Surrender.

In the Christian life, surrender ISN'T about giving up but giving TO, in this walk with the Lord, giving it TO God.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. -Hebrews 11:1

This is what faith consists of: ASSURANCE and CONVICTION. Of what? Things we hoped for. God's promises is what fuels the fire of hope. Things not seen. It wouldn't be called faith if we didn't see it yet. That's why when we see Jesus, out of the three virtues of faith, hope, and love- love remains. So the question is, in our lives, do we have assurance and conviction of what God has promised in His Word- spoken and written? Here's an example of faith illustrated in the same chapter:

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. -Hebrews 11:17-19

Abraham was promised a son that God promised many nations will be birthed from. Abraham waited decades upon decades with no results. And finally the promised was born- literally. Abraham named him Isaac. Abraham dearly loved him. But God told him to offer up or give it TO Him. Abraham was never called to give up on the promise but give the promise to God. It was a test of Abraham's loyalty and faith. It was to see if Abraham was assured of the promises God spoke to him and to see if he was convinced that God was still good even though it didn't make sense at that time.

Abraham was tested twice.

First- the test of patience in awaiting the promise. As far as I know, Abraham never wavered in the promise of God for a son to be given to him. He got a little impatient and took matters into his own hands and that resulted in disaster. But God still had grace on him and the promise of the one to come still was there.

Second- the test of giving the promise to the One who made the promise. Abraham's promised son was finally born. And Abraham loved him dearly. In fact the Bible described Abrham's son, Isaac as "the son whom Abraaham dearly loved." Don't we love what God promised?? But God tested Abraham yet again. This time He called Abraham to offer up/give to Him to be sacrificed. I don't know what was going on in Abraham's mind but Abraham was quick to obey because he went the very next morning. But Abraham believed that God was good and even if Isaac was going to be killed, God will give him back anyways. Abraham believed Isaac was going to be raised from the dead! So Abraham offered up his son as a sacrifice and as he was raising the knife to sacrifice Isaac, an angel told him to stop seeing that Abraham's faith was evident. Isaac NEVER died. No resurrection was necessary. Abraham was a happy man and I'm pretty sure Isaac was too! LOL

Now that's faith right there! And faith is what pleases God!!

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. -Hebrews 11:6

In my own life, I've been tested and struggled with patience regarding relationships with girls. Even before I became a Christian, I always felt that God has "the one" for me out there. But due to my impatience and lack of discernment in hearing God's voice, I took matters into my own hands, like Abraham. And the results were not very good. I'm not going to get into details but it did end up with broken hearts both ways, compromises, and a world of hurt and pain. But God still had so much grace on me. He kept promising of "the one" to come for me.

Now, the promise has been birthed. As you can see from my previous posts, God has given me "the one". God confirmed it many times and I'm so much at peace and in .... with HER. But I'm at the second testing, just like Abraham. Am I willing to offer up/give to God "this"? Am I going to see Him as good and knowing He will still give back what He promised to give me in the first place?

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To YOU:

I was just thinking about this topic earlier today, even before you blogged it. I was going to blog it tomorrow but since the topic was brought up, I decided to go at it.

YOU said in your blog "How close is my heart to the Lord, to say I am willing to give up EVERYTHING... i mean even "this" for my Lord?" Maybe you mean giving TO, not giving up. God has called us never to give up what He promised. He decreed it and we must not waver on what He declared and promised. But what we are called to do is give "this" TO Him. Everything. And we have to BELIEVE that when we give it TO Him, He will give "this" back to us. Pure. Refined. Full of <3. Pleasing to the Lord.

Your post kind of scared me at first because I thought YOU were going to do what I feared the most- giving up but not giving TO. But further reading YOUR post, I'm glad YOU clarified it.

I'm still struggling with assurance and conviction to be honest. My faith in God is really being tested everyday. As I type it's a struggle because I desperately want to take it into my own hands. I don't have it nailed down quite yet. I only blog this because in reality, I preach to myself first. But deep in my heart, I'm believe in "this" and for "this".

I'm not giving up but everyday will give TO God.

Taking it day by day and pacing myself...

Miss na miss kita.

SOON and very SOON, I'll see YOU.

<3