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<\/a>So how do you react when you read Jesus\u2019 words from Matthew 16:24-26 (NIV)? \u201cIf anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.\u201d <\/em>Jesus is asking for you to give Him full authority over your life. Jesus is asking you to surrender to Him.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
I believe there are different levels of surrender to Jesus. The initial acceptance of Jesus as your Savior would have been one level of surrender. As your relationship with Jesus grew, you surrendered a little more. As the maturity of your faith deepened, you\u2019ve surrender yet more and more. Before you realize, it becomes easier to surrender behaviors, attitudes, and control over to Jesus.<\/p>\n
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Of course there will be difficult things to surrender to Jesus. Just take some of the lyrics from today\u2019s chosen piece for instance. Are you willing to give up your pride? To sacrifice regardless of the cost? And to do so joyfully?<\/p>\n
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We can\u2019t do this on our own. And we don\u2019t have to. Jesus sent the gift of God\u2019s Spirit to us when He left. The Holy Spirit leads and guides us to a greater understanding of what it means to daily walk with Jesus. The Holy Spirit shows up in our lives as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).<\/p>\n
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Little by little, we are able to repeat the words of the Apostle Paul. \u201cI have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.\u201d<\/em> (Galatians 2:20 \u2013 NIV) Jesus surrendered all for us. We should at least be willing to try for Him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Today, take a look at these words to \u201cLay Me Down.\u201d See if there isn\u2019t just one more area of your life that you could surrender to Jesus. Next week, offer yet another sacrifice. As the Holy Spirit points out sin in your life, surrender those actions or thoughts to Jesus. Step by step your relationship with Jesus will grow and Jesus will shine through you.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLay Me Down\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n With this heart open wide <\/p>\n Chorus: Letting go of my pride (Chorus)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It will be my joy to say <\/p>\n
\nFrom the depths, from the heights
\nI will bring a sacrifice
\nWith these hands lifted high
\nHear my song hear my cry
\nI will bring a sacrifice
\nI will bring a sacrifice<\/p>\n
\nI lay me down I\u2019m not my own
\nI belong to you alone
\nLay me down
\nLay me down
\nHand on my heart this much is true
\nThere’s no life apart from you
\nLay me down
\nLay me down
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\nGiving up all my rights
\nTake this life and let it shine
\nTake this life and let it shine<\/p>\n
\nYour will, Your way
\nIt will be my joy to say
\nYour will, Your way
\nIt will be my joy to say
\nYour will, Your way always[i]<\/a><\/p>\n