The Lord Reigns cont.

 Does the Lord reign in YOU?

Have you personally surrendered to God's sovereignty? 

How does someone even go about surrendering in such a way? 

1. It starts with recognizing that GOD LOVES YOU. 

God's not some genie in the clouds, lounging on his thrown, simply watching us suffer and struggle on our own. He is a God who understands our pain. He has endured the anguish of the cross, a more gruesome, and heartbreaking pain than any human being has ever had to endure. He has struggled like we've struggled, labored just as we have labored, and Jesus cried out in confusion and frustration just as we have so many times... His goodness and soverignty are directly linked; He is an all just, yet all loving God. An idea that's difficult to comprehend, but Praise God that it's a faultless truth. 

     2. Trust in God

I struggle with this daily, everyone does, we're only human. Luckily, God understands our imperfection and continually forgives and redeems us. Again, Praise God. When we trust in His perfect plan, and believe that He holds the desires of our hearts in His hands, incredible blessings come our way. Look at your own life, and the lives of others; remember and reflect on the times that you saw God work in marvelous ways. 

Every good thing that is in me, anything you see as good and lovely, is the light and love of God shining through the dirt and grime of my sinful heart. 

Even in the most desperate of situations God reigns and has a perfect plan. 

    3. Turn to prayer

Don't be afraid to ask God what's going on? Do you think God wants to know when you're upset or confused? OF COURSE HE DOES! Jesus wants to intimately know every area of your heart, even the "ugly" parts you don't show to anyone else. When times get tough examine yourself, even if that means reopening a wound that needs to be properly healed. It may hurt in the moment, but in the long run you will see how incredible life can be without the baggage of those wounds. Grow through these times. Look to the promise of Heaven... 

No more pain. No more tears. No more fears. 

An incredible change of scenery from the world we live in today isn't it? Finally, choose your attitude. People are always watching you, especially when you're screwing up. As a follower of Christ I am called to represent Jesus, so I am to choose an attitude of patience, peace, kindness, hope, faithfulness, courage, self-control, gentleness, and most important of all, an attitude of LOVE. 

If God reigned even when His Son hung dead upon a cross, and everything seemed lost, then we can be sure that He who began a good work in YOU will complete it. 

For in Him, ALL things work together for good.