I surrender!
Today my prayer overflows with sadness and pain. I have failed again. Oh, if only we could see we can not do anything of ourselves.
We cannot do even a little tiny bit.
We are unable to make things happen according to our own idea of ‘right’.
When we have tried as hard as we can to get it right – and still mess it up once again, I pray that we would surrender to God’s plan, and that we would not dare try to figure out why and make a new plan…
Not make a list of what to say and what not to say…
Not make a new chore schedule…
Not get that herb that is supposed to calm you…
Not try to be stronger.
None of this will ensure success in being that excellent woman, wife or mother we envisioned.
Still, we will fail.
It is my prayer that we will recognize it now and surrender…
That problem of always thinking ‘I’ can do it, with Jesus’ help.
Because we can’t. We can only do it through Jesus.
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that come through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” ~ Philippians 1: 9-11
We need Him every step of the way.
I simply cannot live this life without Him filling me up.
Without His direction. Without surrender. Without remaining in the Word. (John 15: 4-5)
Today is gone. I did not listen well. I did not always answer in patience.
It was Sunday when we worship as a family, yet my tired mind and body was not fully focused on Christ.
Our young people are normal, very human children. I was not thankful.
I have failed.
But our LORD sees us in our condition, and He loves us anyway.
So let’s surrender it all at His feet now. I pray that we will just cling to Jesus!
That we will let Him direct our moments and our days.
That we accept our total weakness and let Him turn our ashes into beauty.
That He will restore the years the locusts have eaten…
When no good can come from my earthly self, His love will shine through me.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” ~Matthew 11: 28-30
“It is not my ability, but my response to God’s ability, that counts.” ~Corrie ten Boom
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Thanks for reading!
Lisa says
Thanks for these sweet, encouraging words this morning. ~Lisa
Julie says
Wow, was that timely, or what?? For me, this is what I needed to read this morning. I read my Bible this morning for the first time in a week. I usually read my Bible once the kids are at school, but last week was Spring Break and we were going and going and going all week. And last week my mind was just not focused on God, and on the upcoming Resurrection Sunday. Even yesterday at church I wasn’t focused because I was in the nursery both services, it just didn’t feel like my heart was where it should be. I felt like a big failure for sure, if I wasn’t directing my thoughts towards Christ then obviously I wasn’t directing my kids’ hearts to Christ either. So it was so good and needful to start my morning with prayer and Bible study, it felt like I was taking a cool drink of water after being parched for so long. I’m so thankful for God’s forgiveness, his grace and mercy too.
Thank you for this post!
Jacqueline says
Julie, Don’t let satan steal your joy! “Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you.” I am laying down many things, too. You would think that at my age, I’d have it all figured out! ~~I am praying for you right now, dear sister. Love in Jesus, Jacqueline
Judith says
This is so true and so thoughtfully put. So encouraging!! Thanks!!
Jacqueline says
Judith, God’s love is so kind, but persistent. He just takes us deeper and farther in…He is gentle and patient, and SO merciful. Bless you.
Naomi says
Thankfully…God’s grace is abundant for us mothers. Thank you for the prayer Jacqueline. Have a blessed day.
Dana Adams says
Amen.
Rhonda Devine says
Yes, so true that only in Him can we be effective mothers and wives.
May He strengthen our hands for the task!
Nicole @ Working Kansas Homemaker says
We more and more need to cling to Jesus, to spend time with Him every single day, in His word and on our knees. We simply cannot be who He desires us to be without HIM! Thank you for this sweet reminder friend. -Nicole @ Working Kansas Homemaker
Cheryl @Treasures from a Shoebox says
“…We would dare not try to figure out why and make a new plan…
Not make a list of what to say and what not to say…
Not make a new chore schedule…
Not get that herb that is supposed to calm you…
Not try to be stronger.”
That is so me! I failed big time on Resurrection Sunday as well and have been living in that defeat since, with sleepless nights and regret. Thank you for this prayer and understanding.
Jacqueline says
Cheryl, May your heart rest in Him, dear one. Don’t let satan steal your joy! I am laying down many things, too. You would think that at my age, I’d have it all figured out! ~~He just takes us deeper and farther in…He is gentle and patient, and SO merciful. Bless you.
Karen says
Jackie! Such an excellent post! A wonderful reminder that it is not about what I have or have not done, but what Jesus has done for me. It is so easy to get into a “works” mentality instead of a “relationship” mentality. Jesus saved me and it is His work in me. I work, but the work I do is in response to His awesome love for me.
Something that my husband keeps reminding me is that when I see that I have fallen short again…I’m proving the scriptures to be true and right. I can’t do anything without the Lord. My very breath is from Him!
I love those verses from Matthew 11…the most amazing thing is that He has revealed Himself to us…
“I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and REVEALED them to LITTLE CHILDREN; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son CHOOSES to reveal him.” It is in this wonderful joy of knowing Him that we have strength to look up and rejoice that He loves us, not condemns us (John 3:17-18)…Praise the Lord, He is so good! 🙂
Jacqueline says
Oh, Karen,
I am in tears over the beauty of our Lord. He is worthy! He is worthy!
Karen says
Amen!! I thank the Lord for you, Jackie. You are such a faithful, humble, loving and dear sister and friend. I so appreciate you and the things that you share! Blessings on you today!
Heather Anderson says
This is truly what my soul has needed. It is so easy to see all that I am not doing right and I (WE) need to remember that we can’t do anything right without the Lord. He is my strength and salvation! I am grateful for your wise words.
Breezy says
This is precisely what the Lord has been teaching me the past few days. Thank you!
Much love,
Breezy
Michele says
My heart is heavy but your words spoke.directly to me. We have 4 children and our son has anxiety. We have tried everything to.treat it and it has not.improved. I realized after this evening my husband plays a huge role with his screaming. I have begged, pleaded, threatened…for him.to.stop, just to.stop. I see the unraveling and I am near the end of my rope with him. I know deep in my heart with the correct approaches our son’s anxiety would improve. I see him.relax, behave and also respond to my firmness when he misbehaves. I see him tense, swear, scream and hit when he is yelled at, when the approach is dead wrong.
My son would get in the face of a 6’4 grown man if he feels threatened. But if the discipline is with love yet firm he responds.
I.see it with my eyes and in my heart. A mother knows her children and when I.stumbled upon your blog your prayer spoke to my heart.
I am strong with God and my children will learn the ways of Him. Yet their father models aggression, anger and loud words. I pray they learn what is right. I pray that God will.guide me as his wife and I pray that God will.soften his heart and his ways.
Thank you.for your encouragement. Please pray for me, my four children and my husband. That they all follow the gentle ways of Christ.
Jacqueline says
Michele~
I am praying now, dear one.
My father was angry and raised me with a belt and harsh demeaning words. The Lord is still on the throne despite the terror and fear it produces.
Ask the Lord to help you show quiet respect to your husband and to pray with your son for him. Your son will not see duplicity in you if you quietly love him anyway. Perhaps your son will come alongside you in prayer and learn self control, and it will minister to your husband when he can hear himself and how he sounds. We can drown out the Holy Spirit when we fight back with words. Lord, help this family to see you as in Matthew 11: 28-30 “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and lowly in heart…and you will find rest for your souls…”
Rose @ Walnut Acre says
Oh how I needed this tonight. I did blow it today and my response was to sit down and make a new schedule. Thank you for this reminder that it is not through my efforts but instead through His grace that things come right.
Jacqueline says
Sweet Rose, let us pray for each other and ask that the dear Lord will give us the needed grace and have mercy on us! Our hope is in Him alone, sister!
immanuel says
Great one. thank you
Jacqueline says
Thank YOU, Immanuel!
Have a beautiful and blessed day, friend!