It wasn’t a bad day in the sense that EVERYTHING went wrong. In fact there was really only one mishap last Tuesday, but it was a big one. Big enough to change and ruin my mood.

And so I lost it!

The meltdown took place while driving home from an unsuccessful event. Stuck at a traffic light my fist started pounding the steering wheel, my face was red with anger, my voice screaming at the top of my lungs.

Oh, I’d tell you what I said – but they’d never repost it here – not on a religious site. All you need to know is that in that moment, My One Word was made up of only four letters, and it was directed at God. I was cursing Him – literally cussing God out!

It must have been loud. I think the woman in the next lane heard me. The windows were up, the radio and air were blasting, but she knew what I was saying. She had to! She gave me one of those looks. You know the type. Your eyes meet and then the other person nervously glances up, scrambling over the sky – in search of that pending lighting bolt.

This month we’ve been asked to talk about surrender intervals –shorting that period of time between those occasions when we turn everything, including our behavior and actions (our word) over to God. Truth is I really didn’t understand the concept until now.

Looking back it wasn’t so much a case of something going wrong, as much as it was that things didn’t go exactly the way I had hoped.

Just a few hours earlier it really felt like God was in action. He was opening doors, providing opportunity, making promises and coming through. Only – in the end- He didn’t come through – not in the way He should have- at least not in my way.

Why? What’s the reason? Did I get it wrong? Was my discernment off? Was it a physiological thing where I just created all these signs, all these coincidences in my head? Or was the other possibility true? Even though it’s not Biblically sound a big part of me was wondering if God had purposely deceived me. If He gave me false hope only to pull the rug out from underneath.

We’ve all been there. But we never talk about it. To do so would play up our doubt, to ruin our image as the perfect Christian – to make us appear weak and fragile.

My friend John is the exception. For the last several years he’s felt as if God was making a promise. If only he could keep the faith and stay the course then God would come through – at a predetermined  hour and place. The problem is that time has come and gone yet my friend’s circumstances haven’t changed.

“Yeah, I was mad at Him,” John told me on the phone shortly after  my blow up. “ In a way I still am. I don’t think He lied to me – that goes against what I know of his character. But it does feel like he allowed my mind to go down a certain path even though He knew what I was hoping for wasn’t meant to be.”

“Character” was an interesting choice of words.

Surrender intervals work to help us mold and change who we are – to transform us into His image. First on a weekly basis, then every few days- and finally moment to moment. Other people have already written about the process. But what my friend knows is that Surrender Intervals are most important not in those times when we fall short –when it feels like we let God down, but rather when it feels like He let us down.

“What happened brought me to another point of choosing. Was I going to change course, or continue moving forward with Him.” And then my friend quoted scripture – although I am not entirely sure he meant to do so “ Where else would we go?”

Perhaps it is in getting it wrong that faith reaches the ultimate interval. It no longer is about the future, what’s down the road and where we hope He leads us. Instead it becomes about just the next day ahead.

And so when the face returns to its normal color, when the voice has lost out to the screaming and the fist have gone sore- you decide to move forward – one day at a time.

That’s what my friend did a few months ago- and it’s what I am attempting to do now.

Maybe today God will reveal what all this was about. Maybe by the evening it will all make sense and be clear. And if not – then maybe I’ll give Him tomorrow, too.

Doug Wahl is an award winning broadcast journalist and the author of the book Gradually to God. You can find out more about Doug at http://www.dougwahl.com/

Everything matters. In God’s economy, there are no insignificant moments or wasted opportunities. But He has not simply left us here to figure it out on our own. As we prepare to engage in the world around us, it is important to do just that–ENGAGE. We are to be proactive simply because your part matters.

Ephesians 4:16
16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

The body is an amazing things. It reproduces itself. We grow new cells continually. Our bodies are continually building themselves up. And the body of Christ is no different. The whole body is held together. Your part and mine are both included. It is important to note the source of this ability. It come from Him. It is found in Him.

It is from Him that we derive our strength and the nourishment that others may need. And that last part maybe the most important. Your part might be the place where God’s strength flows through in order to bring nourishment to some other part. So once again, we are reminded to pay attention to God’s work in this world. We are challenged to surrender our agendas to take up His. Believing and trusting that this time and this place that I will occupy today will be useful to fulfilling God’s purposes here in this world.

Lord, today I want to fulfill my part. I hope you will use me to bring nourishment and strength to those I am around. Let me bring Your strength. Again, I pray, use me so that when others see me, they will see You and I will contribute to the body’s increasing strength! Amen.

• If every moment matters, why is it challenging for many to see those ordinary moments of of life as opportunities to make an impact? How can you begin to see these “ordinary” moments as opportunities to surrender your agenda for God’s?

• What ordinary moments are you letting pass you by that could be used to reflect your One Word to others? How does the issue of surrender factor in to your failure to act?

Are you looking for a way to keep your word in front of you all year long? Register for a My One Word account! One of the key features of a MOW account is an online Word Journal that allows you to capture your thoughts to reflective questions like you see above. You can go back at any time to read your completed journals to see how God has been moving in your life through your word in 2011.  If you already have an account, the questions from this blog have been posted to your Word Journal — log in to your account to start your Word Journal today!

As I write these words, a hot pile of laundry fresh out of the dryer sits next to me. Alright, that last statement is not completely accurate or truthful. Laundry is indeed on the couch, but it is not hot. It isn’t even lukewarm. But it’s still laundry. Granted, I am very loose with my definition of “fresh out of the dryer” because I use hours rather than minutes to serve as my measurement.

This afternoon my wife went out with our girls so I could get some writing done. The sole responsibility she left me with was to fold the laundry. To make my task even easier, she took the clothes out of the laundry for me. However, hours later the clothes sit in the same spot. At least, I can tell her I knocked out a huge chunk of this writing assignment. Now don’t get me wrong; I’ve had every intention of getting my task accomplished. I even pictured the joy that would appear on my wife’s face when she’d come home with the clothes not only folded, but also put back in the drawer (since this is her definition of actually doing laundry). When I’d get stuck on a sentence I’d even go to pick up a shirt. My intentions were good, but so far my execution has stunk.

The problem with intentions, even the good variety, is that without action they are meaningless. This truth isn’t confined to household chores or tasks on my ‘honey do’ list. It serves as a universal truth. Think about it for a moment. Most parents don’t want to be described as absent, abrasive or a failure by their children. Every individual who has held a little one in their arms dreams about being able to earn the title of “Mom of the Year” or “Best Dad on the Planet” and proudly display their accomplishment on a coffee mug or t-shirt.

The majority of parents start out with the good intentions of nurturing their child and raising them to become fully functional members of society. Yet, without taking tangible steps towards that end goal, their dream will never become a reality. You don’t just wake up one morning and instantly become an outstanding parent.

A husband can have ever intention of showing his wife how much he loves her, but all the intention in the world will never make the love magically appear in their relationship. Action is needed. One can dream about crossing the finish line after a grueling 26.2 miles, but unless they lace up their shoes and start running, there is close to a 0% chance of them becoming a marathoner. Action is needed. You can desire to reflect Christ’s heart more profoundly in your actions through your One Word, but unless you are willing to take that first step, your walk will remain in a standstill. Action is needed.

Good intention is not the same thing as actually doing good. True faith always leads to action. Movement and momentum define a relationship with Christ. We must live our beliefs and do something with the intentions we feel. Scripture speaks very clearly about our actions not earning salvation, but rather serving as a response to the hope we have in Christ. If we truly believe that Christ is life, then it would be counter cultural for us to live as if this weren’t true. In Matthew 5:13-16, the imagery of salt and light is used to describe the basic character of a Christian’s life:

13“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Captured in this passage is the reason we must make every effort to be great stewards of the influence we’ve been given and not sit on the sideline with just good intentions. The Greek word for salt is ‘halas.’ They used this term to describe a preservative or something which cleanses and purifies. In essence, we have been charged with doing the purifying work of Jesus here on earth. To be like salt means to add something that is beneficial to the earth. By living your life differently and acting on your intentions, you are adding the essential qualities of Jesus to this world.

This leaves us with some pretty challenging questions we must look into ourselves for answers. How can we be a light to the world through acting on our One Word? Where do my intentions and actions not line up? What must the world see? If we don’t live as the salt to this world then what is the point in being salt in the first place? If I am a believer and don’t try to live as a light to those around me, what is the point? Jesus tells us who we are. We are the salt and light. We are called to make a difference and directly impact culture. If our salt doesn’t add flavor to this world and our light fails to illuminate then what is the point?

As the salt and light we are urged to go out in the world. Not Jesus, but you. God is calling each of us to be a light in a darkened world. But, this won’t take place unless we act on our intentions. Our hope is the way we live our lives will lead men and women to glorify God and catch a glimpse of the transformation which occurs when God captures someone’s heart. Being a light is about point others towards God.

• Read Galatians 5:25. When it comes your One Word, in what ways are you actions inconsistent with your good intentions and desires toward change? What action is needed to push you towards movement?

• Why doesn’t intention always lead to action? What has prevented you from making your intentions with your One Word a reality?

Are you looking for a way to keep your word in front of you all year long? Register for a My One Word account! One of the key features of a MOW account is an online Word Journal that allows you to capture your thoughts to reflective questions like you see above. You can go back at any time to read your completed journals to see how God has been moving in your life through your word in 2011.  If you already have an account, the questions from this blog have been posted to your Word Journal — log in to your account to start your Word Journal today!

I used to get so frustrated with the Israelites of the Old Testament. In Numbers chapter 11 for example they are complaining about manna. Manna! Complaining about a daily miracle of God’s provision and wishing to return to Egypt because they had “free fish.” I guess if you call brutal slavery with a meal plan “free” they had a point. How could they not be anything but contrite and joyful servants of God? “I know I would do better than that!” I used to say to myself. Some hard self-examination easily demonstrates I’m no better.

I have willfully sinned within hours of my quiet time. I have sinned during direct contemplation of God’s greatness and seeking His will for my life! I have often wished to return to my own familiar Egypt because there was “free fish.” I have wanted to return to a place of familiar bondage because God’s blessings seem to come with too many constraints and too much seeking out what to do with my free will—at the same time.

My word is “compass” and basically what I am finding is that I’d rather walk on familiar trails or sidewalks then go through the effort of trailblazing or orienteering needed to stay on the path God has for me. We talk about the straight and narrow that is free of snares, but not challenges. It may be “straight” but it still requires discernment and effort because I am crooked.

Case and point: I’m sitting at my computer with Pandora on my “cool vibe blue” station that has some favorite acoustic blues artists and some Five Blind Boys of Alabama and other traditional Gospel thrown in for good measure. I’m trying to do my work, but I’m also engaged in a mental battle and I’m not doing well. Fortunately, along comes three old time Gospel songs in a row including, “I’m Getting Better All the Time” by the Blind Boys. They belt out the chorus:

I’m not what I ought to be, but I’m better than I used to be.
I’m getting better all the time.

They sing that chorus a lot in that song and that was a good thing. It helped usher in God’s grace and the process of surrender. 1 Samuel 15 offers some insight into what God is really into: 22Samuel said, Has the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Jesus later reinforces that sentiment in John 6: 28They then said, What are we to do, that we may [habitually] be working the works of God? [What are we to do to carry out what God requires?] 29Jesus replied, This is the work (service) that God asks of you: that you believe in the One Whom He has sent [that you cleave to, trust, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger].

The quickness with which I sin requires an equally quick ability and willingness to repent. But the challenge is to surrender quickly . . . but not lightly. I do not want my words of surrender to become a perfunctory sacrifice that God rejects and finds offensive. Nor do I want that moment of reflection to fail to do its work in me. Sin is not garbage to be collected and taken to the curb weekly in some great formal ritual of purification. Sin is a spill about to stain the carpet that requires immediate and direct action. Surrender authentically in the moment it is called for.

So I must call my sin what it is and turn to Jesus even in my shortcomings: I am not what I ought to be, but I’m better than I used to be. Many of sinful actions can’t so easily be fixed by our own efforts, but the choice to “obey the voice of the Lord” and “believe in the One Whom He has sent” is one we can make instantly, if not lightly.

There are many projects around the house which demand my attention. I love the thought of finishing these projects, enjoying the extra space and basking in the glow of adding value to my home. Yet, the renovations never seem to get done. My wife thinks I should possess the ability to fix these things with ease like those superstars with a saw she sees on the home improvement shows. This is why I’ve contemplated blocking the Home and Garden Channel from my list of viewing options. Part of me can’t blame her for having this perspective because they make the jobs look so simple on television.

Without breaking a sweat in their flannel shirts, these guys renovate a basement, expand a kitchen and update a bathroom. This, however, is not the reason for my disdain of home improvement shows. I don’t like them because as they walk outside into a tent and use a laser level and compound miter radial arm saw as if it is assumed that an Everyday Joe would have these tools sitting around in his garage. I don’t have a laser level, compound miter radial arm saw or even a tent for that matter. To get started on the project they are describing, it would cost me 10 times the amount of the project. I simply don’t have the right tools for the job.

For many of us, another renovation project remains unfinished. This renovation is an inside job; one which deals with what is taking place deep within the heart. Reasoning we don’t have the right tools, we resign ourselves into believing this is the way I am and always will be. But, this is simply not the case. Most of our problems don’t require therapy. Instead they require we surrender them to the One who invites us to do such. The problem is we tend to forget this is the God we worship and resort to depending on our own strength to get us through. We need a tool which will help us remember to follow the invitation to cast our issues, burdens, cares and concerns to Him.

Without this tool, the normal chain of events will continue to take place. You are confronted with the facts that things need to change in your life. You realize the choices you are making are leading to frustration and pain. Taking it a step further, you even know what things you should change and the different direction you should be heading toward. With all the zeal and motion you can muster, you surrender your issue and concern over to God. There is a freedom you experience from this initial surrender, which leads you to assume the issue is done. Unfortunately, you quickly find out your assumption is wrong.

Surrendering an issue once is never enough. Surrender intervals are defined as the amount of time between points of surrender. Time is measured by our standard units of measure while the points of surrender were defined as those points in time when we muster up the emotion to surrender to God and mean it.

These gaps in surrender describe the pattern of life for many of you. You struggle deeply and consistently. Every week you make it to church and every week you surrender. Your surrender interval is 7 days and still you struggle with issues you thought you surrendered a long time ago. Maybe you have reduced your surrender intervals by attending small groups or Bible studies which cuts your moments of surrender down to ever other day or so. Then there are those of you who have a consistent daily quiet time. You wake up every morning and with all the zeal and meaning you can muster as you surrender your life to God.

What I have begun to realize is twenty-four hours is way too long of a gap. The truth is there are too many things which can happen between those moments of surrender. You surrender first thing in the morning and all seems to be going well until your kids get up, your spouse uses all the hot water or someone cuts you off in traffic. Twenty-four hours is way too long. In order to consistently cast your cares on Him you must position yourself to do so. What I need in my life is a very short surrender interval – a moment-by-moment surrender which comes with every breath.

• How does one measure surrender? How do you know when you have fully given up control of a situation to God?

• Read 1 Peter 5.7. As it relates to your One Word, what is one area where you feel God is calling you to surrender to Him? How often are you faced with the decision to yield to Him?

Are you looking for a way to keep your word in front of you all year long? Register for a My One Word account! One of the key features of a MOW account is an online Word Journal that allows you to capture your thoughts to reflective questions like you see above. You can go back at any time to read your completed journals to see how God has been moving in your life through your word in 2011.  If you already have an account, the questions from this blog have been posted to your Word Journal — log in to your account to start your Word Journal today!

Everything matters. In God’s economy, there are no insignificant moments or wasted opportunities. But He has not simply left us here to figure it out on our own. As we prepare to engage in the world around us, it is important to do just that–ENGAGE. We are to be proactive simply because your part matters.

Ephesians 4:16
16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

The body is an amazing things. It reproduces itself. We grow new cells continually. Our bodies are continually building themselves up. And the body of Christ is no different. The whole body is held together. Your part and mine are both included. It is important to note the source of this ability. It come from Him. It is found in Him.

It is from Him that we derive our strength and the nourishment that others may need. And that last part maybe the most important. Your part might be the place where God’s strength flows through in order to bring nourishment to some other part. So once again, we are reminded to pay attention to God’s work in this world. We are challenged to surrender our agendas to take up His. Believing and trusting that this time and this place that I will occupy today will be useful to fulfilling God’s purposes here in this world.

Lord, today I want to fulfill my part. I hope you will use me to bring nourishment and strength to those I am around. Let me bring Your strength. Again, I pray, use me so that when others see me, they will see You and I will contribute to the body’s increasing strength! Amen.

• If every moment matters, why is it challenging for many to see those ordinary moments of of life as opportunities to make an impact? How can you begin to see these “ordinary” moments as opportunities to surrender your agenda for God’s?

• What ordinary moments are you letting pass you by that could be used to reflect your One Word to others? How does the issue of surrender factor in to your failure to act?

Are you looking for a way to keep your word in front of you all year long? Register for a My One Word account! One of the key features of a MOW account is an online Word Journal that allows you to capture your thoughts to reflective questions like you see above. You can go back at any time to read your completed journals to see how God has been moving in your life through your word in 2010.  If you already have an account, the questions from this blog have been posted to your Word Journal — log in to your account to start your Word Journal today!

As I write these words, a hot pile of laundry fresh out of the dryer sits next to me. Alright, that last statement is not completely accurate or truthful. Laundry is indeed on the couch, but it is not hot. It isn’t even lukewarm. But it’s still laundry. Granted, I am very loose with my definition of “fresh out of the dryer” because I use hours rather than minutes to serve as my measurement.

This afternoon my wife went out with our girls so I could get some writing done. The sole responsibility she left me with was to fold the laundry. To make my task even easier, she took the clothes out of the laundry for me. However, hours later the clothes sit in the same spot. At least, I can tell her I knocked out a huge chunk of this writing assignment. Now don’t get me wrong; I’ve had every intention of getting my task accomplished. I even pictured the joy that would appear on my wife’s face when she’d come home with the clothes not only folded, but also put back in the drawer (since this is her definition of actually doing laundry). When I’d get stuck on a sentence I’d even go to pick up a shirt. My intentions were good, but so far my execution has stunk.

The problem with intentions, even the good variety, is that without action they are meaningless. This truth isn’t confined to household chores or tasks on my ‘honey do’ list. It serves as a universal truth. Think about it for a moment. Most parents don’t want to be described as absent, abrasive or a failure by their children. Every individual who has held a little one in their arms dreams about being able to earn the title of “Mom of the Year” or “Best Dad on the Planet” and proudly display their accomplishment on a coffee mug or t-shirt.

The majority of parents start out with the good intentions of nurturing their child and raising them to become fully functional members of society. Yet, without taking tangible steps towards that end goal, their dream will never become a reality. You don’t just wake up one morning and instantly become an outstanding parent.

A husband can have ever intention of showing his wife how much he loves her, but all the intention in the world will never make the love magically appear in their relationship. Action is needed. One can dream about crossing the finish line after a grueling 26.2 miles, but unless they lace up their shoes and start running, there is close to a 0% chance of them becoming a marathoner. Action is needed. You can desire to reflect Christ’s heart more profoundly in your actions through your One Word, but unless you are willing to take that first step, your walk will remain in a standstill. Action is needed.

Good intention is not the same thing as actually doing good. True faith always leads to action. Movement and momentum define a relationship with Christ. We must live our beliefs and do something with the intentions we feel. Scripture speaks very clearly about our actions not earning salvation, but rather serving as a response to the hope we have in Christ. If we truly believe that Christ is life, then it would be counter cultural for us to live as if this weren’t true. In Matthew 5:13-16, the imagery of salt and light is used to describe the basic character of a Christian’s life:

13“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Captured in this passage is the reason we must make every effort to be great stewards of the influence we’ve been given and not sit on the sideline with just good intentions. The Greek word for salt is ‘halas.’ They used this term to describe a preservative or something which cleanses and purifies. In essence, we have been charged with doing the purifying work of Jesus here on earth. To be like salt means to add something that is beneficial to the earth. By living your life differently and acting on your intentions, you are adding the essential qualities of Jesus to this world.

This leaves us with some pretty challenging questions we must look into ourselves for answers. How can we be a light to the world through acting on our One Word? Where do my intentions and actions not line up? What must the world see? If we don’t live as the salt to this world then what is the point in being salt in the first place? If I am a believer and don’t try to live as a light to those around me, what is the point? Jesus tells us who we are. We are the salt and light. We are called to make a difference and directly impact culture. If our salt doesn’t add flavor to this world and our light fails to illuminate then what is the point?

As the salt and light we are urged to go out in the world. Not Jesus, but you. God is calling each of us to be a light in a darkened world. But, this won’t take place unless we act on our intentions. Our hope is the way we live our lives will lead men and women to glorify God and catch a glimpse of the transformation which occurs when God captures someone’s heart. Being a light is about point others towards God.

• Read Galatians 5:25. When it comes your One Word, in what ways are you actions inconsistent with your good intentions and desires toward change? What action is needed to push you towards movement?

• Why doesn’t intention always lead to action? What has prevented you from making your intentions with your One Word a reality?

Are you looking for a way to keep your word in front of you all year long? Register for a My One Word account! One of the key features of a MOW account is an online Word Journal that allows you to capture your thoughts to reflective questions like you see above. You can go back at any time to read your completed journals to see how God has been moving in your life through your word in 2010.  If you already have an account, the questions from this blog have been posted to your Word Journal — log in to your account to start your Word Journal today!

Like Mike…if I could be like Mike. Hidden in this catchy advertisement jingle for Gatorade is a universal truth about humanity. Quite simply, everyone yearns to be great. We all want to make our mark on this world. Before our time is up on this spinning globe, we hope our life will matter. Our dream might not involve possessing the ability to dunk from the free throw line; making so many all-star games you lose count or being in the running for the greatest basketball player of all time. For some, the drive for greatness centers around the business arena, academic institutions, art world or focused inside the home.

The problem is that our view of greatness has been drastically skewed from God’s original intent. In fact, over time God has gone missing from this picture of greatness. Instead, people are scrambling to make much of themselves. The most basic response of our fallen nature is to draw attention to ourselves.

Our culture adds to the pressure we feel to promote ourselves by stressing that we must take responsibility for our own satisfaction. This message causes despair and hopelessness because we worry that we have failed or missed our shot at greatness. So, we work even harder to prove that we matter and manage our image so we look great to others. When we fall into the trap of grabbing for greatness, we are prone to find our sufficiency and satisfaction in things that disappoint and ultimately leave us longing for more.

Pride requires a disconnect from the reality that says this world is not about you. Pride says I matter and must make certain of that fact. It is based off the assumption that no one else cares as much about you as you. This line of thinking comes from the often-quoted notion that God helps those who help themselves. Nowhere in scripture does this message appear. Instead we read in James 4:6 that “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Until we realize that God has made a way for us to be complete, we will continue to cling to every shallow advantage to prove ourselves, justify our worth and compensate for what we perceive that we lack. Pride is fueled by our need for security and satisfaction. What we have to realize is that we do not have to grab what you’ve been given. Our faith is found in our security in His faithfulness.

Our soul’s desire is fulfilled when we simply delight in Him by surrender our desire for control. God has made a way for us to be complete, both satisfied and secure. We are free to live the life we have been given. Yet, this only comes as a result of humbling ourselves through the act of surrender.

There is a lot more to humility than just being good. It is not simply a nice character trait to make you more likeable and easier to be around. Any definition of humility that begins, ‘humility is seeing yourself as…’ is wrong. Scripturally, humility is not seeing yourself at all because you are looking at God. Humility takes root in our heart only when we kneel before Him and surrender all of our lives before Him. The only antidote to pride is the act of kneeling. Author John Piper puts it this way, “humility can only survive in the presence of God. When God goes, humility goes. In fact you might say that humility follows God like a shadow.”

In God’s economy, humility is the very path to greatness. Our prayer should be that we are humbled by God’s presence in our life so that we are not humbled by our circumstances that happened by our poor choices driven by pride.

• What places in your life are you currently being “graspy” in search of control and significance? What would it look like for you to surrender these areas to God and trust that He is the ultimate source for your security and satisfaction?

• Read Luke 9:23-25. Comfort, pride, feeling you’re owed, the desire to control. What is inhibiting you from surrendering this area to God?

Are you looking for a way to keep your word in front of you all year long? Register for a My One Word account! One of the key features of a MOW account is an online Word Journal that allows you to capture your thoughts to reflective questions like you see above. You can go back at any time to read your completed journals to see how God has been moving in your life through your word in 2010.  If you already have an account, the questions from this blog have been posted to your Word Journal — log in to your account to start your Word Journal today!

There are many projects around the house which demand my attention. I love the thought of finishing these projects, enjoying the extra space and basking in the glow of adding value to my home. Yet, the renovations never seem to get done. My wife thinks I should possess the ability to fix these things with ease like those superstars with a saw she sees on the home improvement shows. This is why I’ve contemplated blocking the Home and Garden Channel from my list of viewing options. Part of me can’t blame her for having this perspective because they make the jobs look so simple on television.

Without breaking a sweat in their flannel shirts, these guys renovate a basement, expand a kitchen and update a bathroom. This, however, is not the reason for my disdain of home improvement shows. I don’t like them because as they walk outside into a tent and use a laser level and compound miter radial arm saw as if it is assumed that an Everyday Joe would have these tools sitting around in his garage. I don’t have a laser level, compound miter radial arm saw or even a tent for that matter. To get started on the project they are describing, it would cost me 10 times the amount of the project. I simply don’t have the right tools for the job.

For many of us, another renovation project remains unfinished. This renovation is an inside job; one which deals with what is taking place deep within the heart. Reasoning we don’t have the right tools, we resign ourselves into believing this is the way I am and always will be. But, this is simply not the case. Most of our problems don’t require therapy. Instead they require we surrender them to the One who invites us to do such. The problem is we tend to forget this is the God we worship and resort to depending on our own strength to get us through. We need a tool which will help us remember to follow the invitation to cast our issues, burdens, cares and concerns to Him.

Without this tool, the normal chain of events will continue to take place. You are confronted with the facts that things need to change in your life. You realize the choices you are making are leading to frustration and pain. Taking it a step further, you even know what things you should change and the different direction you should be heading toward. With all the zeal and motion you can muster, you surrender your issue and concern over to God. There is a freedom you experience from this initial surrender, which leads you to assume the issue is done. Unfortunately, you quickly find out your assumption is wrong.

Surrendering an issue once is never enough. Surrender intervals are defined as the amount of time between points of surrender. Time is measured by our standard units of measure while the points of surrender were defined as those points in time when we muster up the emotion to surrender to God and mean it.

These gaps in surrender describe the pattern of life for many of you. You struggle deeply and consistently. Every week you make it to church and every week you surrender. Your surrender interval is 7 days and still you struggle with issues you thought you surrendered a long time ago. Maybe you have reduced your surrender intervals by attending small groups or Bible studies which cuts your moments of surrender down to ever other day or so. Then there are those of you who have a consistent daily quiet time. You wake up every morning and with all the zeal and meaning you can muster as you surrender your life to God.

What I have begun to realize is twenty-four hours is way too long of a gap. The truth is there are too many things which can happen between those moments of surrender. You surrender first thing in the morning and all seems to be going well until your kids get up, your spouse uses all the hot water or someone cuts you off in traffic. Twenty-four hours is way too long. In order to consistently cast your cares on Him you must position yourself to do so. What I need in my life is a very short surrender interval – a moment-by-moment surrender which comes with every breath.

• How does one measure surrender? How do you know when you have fully given up control of a situation to God?

• Read 1 Peter 5.7. As it relates to your One Word, what is one area where you feel God is calling you to surrender to Him? How often are you faced with the decision to yield to Him?

Are you looking for a way to keep your word in front of you all year long? Register for a My One Word account! One of the key features of a MOW account is an online Word Journal that allows you to capture your thoughts to reflective questions like you see above. You can go back at any time to read your completed journals to see how God has been moving in your life through your word in 2010.  If you already have an account, the questions from this blog have been posted to your Word Journal — log in to your account to start your Word Journal today!