Tag: surrender

October 1, 2025 Tuesday's Meeting Post a Comment

Surrendered Strength: Letting the Holy Spirit Live in You

Opening Scripture:

Romans 8:7 (NKJV)
“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.”

The Battle Within

Why is it so hard to live right? Why do we keep falling into the same sins, fears, or attitudes, even when we want to change?

The Bible gives us the answer. Our flesh, or sinful nature, fights against God. It does not just ignore His ways. It actively resists them. The carnal mind is not just weak. It is an enemy of God. And in our own strength, we cannot change it.

This truth humbles us. No amount of willpower or effort can overcome the flesh. That is why trying harder is not the solution. Surrendering deeper is.

The Power of the Holy Spirit

Jesus knew we could not live this life by our own power. That is why He promised to send the Holy Spirit. He said:
“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.” (John 14:16)

The Holy Spirit is not just a quiet presence. He is our Comforter, our Teacher, and our Strength.

  • He comforts us when we are broken.

  • He teaches us God’s truth.

  • He gives us power to live in victory over sin.

But the Spirit does not push us. He leads us gently. It is up to us to follow. The Bible says,
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” (Romans 8:14)

Surrender is Daily

Surrender is not a one-time moment. It is something we must do every day. Jesus said,
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)

Each day we must choose to let go of:

  • Our own plans

  • Our fears

  • Our pride

  • Our self-effort

When we surrender, we open the door for God to work in our lives. The Bible reminds us,
“With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

Let Him Truly Live in You

Ask yourself:

  • Am I letting the Holy Spirit guide my decisions?

  • Do I pray daily, or only when I feel desperate?

  • Are there areas of my life I have not given fully to God?

God does not just want to be near us. He wants to live in us and work through us. Paul wrote,
“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)

If the Spirit lives in you, then let Him lead. Let Him fill your thoughts, your choices, and your actions.

Time to Let Go

If you are tired of struggling in your own strength, it may be time to stop fighting and start trusting.

Let prayer be the place where you release your burdens. Let obedience be the proof of your surrender. Let trust be the way you walk forward each day.

The Christian life is not about your strength. It is about God’s strength in you. Paul said,
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

Prayer

Lord, I admit I cannot live for You in my own strength. My flesh pulls me away, and my pride stands in the way. Today, I choose to surrender. Fill me with Your Spirit. Lead me, guide me, and live through me. Help me to walk with You each day, trusting You more and following You fully. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Closing Verse

“But Jesus looked at them and said to them, ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”
Matthew 19:26 (NKJV)

April 22, 2025 Tuesday's Meeting Post a Comment

Unlocking Spiritual Understanding

Opening Scripture

“But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.'”
— 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NKJV)

Only the Spirit Can Open Your Eyes

You cannot understand the things of God with natural thinking. The wisdom of God is revealed only by the Holy Spirit. There are two spirits at work in the world: one from God, and one from the world. If you follow the world’s way of thinking—logic, tradition, emotion—you will miss what the Spirit is trying to reveal.

Ask the Holy Spirit to sharpen your discernment. Every decision, every relationship, every open or closed door—there is a spiritual reality behind it. Without spiritual eyes, you may mistake resistance for failure or overlook divine guidance in a simple moment.

Ask yourself:

  • Am I seeing with my own understanding, or with spiritual eyes?

  • Do I test what I hear, or just assume it’s God?

True Worship Is Costly, but Worth It

“Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.”
— John 12:3 (NKJV)

Mary’s offering was expensive—so expensive that others criticized her. But Jesus called it beautiful. Worship that pleases God is not cheap. It’s not for show. It’s deeply personal, costly, and often misunderstood.

Worship is not about what others think—it’s about what God sees in your heart. Sacrificial worship shifts atmospheres. It fills the house. It draws heaven’s attention.

Reflection:

  • What am I withholding from God that He’s asking me to lay at His feet?

  • Have I been more concerned with appearance than authenticity in my worship?

Unless It Dies, It Remains Alone

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.”
— John 12:24 (NKJV)

Jesus teaches that life only multiplies through death. You cannot hold onto your own desires and expect spiritual growth. Real transformation requires surrender. That means letting go of comfort, control, and even your own plans.

Dying to self is not about losing who you are—it’s about becoming who God always intended you to be.

Pray this: “Lord, help me die to the things that keep me from You. Make me fruitful through surrender.”

The Fruit Is the Evidence

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.”
— Galatians 5:22 (NKJV)

Spiritual growth is not measured by how much you know—but by how much you reflect Christ. You know the Spirit is working in you when:

  • You love people who are hard to love

  • You have peace even in chaos

  • You respond with patience when it’s easier to react

  • You show kindness without being asked

  • You stay faithful when no one is watching

Fruit doesn’t grow overnight—but it grows surely when the root is deep in God.

Ask God:

  • Which fruit is missing in my life?

  • What needs to be pruned so the fruit can grow?

Let Light Lead You

“I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.”
— John 12:46 (NKJV)

Jesus came to pull you out of darkness—out of confusion, tradition, and fear. He came to guide you with clarity and truth. But light only helps when you walk in it. If you know the truth but don’t respond to it, the light has no effect.

Step into the light. That means obedience, not just understanding.

Final Encouragement:

  • Stay surrendered

  • Stay sensitive to the Spirit

  • Let God shape you through community and the Word

  • Expect fruit from the seed of sacrifice

Closing Scripture

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
— Galatians 5:25 (NKJV)

January 29, 2025 Tuesday's Meeting Post a Comment

Trusting in God vs. Trusting in Man

Opening Scripture

“Thus says the Lord: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord.’”
— Jeremiah 17:5,7 (NKJV)

The Danger of Trusting in Man

Trusting in people or in our own abilities can lead to disappointment, failure, and even spiritual ruin. The Bible warns that when we rely on human strength alone, we place ourselves in a cursed position. People are flawed, limited, and prone to making mistakes. Even our own wisdom and confidence can mislead us if they are not rooted in God’s truth.

The Blessing of Trusting in God

On the other hand, those who trust in the Lord are blessed. God is unchanging, all-powerful, and always faithful. He sees the full picture of our lives and guides us according to His perfect plan. When we depend on Him, we receive security, peace, and strength that no human effort can provide.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
— Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

Seeking God’s Presence for Guidance

God desires to lead us, but we must make the effort to seek Him. Prayer and time in His Word allow us to hear His voice clearly. The enemy will try to keep us distracted and distant from God because he knows that when we are close to the Lord, we gain strength and discernment to overcome temptation and hardship.

God’s Plan Requires Cooperation

God has a purpose for each of us, but we must be willing to follow His process. Sometimes, His guidance requires patience, faith, and endurance. The enemy tries to fight our prayer life because he knows that through prayer, we receive wisdom, direction, and power to resist his attacks.

“Be still, and know that I am God.”
— Psalm 46:10 (NKJV)

Stillness before God allows us to hear His voice and understand His plan. If we rush ahead without waiting on Him, we risk stepping outside of His will.

The Power of Obedience and Faith

True success comes from walking in obedience to God. Those who yield to His Spirit experience divine blessings and provision. The Bible shows countless examples of people who trusted God, obeyed His direction, and saw miraculous breakthroughs.

When we prioritize God over material things and personal ambition, He provides all we need. This requires faith, but God always rewards those who diligently seek Him.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
— Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)

Final Encouragement: Trust in God’s Hands

Like clay in the hands of the potter, we must allow God to shape our lives. If we harden our hearts and resist His molding, we risk becoming useless in His plan. But if we remain humble, willing, and obedient, He will make us into vessels of honor.

“But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand.”
— Isaiah 64:8 (NKJV)

Let’s make the decision today to trust in God completely, seek His presence daily, and obey His voice, knowing that His way is always best.