still thinking

On this thought.

About the verbiage and how it may have seemed unsettling

and maybe it would be nice to have some elaboration . . .

(First clarifying that I am simply thinking through these things and pray my words are not read as The Truth but read and placed up against The Truth and that there would be grace as I get it wrong.)


I believe God is Immanuel.

God with us

All the time.

So, in me saying, "He might just give me more than I can handle."

I still believe that He is with me;

and that's why there is hope if/when He gives me more than I can handle.

Because He is with me

which means He can handle it

which I guess in a sense you could say I can handle it too

since He is with me

because ultimately I am handling it because He is handling it for me.

confusion

:)

I think my intention was that I believe that being in a place of constant surrender ("I can't. You can. Take this.") is a hopeful place to be, is a necessary place to be.

That I must surrender countless things at countless times during the day. The image of being handed a basket of things and literally handing it over to the One beside me.

And

I also firmly believe that when I made the first decision to surrender my life, it was then that I fully received Jesus and The Power of the Holy Spirit

And so

at that very moment I embodied the fullness of everything ever needed to handle anything because it was no longer me and my effort, it was now the newness of Christ. It was possible that He be the One handling things in and through me.

And

I also believe it doesn't stop at that very first surrender.

It's a growing relationship with Jesus, a rhythm of living in the seat of completed sonship and also living in the seat of constant surrender.

Abiding and resting

I have everything I need because I have Jesus
And
I need Jesus every moment of every hour.

It's not an "either/or", it's an "and/both"

He has met all my needs. He is my Savior.
And
I am in constant need. He is my Savior.

. . .

and I think sometimes it's good to think about things that may at first seem unsettling . . . to dig in and see Who this Savior really is
and maybe
just maybe
taste more and more of what He is offering
of what's already yours

. . .

"I need thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
no tender voice like Thine can peace afford.

I need thee O I need thee;
every hour I need thee;
O bless me now my Savior, I come to thee.

I need thee every hour stay nearby;
temptations lose their power when thou art nigh.

I need thee every hour, in joy or pain,
come quickly and abide, or life is vain.

I need thee every hour, teach me thy will;
and thy rich promises in me fulfill.

I need the every hour, most Holy One;
O make me thine indeed, thou blessed Son."



John 15:4
"Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me."