A word about surrender

When I came to Christ eight years ago, he put a scripture on my heart. I guess you could call it my life scripture, Luke 9:23–24, “ And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

I have held on to this scripture through this eight year journey, but it wasn’t until recently that I realized the true impact of Jesus words. During this eight year walk I have fought like hell to drop this pornography addiction. I have had success and I have had failures. For the longest time I was fighting in my own strength and willpower, trying to overcome my sin. Now you’re all going to say, “Well there is your issue Benny boy!”

It wasn’t until recently that I was gripped with the epiphany that surrendering my life, denying myself, meant laying down all of my effort, all of my trying and becoming that living sacrifice that the Apostle Paul talks about in Romans 12:1. I mean I always knew all of this, but it was a moment that my heart was overwhelmed with this truth and faced with the conviction of how I was walking.

Paul says, “So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” We are to put to death all the deeds of the flesh; this includes our strength, our effort and desires so that it is no longer us who lives but Christ who lives in and through us (Gal 2:20). It is his strength that empowers us; it is his desire that drives us. In his strength we can fight and overcome sin and death. Through us, Jesus will do great and mighty things for his glory.

So let us continue to deny all of ourselves, lift that cross, and walk in the Spirit for the Glory of God.