How To Yield Your Rights To God

How to Yield Your Rights to God Without Neglecting Key Responsibilities - 2 Cor. 10:4,5

Some people make the mistake of thinking that when they yield their rights to God they absolve themselves from all personal responsibilities. When we yield our rights to the Lord we must be careful to not absolve ourselves from our essential responsibilities. For example, one student said, "I gave God my grades so therefore I do not have to study as hard as I used to." One parent said, "I surrendered my rights to discipline my children so I’ve stopped chastening them when they do something that irritates me." The Lord gives us key responsibilities, but He wants us to let Him direct, empower and work through us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. The following contain a few guidelines in allowing the Spirit of God to help us yield everything to God without becoming fatalistic.

1. Follow the principle of allowing every thought to be taken captive to the obedience of Christ. 2 Cor. 10:4,5 Put away the faulty assumptions you might have about controlling your time, money and decisions. Unless people are willing to divest themselves of their rights to driving their life’s vehicle to the Lord, they will force Jesus to remain in the backseat as merely an advice giver. He wants to be the driver of your spiritual automobile. Learn to follow the Spirit’s leading in every decision you make. Ask the Lord, "May the mind of Christ my Savior live in me from day to day, by His love and power controlling all I do and say." Paul knew that unless we are obedient to Christ we will follow the leading of the world, the flesh or the devil. There is no middle ground obedience.

2. Yield the chief priorities of life to the Lord. Jesus said, "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you." (matt 6:33) There are many uncertainties in our future that will include financial, health and relationships. God knows best how to meet our needs. Pursue His kingdom’s advancement in quantity and quality along with His will. This often goes against natural lines of human reasoning. We must focus on doing HIs will more than our own.

3. Follow the example of Jesus Christ who said, "Not my will but your will be done." (Mark 14:36) Jesus easily could have insisted on showing the Jews and the Roman authorities His power, but He chose to submit to the Father’s will. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus as the author and perfecter of our faith. Must Jesus bear the cross alone and all the world go free? No there’s a cross for everyone and there’s a cross for thee. (Luke 9:23,24)

Illustration:Criticism is always difficult to accept, but if we receive it with humility and a desire to improve our character it can be very helpful. Only a fool does not profit when he is rebuked for his mistakes.

Several years ago I read a helpful article on this subject. It stated that when we are criticized we ought to ask ourselves whether the criticism contains any truth. If it does, we should learn form it, even when it is not given with the right motivation and in the right spirit. The article then offered these four suggestions: (1) Commit the matter instantly to God, asking Him to remove all resentment or countercriticism on your part and teach you the needed lessons. (2) Remember that we are all great sinners and that the one who has criticized us does not begin to know the worst about us. (3) If you have made a mistake or committed a sin, humbly and frankly confess it to God and to anyone you may have injured. (4) Be willing to learn afresh that you are not infallible and that you need God’s grace and wisdom every moment of the day to keep on the straight path.

When we are criticized, let’s accept what is true and act upon it, thereby becoming a stronger person. He who profits from rebuke is wise. H.G.B.

4. Thank God that He is the only one who will ultimately bring satisfaction, forgiveness and meaning to your life. (Psa 73:25,26) David wrote, "Whom have I in heaven but you and besides you I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength and my portion forever." Learn to think that people are always going to disappoint in the end. ONly the Lord provides all that we need. He is the total source that provides all sufficient grace for whatever need, problem or challenge.

5. Concentrate on exhibiting a meek and quiet spirit that is precious in the sight of God. (I Pet. 3:3,4) Many people have a hard time not focusing on appearances either for themselves or for others. Know that while man looks on the outward appearance, God looks on the heart. Concentrate on beautifying your inner character more than what impresses others.