Photo by Jackson Summer on Unsplash
I stood there all alone, though surrounded by hundreds of people. God, the Holy Spirit engulfed my being as I stepped into a realm I can only describe as “other worldly.”
It was intense. I knew I was in God’s presence, although I did not see any image; I didn’t need to, because I knew. It was a knowing that welled up from deep within my being.
“I surrender, Lord,” I said. “My life is yours.”
The experience of that moment lingered for days, then slowly began to fade.
It wasn’t long after that reality set in, and familiar patterns began to welcome me back.
“Just hit the snooze button,” that familiar voice whispered. “You can spend time in the bible later.”
The thought rumbled loud and clear, “My stomach tells me we are not eating. Are you crazy? You know how cranky you get when you don’t eat.”
“Are you going to let that guy get away with that? He just cut you off,” my mind screamed. “Run up behind him, and show him you aren’t going to put up with it.”
These are just a few of the thoughts that attacked my surrender to the Lord.
They are thoughts I have battled most of my life, and they couldn’t care less that I surrendered to the Lord.
When I was younger in my walk with the Lord, things like this frustrated me because I (incorrectly) thought that once I said “yes” to Jesus, all the old stuff would go away.
Have you found that it isn’t the case?
So, what are you supposed to do?
The first thing you do is turn to the Word of God.
(A brief rabbit trail)
If your knowledge of the Bible is limited, it is essential to turn to someone who can help you find Bible verses and stories to help you.
In the New Testament book of Matthew, Jesus had a similar experience.
After fasting and praying for an extended period, he was confronted by the devil. The Bible does not clarify if it was an actual physical confrontation (which will come to a point in a moment).
“Next Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the test. The devil was ready to give it.
Jesus prepared for the test by fasting forty days and forty nights. That left him, of course, in a state of extreme hunger,
which the devil took advantage of in the first test: “Since you are God’s Son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread.”
Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.”
Matthew 4:1-4 The Message
This happened three times, and Jesus quoted the Word of God each time.
The point is, the first thing you are to do is speak the Word of God, which is why the earlier rabbit trail.
Hit the snooze button.
“I’m single-minded in pursuit of you; don’t let me miss the road signs you’ve posted.
I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won’t sin myself bankrupt. ”
Psalms 119:10-11 The Message
“Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple.
II Timothy 2:15 The Message
Are you fasting?
“When you practice some appetite-denying discipline to better concentrate on God, don’t make a production out of it. It might turn you into a small-time celebrity but it won’t make you a saint.
If you ‘go into training’ inwardly, act normal outwardly. Shampoo and comb your hair, brush your teeth, wash your face. ”
Matthew 6:16-17 The Message
“Stay alert; be in prayer so you don’t wander into temptation without even knowing you’re in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything from God. But there’s another part that’s as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire.”
Matthew 26:41 The Message
Are you going to let him get away with that?
“In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others.
If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part. ”
Matthew 6:14-15 The Message
The second thing you do is run.
“Friend, don’t waste a minute, get yourself out of that mess. You’re in that man’s clutches! Go, put on a long face; act desperate.
Don’t procrastinate – there’s no time to lose.
Run like a deer from the hunter, fly like a bird from the trapper! ”
Proverbs 6:3-5 The Message
“But you, Timothy, man of God: Run for your life from all this. Pursue a righteous life – a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. ”
I Timothy 6:11 The Message
You are to fight against the devil, which often manifests as thoughts and images (as seen in Jesus’ wilderness testing), by speaking the Word of God and utilizing the spiritual warfare given to us.
So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the devil throws your way.
Ephesians 6:11 The Message
But it is not wise to place yourself in harm’s way. It is far better to run from it.
The third thing you do is surround yourself with like-minded faith-minded Christ-followers.
“Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:”
II Peter 2:1 The New International Version
“Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out,
not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching. ”
Hebrews 10:24-25 The Message
The call of the Spirit is going out across the land for light bearers and (wisdom-speaking) truth givers to bring the words of life to a lost and dying world—one person at a time.
The journey is exciting and scary, and I am thankful for everyone willing to follow along as I take it.