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Day 33 –Absolute SurrenderSaturday August 25
A friend of ours was going through a difficult season of transition. He felt the Lord was calling him to ministry so he could no longer work in his chosen profession. But at the same time he didn’t feel released by the Lord to begin any specific ministry either. So he decided he would just take time and devote himself to seeking the Lord.
One week went by, two weeks, one month, two months, and the Lord was silent. By the end of the third month he was growing desperate. He began to doubt whether he really had heard God. He started to fear that maybe he was losing his mind and only “thought” God was talking to him. He knew of other people who were not mentally stable who believed “God” was talking to them. Like the lady who believed she was the bride of Christ and every morning she would get dressed up in her best clothes and go to the roof of the psychiatric hospital to “wait for Jesus” to return for her. And nothing anyone could say would convince her otherwise. What if this was what was happening to him?
As he was crying out to the Lord to protect his mind, suddenly the Lord gave him a vision. He was standing with his best friend and they were talking and sharing together, exchanging words of love and intimacy. In his hands, he was holding a book in that he knew represented his life. As they continued to talk, his heart was overflowing with love for his friend and he knew that he needed to give the book to his friend as a gift. As he handed it over, he explained to his friend that this book was the most precious thing in his life. The friend was deeply touched and he received the book with joy and great care. But as soon as he had it in his hands, he walked to the other side of the room, tore the book to piece and threw it in the garbage can. Our friend was horrified!
“What are you doing?” he screamed at his friend. “I told you that this is the most precious thing in the world to me, if you love me, why you would destroy it like that?
And his friend looked at him and said, "My dear friend, a few minutes ago this book was yours and you could do with it whatever you like. But once you gave it to me it became mine and what I choose to do with it is no longer your concern.”
Then the vision ended and the Lord spoke clearly to our friend’s heart. “Do you want me to own your life or to rent it? Just imagine, what if I was a famous architect with an excellent talent in design. If I am renting the home that I live in, will the full expression of my talents be seen in that house”.
"No, Lord", he answered.
"But why not? I live there don't I?"
"Yes, but it's not your house so you can’t do whatever you want,” he replied.
"That's right. If I am renting a house I am limited in what I can do - I can make a few improvements – maybe put some paint or add some carpet. But I don’t have the right to make any structural or design changes which is where my true talent lies.
But if I own the house, I can remove walls, put up new ones - I can change the entire structure of the house into the best and most beautiful design. Then when people see the house, my gift will be fully displayed.
“Most Christians, “ He continued, “don't want me to own their lives but only rent. And they wonder why they don’t see the full benefits of My talents as the Great Architect expressed in the design of their lives. So I want to ask you again, do you want me to own your life or rent it?"
Hurts, wounds, disappointments open a door for fear and fear opens the door for control. When we have been hurt we want to maintain control in order to protect ourselves, to prevent ourselves from being hurt again.
This is why during this time of consecration God is exposing the hidden lies of the enemy about who He is and His goodness so that the ties of fear that have bound us might be destroyed. He is shining in our hearts the light of the truth of His Word to deepen our revelation of His character and His love because there is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18
Through this circumcision, we are learning that He is good and we can trust Him and so we are free to surrender completely and fall back into His arms of love.
The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. Deuteronomy 30:6
Today we can choose, free and unfettered by voices of fear, for love’s sake alone, to release our whole lives back to Him. With joy we can receive Him as the architect whose glory will be most magnificently displayed in these jars of clay.
Today and tomorrow, our day of rest, we want to encourage you to take time with the Lord and ask Him to reveal to you anything that may still be hindering you from signing over complete ownership of your life to Him. As things are exposed, ask the Lord to fill you with a greater revelation of who He is and His incomparable love to break the chains of fear. Then surrender that area of your life irrevocably to His ownership and care.
Let’s pray this prayer together: Lord I come to you now and I thank you for
your promise that you would circumcise my heart that I might love you with all
my heart and soul. And that I might truly live. God I declare in the name of
Jesus that I am the temple of the Holy Spirit – my life is Your dwelling place
and I cancel all the hidden, illegal liens of the enemy by which he is seeking
to gain control of my life. Lord I thank you that you flood my heart today with
the light of this simple revelation: You are love. I know that Your love has
the power to drive out any and all fear.
Come In and Undivided Focus are beautiful songs that you can use as prayers of commitment and dedication to the Lord during these days of coming into the Presence of the Lord. Have a wonderful weekend with Jesus.
With our love
The Consecration Call team
Come In – Heather Clark – Now is the Time
So come in come in King of Glory Come in come in We welcome You this day Come in come in King of Glory Come in come in We welcome You this day
I have come to greet the King I’ve come to give myself in total abandonment I’ve come to lay down all that holds me back from You I’ve come to lay down all that holds You back from me
So come in come in King of Glory Come in come in We welcome You this day Come in come in King of Glory Come in come in We welcome You this day
We welcome Your presence We welcome Your presence Lord In this place, in our lives, in our ciries We welcome Your presence To come to our nation
We welcome Your presence to come to the nation
So come in come in King of Glory Come in come in We welcome You this day Come in come in King of Glory Come in come in We welcome You this day
Undivided Focus – Heather Clark – Now is the Time
I love you I love you I love you (repeat) And my soul will follow wholly after you
I am in love With undivided focus And I am in love With You
Holy Spirit, I surrender to You Holy Spirit, I surrender to You Take my life I lay it down All my gifts and all my crowns I am Yours
Holy Spirit, I surrender to You Holy Spirit, I surrender Holy Spirit, I surrender to You
You take my hand and lead me through The glorious fields to be with You I am Yours 
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