Message: “And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake” Luke 5:5,6
I listened to a sermon this week and I was challenged! My pastor asked the question ‘what have you surrendered for the sake of Christ?’ Coming to Jesus requires letting go of ourselves: our plans, ideas, goals in exchange for His in order to be able to fulfill our purpose on Earth.
In the verses above Peter tried so hard to catch some fish one night. He tried all night long and was unsuccessful. But Jesus came into the equation and asked him to try one more time. Peter could have refused, considering his previously failed efforts. Nevertheless, at the Word of Christ, he yielded. He respected Christ’s presence and instructions.
In so doing, he saw a different result, to the point that the net that couldn’t catch a single fish, this time caught so much that the net actually broke! To achieve such a result, Peter had to surrender. Sometimes the thing that we are struggling with and failing at just needs Jesus’ instruction and our surrender. Surrender requires vulnerability and trust. Surrender requires humility and teachability. On the other side of surrender is bountiful success. Surrender to God is the gateway to a fulfilling and fruitful life on Earth. What do YOU need to surrender to God? Your heart, body, family, career, closet etc.
Prayer: Lord, I pray that you will examine my heart; if there is anything that I have not surrendered to you, I pray that your light will expose those areas of my life so that I will surrender and experience supernatural success in every aspect of my life in Jesus’ name, amen.
Modesty: Since becoming a mother, I have noticed that I have taken preference to longer skirts! I feel more comfortable in skirts that grace my ankles especially for church. I have found that longer skirts provides me with more comfort. I think it also speaks to more maturity in this season that I am in – it’s an inner growth reflecting on the external. I also love the ‘flow’ of longer skirts with movement – it’s beautiful.
Marriage: husbands are expected according to scripture to uphold in integrity the spiritual leadership in marriage (Ephesians 5:23). With this knowledge, I did not intend to be the spiritual leader in our home, but to support my husband in this ministry. What I didn’t realize was that I had certain expectations of how my husband should lead me spiritually.
As a daughter of a pastor, exposure to my dad’s spiritual leadership in our home while growing up planted seeds in me that I would in marriage expect of my husband. My husband’s and mine method and practices of spiritual leadership differed and it bothered me!
It has taken discussions with my husband and prayer to surrender and know that although my expectations and my reality don’t match up, I must appreciate that my husband is leading us spiritually and trust God ultimately to continue to guide him aright. I must continue to surrender my expectations to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5)!
Motherhood: Children need structure, consistency, and discipline. It’s only when I started working closely with children a few years ago, that I understood the total depravity of man on another level. “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me” – Psalm 51:5.
Innately in a child are two things – stubbornness that requires discipline – who teaches a child how to throw themselves on the floor if he/she doesn’t get their way? Then there is a sweet simplicity that Christ deemed qualifiable for mankind’s entry into the Kingdom of God (Matthew 18:3). Children indeed need training in all its ramifications.
As the Bible instructs: “Train up a child in the way he should go…” – Proverbs 22:6. The way to train children is Christ, who is the way, truth and life. Parenting is a ground for serious, generationally impactful training. Like any training, time patience and consistency is required to achieve the desired outcome. My husband and I are in the midst of intentionally training our daughter.
This stage of childhood is often referred to as the “terrible two’s” due to the defiant behaviors of toddlers. Although I choose to refer to it as training two’s. Training (virtue building) requires time and patience (to be made manifest) and consistency (training is continuous).
Children are like clay. They will turn out according to your molding and shaping. If you fail to mold and shape them, they will turn out as such – untrained, unmannerly, unshaped and will bring parents to shame (Proverbs 29:15)! Our children are a gift to us and we trust God to help us to train and nurture them in such a way that they are a gift to the world. This requires our own surrender of our preconceived ideas of parenting in exchange for God’s perfect will for their lives.
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I hope that you’re inspired by the
4 M’s this week!
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With love,
Mrs. Charity Umar ❤️
Thanks for sharing. I pray that many women get to realise their roles and the world will surely become a better place for all
Amen, thank you so much for reading, Judith.
Thank you for sharing your inspiration and experience with us every week. God help me to surrender totally to you. Empower me to be a godly and fruitful wife and mother in Jesus name. Have a beautiful week.
Amen to you prayers! Thank you so much for reading Omotayo!
Thanks for sharing . Always blessed by your posts .
Praise God, thank you for reading, Dzigbordi!