God being God, will bring to you what you need.

I asked this morning why I have a hard time with words like “surrender”?

There’s a word picture I’ve painted when I sit and make my list, the prayers and the same old struggles, worries, hopes and fears.

I’ve taken to opening my hand, palm facing up when I pray.

It’s a small thing.

I’m trying to grasp a better understanding of my part in this thing called surrender.

I notice my hands unfolding more now, I’m less likely to be tightly fisted in every occasion requiring I wait or sit still.

The tension releasing, the simple change of unclenching, a tiny thing in my timely transformation.

This morning, I told God

I want peace.

Well, of course you do, don’t we all, I suppose you may be thinking.

Surrender doesn’t mean defeat, not giving up or lying down and curling up fetal.

Surrender means deciding you can handle this better, God. Your skill set so much more developed than mine.

Surrender is the realization you can no longer meet the need of another, or something other.

So, you say, “Here, God.”

My ancient devotional gifted by my wise cousin has verses in translations that are old and sometimes, odd.

Quotes from ancient writers, teachers, theologians and poets often require a whole lot of concentration.

Read. Ponder. Read.

The topic today? Fretting.

Fret not thyself, it tendeth only to evil-doing. Psalm 37:8 R.V

Spellcheck is confused. Do you mean tends instead of tendeth?

I kinda like the word fret. I totally get its meaning and it reminds me of my grandma.

fret1

fret/

verb

1 1.
be constantly or visibly worried or anxious.”she fretted about the cost of groceries”

2 synonyms:

3 worry, be anxious, feel uneasy, be distressed, be upset, upset oneself, concern oneself;

I see her scurrying around in her kitchen making us all pancakes and bacon and I imagine she’d tell me now.

Stop fretting! It will be alright.

Fretting comes so much more naturally than surrender.

God, being God lined up my lessons this morning. A fellow blogger sent an email out to her subscribers, reminding us to continue even when it feels a strain against your natural flow, that’s transformation in the underneath, there are refinements happening I can’t see.

Then, a Joy and Strength historic quote:

Do not be disquieted about your faults. Love without ceasing, and much will be forgiven you, because you have loved much. Francois de la Mothe Fe’nelon

This fretting thing has clearly been around for ages.

surrender, too.

Decidedly, it’s what we commit to that matters.

What we decide to pursue in our thoughts and actions that will bring peace.

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.

He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself…”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37:4-7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Linking up with Mary Geisen at Tell His Story. Mary compares the back and to of control and surrender to the game on volleyball. It’s an awesome piece reminding me that God has control of the ball.

Tell His Story