Wednesday 20 March 2013

The Joy of Yieldedness


I used to have this idea that God's love for me and acceptance of me had to be earned. That His favour and blessings were released on those who performed to His standard and expectations.

I was miserable, to say the least! No matter how hard I tried, I kept feeling that I had failed to achieve the standard that He required of me.

God wasn't the hard taskmaster I had made Him out to be. I was!

It took a paradigm shift and a complete burnout for me to realise that I no longer had to work for His love and approval. The burnout meant that I had neither the energy nor the motivation to do anything, much less perform for anyone.

Isn't it interesting how we often have to reach our lowest in order to tap into what's available all along? To finally stop our futile struggling and discover the ease and joy of yielding to the One who has been trying to impart to us this important truth?

I had to reach the end of myself to discover that I'm called a human BE-ing for a reason: the BE-ing precedes the DO-ing. I can't do until I first discover who I am in Him.

I am a child of the Most High God (Ps 82:6b) forgiven (Eph 4:32), loved (I John 3:1), and cherished (Eph 5:29). I am more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37); I will not be crushed or destroyed (2 Cor 4:8,9). His strength is made perfect in my weakness (2 Cor 12:9). I can trust Him to work good out of whatever situation I find myself in (Rom 8:28) because He is for me (Rom 8:31). His thoughts of me are all good and filled with hope for the future (Jer 29:11). I can totally entrust myself to the One who has loved me with an everlasting love (Jer 31:3) and who will restore health to me and heal me of my wounds (Jer 31:17). The list goes on....

Out of the BE-ing flows the DO-ing.

From time to time, I still need to be reminded not to rush ahead of Him and get back into the performance-oriented rut that I used to be in.

As I sit at His feet, bask in His presence, and soak up His love for me, I can even be thankful for the burnout that has brought me to this place.

The place where I am discovering the gift of total surrender, complete abandon, and the joy of yieldedness.

The place where everything that I do flows from.....


...He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you in his love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” ~ Zephaniah 3:17 ~

Linking up with:

6 comments:

  1. oh yes, friend. exactly this.
    may we live broken so we can find ourselves made whole. great post.

    ReplyDelete
  2. "Out of the BE-ing flows the DO-ing." So true! Thank you for this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So glad you liked it, Angel! Thank you for your comment.
      Blessings to you, Sara

      Delete
  3. Such a wonderful discovery, one most of us have to learn. Sweet Sara, I have a daughter Sara, a sister Sara, and I had a grandma Sara. No wonder I clicked on your blog from Holley's place. Thank you for reminding me just being quiet and listening for God is good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ooh, a family of Sara's - I almost feel like I belong! So glad you dropped by. God bless you heaps!
      Love, Sara

      Delete