Hold Nothing Back!

I just finished this book by Francis Chan called "Crazy Love" and it has challenged me in multiple ways in my faith life. Here's one of the quotes that hit home:

"We try to set our lives up so everything will be fine even if God doesn't come through. But true faith means holding nothing back. It means putting every hope in God's fidelity to His promises."

Throughout the last year of my life, God has been incessantly placing the word "surrender" on my heart. Over and over again, I was being attacked with the message to stop putting my faith in myself and give it ALL to God. Trust Him with my hopes, dreams for the future, job, love life, career path, money, absolutely all of it.

If I dig a bit deeper, God was really working in my life, as a series of events led to my revelation of surrender (the moment when it hit me square in the face and I couldn't avoid such a clear message any longer!). June 26, 2013 was the first time I ever decided to give Jesus 100% of my life. I'd given him parts before, sure. Maybe even 80%, but never had I ever gone all in with Christ. I never gave too much, wanting to avoid the risk of losing (my money, friends, job, life...whatever).

June 26 was when everything came to a halting stop, and for me - it just clicked. My faith in God doesn't have to be questioned when hard times come. His righteousness is proof of his faithfulness. Over and over again, God shows us that He is faithful. We can take Him at His word. His promises are true! We can rest knowing that those promises are for His children, and that good things are yet to come for those who believe in Him.

It's an everyday choice. Just as I have to shower, brush my teeth, and eat breakfast after I have to wake up, I have to consciously decide Jesus over all of the other things this world can offer me -- appealing or not.

But the point of this life is not to arrive safely at death! Live as if God will hold to His promises (because He will!!) and let that faith emulate through ever area of your life. Hold nothing back! No secret sin, no regret, no relationship, no choice. Because, N O T H I N G can separate you from Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-9). You are never too far gone. Today, right here, right now, as you read this blog, Jesus loves you. And He is on your side. He yearns for a relationship with you. He will come through. He HAS come through for you on the cross. Let that soak in. Jesus loves you so much that He would become man, live on this earth, and pay for your ugly sins with His perfect life.

Believe that. Once you truly do, it will change the way you live.