I Surrender… I Just Want Gods’ Best!
“ I Surrender to you Lord, I want what you want for my life. You know the desires of my heart and I trust you. You’ve already spoken and I need to surrender and know that when your involved all is well with my soul” (GLP Founder Zalia Monteiro)
Surrendering to God is probably one of the best things I could have done. Trying to control and take charge of your life sounds good in thought but in reality brings nothing but chaos, heartbreak, and can cause a lot of conflict. I’m currently in a place of “Surrender”, (if I had to give my life a title that would be it). For years I tried to manipulate and control things regardless of God already speaking a word, I would try to make his word come to pass on MY TIME!! What a mistake that was. You cannot rush God, let alone try to manipulate and trick God into doing things your way and on YOUR time, while trying to mask it as “waiting on Gods time”. I know sometimes waiting can feel like nothing is happening or even worse you’ve been forgotten but that’s not the case.
If anyone knows about “Waiting” it is yours truly. I am currently single and have been single for sometime now. I know that I am to be married because God said it. When I first received the word from the Lord saying that I was going to be married and to get myself together/prepare myself for marriage I was 19 years old and a junior in college. Little did I know that would not be the last time I would hear those words. For years I would receive the same word “your husband is coming and to get ready”, now in the natural you would think I could meet him this year, or next year or the year after, but when it comes to God being involved in the process it does not happen like you think it will or when you think it will. God does things in EXCELLENCE. Fast Forward, I am now 30 years old,11 years later, and my husband has yet to come. Your probably thinking “dang sis why is it taking so long” believe me I think the same thing sometimes. Looking back I was no where near ready for what God has for me, there was a lot of things that I had to work though, areas of growth, and maturity, and I was not at a place where God could TRUST me with what he promised me, and if God would have given me my hearts desire when I wanted it I would have damaged the man, the marriage, myself, our children ect.
Could you imagine receiving word after word about something you desire and years pass and nothing comes to fruition? How would you have handled that? Is the word surrender even in thought? Or are you frustrated and feeling defeated? Because frustration and defeat was something I felt constantly and knew all too well.
I want to share something with my singles. When you are waiting for God to bring you your spouse it is important that you seek God first in ALL things, communicate with God before doing anything pertaining to your hearts desire, if you have questions about what you should do seek his word the answer is there. DO NOT take advice from just ANYONE!!! make sure its a trusted leader in your church, a friend/ family member/someone who you know hears from God and has a personal relationship with Him, and of course pray and ask God for clarification. People will give you advice on what THEY think you should do, make sure to use discernment, if something they say does not sit well with you go to God. If God already spoke to you concerning your future and things to come, what they say does not mater and does not hold weight like Gods promises.
Also, its important to serve in your church, stay busy, don’t sit around and wait to be found, go out with friends, coffee shops, the gym, travel, get to know yourself / self-seeking ect. God knows how to find you and bring you guys together.
Now back to Surrendering…. I had to get knocked down a few times and my feelings hurt to understand that I need to surrender my hearts desires, thought, emotions, everything to God. My way was not working. I feel like I had to get to a point with tears in my eyes, heart broken, and just frustrated that I told God “THATS IT! I GIVE UP! I SURRENDER”. The fact that I kept setting myself up for failure was getting old.
“Cast your burden on the Lord (release it) and He will sustain and uphold you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken (slip, fall, fail). ”
What does surrender look like? Surrender is when you let go of the control and place it in Gods hands, not looking back but trusting that He will do what He says. Surrender is when you change the way you see things and allow God to shape our worldview. God will make your desires for his purpose in your life match his will for you. You will want God’s best. When you surrender to God your eyes are opened and you are able to see things in a different light. Things you thought were ok while in your flesh, you will see God was not apart of and did no co-sign your activities.
There may be something that looks, feel or sounds like a good idea, and you may even think that God wants you to have it, but the timing could be off. There are somethings that we want and we want it so bad to the point where we will do anything to get it, but you may not be ready. There are things that you have to do or work on ( get in preparation for ) before you can be entrusted with Gods best.
Also, with surrendering you have to be at a point where if God says no, or decides to do something in a way that is not common or in our natural minds doesn’t make sense, you have to be ok with that because you trust and know that God is going to give you the best. Like I stated before, God does not do anything “common”. God knows how to knock your socks off if you choose to set your hearts and mind on the things of Christ and obey. Gods thoughts are not our thoughts and his ways are not our ways. If God says no that means he has something greater instore and what you desire or want is not his best for you.
One thing I have learned is that if God can’t trust you with the little he can’t trust you with much. The word says “to whom much is given, much is required” (Luke 12:48). Are you ready for that? So its important to surrender everything to God and make sure that God is involved. You will save yourself a lot of frustration and disaster.
So starting today, let’s surrender our plans, ideas, thoughts to God. Allow God to be God and just be obedient. Don’t move until God says move, be sensitive to his voice and spirit. In due time you will be walking in Gods best.
“For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you; says the LORD , plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
I love you all,
xoxo… Z.M. <3
