great post! (We are neighbors in the link-up today! How fun that your site led me right back here!)
Thank you Karrilee. It is a mean green monster that comes to take us away from Jesus. I hate that thing! I love you though. I love that God brought me to my knees to see all my sisters for who they are not what they do. XOXO
This spoke to my heart as I’ve been struggling with the same issues lately. I want to “Fix” stuff that truly is out of my control and I have no business messing with. I can’t see beyond my nose, but God knows it all and knows the best for me and my family. I need to trust Him and not pout when I perceive with my limited mind that I didn’t get my way.
I know it is hard Debbie. It is easy to fix things and to work and to strive. I understand, I really do. God knows it all, you are so right. May you press into his love and hold fast to his embrace. Praying for you right now.
I have been reading an old book called “Abandonment to Divine Providence” and it keeps reminding me of these same truths: that to surrender to God’s will is the best place we can be. It’s not easy to do, but I know it will be for my good. Thanks for your encouragement!
Sounds like an awesome book Lisa. We can never go wrong with surrender and surrender and surrender. Thank you for bringing my heart back to this place! Cheering your encouraging words.