You can’t go back.
The days roll forward with indifference; it’s up to you to make them count. It’s up to you how you shape and stretch the hours to form the life you choose to live.
“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” Annie Dillard
Your children are at your mercy with their hours and their days and their mornings and their nights. You are the god of their time. Are you digging your fingers into the clay that is the moments and molding something worth keeping?
How are your days?
Yes, you’re tired, I know. Some days you wish you could just have clear direction; you wish that the voice of the One would speak louder the voices of those who you aim to please. You want to please Him, but those voices…that person who you feel like you must live up to, or offer defense of your choices, or feel unworthy compared to them. If you just knew what to do, or what was pleasing to God, or who to listen to, you’d follow. In the depths of your heart you’re surrendered to the man who hung on the cross. The man who says, “Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”
You want to follow; you want your days and the hours to matter. You want to push out the voices and cling to the One voice that matters. You want to live well and have integrity.
Here’s how you live a life that matters:
You choose surrender to the cross. You stop trying; you surrender.
You count the cost of your “yes.” The yes to surrender, the yes to the Bible study or the book club or the blog or travel or alone time or…
Every “yes” has a cost that a wise person must weigh.
“For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?” Luke 14:28 (NASB)
The only “yes” you should give without reserve is that to serve for Christ’s sake. The cross is heavy and painful and blood-stained. If you choose it, you choose surrender. You choose to serve and to lay down.
“Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple.”
Luke 14:33 (MSG)
We must not love anything or anyone more than Jesus. But I believe that when we love Him above all, esteem Him above all, and surrender to Him before all, He will to mold our moments.
He will knead and roll and create beauty and life out of this clay, the clay that can only but be still before Him.
Let Him mold you and your days. Whisper off your mornings to Him, being conscious that you will accept the shape He gives. Say yes to Him, and guard your “yes” otherwise. Count the cost of your “yes.” Serve. And by the way, serving doesn’t mean you do more. When you serve “the least of these” you are serving Jesus. I think for many of us, the “least of these” is the eternal ones in our care. Don’t forget to serve your family.
“The dedicated life is the life worth living. You must give with your whole heart.” -Annie Dillard
What are you dedicated to? Do your hours match that dedication?
By Sarah Mae
P.S. Today I am re-releasing my eBook, More Than Candy: A 25-Day Countdown that Counts. It’s about doing work that matters during the advent season…it’s about making a difference to the “least of these.” The first 100 people to purchase it (it’s only $4.99 on either Kindle or as a PDF) get the DaySpring Redeemed Christmas Countdown Chalkboard for FREE. I’m also giving away a Willow Tree Nativity from DaySpring. Head HERE to check it out!
Leave a Comment
Jasmine says
How do you know what that surrender is? Is it continual prayer, is it loving God, how can you hear The Lord for sure? Will he make his plans clear? Can He continuously forgive a child who is now an adult and has had a transient relationship with Him for more than ten years? A Christian as a child, a teenager who lost their way and an Adult whom wants and needs the security and direction from her Father? If one surrenders more than before will it all suddenly seem clear..
sonyamacdesigns says
PrayN for you Jasmine. Continue to seek HIM in a posture of Thanksgiving, understanding that you are forgiven while pressing on in the humble security of HIM. The link to the story below began my long walk home.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsqenS58peU
Sarah Mae says
I think it’s being available to God.
It’s keeping your hands open, your life wide open for Him. It’s receiving His grace and forgiveness.
I think we will mostly (only?) hear Him when we seek HIs face; when our hearts long to see Him, know Him, know He is really there.
He will speak to you. You just have to get quiet and still and push out the voices and listen.
Love to you, friend.
Sheila says
For me, surrender came when my only choice was to rely on Him. No other option, after years of a hot-cold relationship with God rather than true intimacy. And yes, He can keep forgiving and loving and taking us back…because it is in that absolute surrender, where our bleeding soul is completely emptied out of our life and infused with His, that we are reborn.
http://willingheartwoundedhealer.com/?s=life+that+matter
Bev Duncan @ Walking Well With God says
Sarah Mae,
Thank you for redefining “serving”. I often forget that serving the least of these is truly the greatest form of serving. Surrender….oh how I try to tightly hold onto the reins of my life, when in reality Christ calls me to lay them down and surrender my life to Him. When I do, THEN true peace can be found! Thank you for a beautiful reminder this morning! Let me be dedicated to serving the least of these in Your name, Lord…
Blessings,
Bev
Marcy says
Counting my yeses…..choosing who I serve…words (in) real life that affirmed my conversations with God this weekend. Thank you!
Marcy says
…and Jasmine, I’m joining Sonya in praying for you today. Your desire for surrender is beautiful to God!
Diane Shiffer says
Thank you for this Sarah 🙂
Ashley O says
I am in the midst of a huge “YES” to God in moving my family across the country. I am thankful for this time. He is giving me an opportunity to cling to Him and to show my children what real dependence looks like. This is just confirming to me what my quiet time told me this morning. He is here….always. Push out all the voices around and live in these moments with arms wide open to what He has prepared. Thank you, Sarah Mae! I can’t wait to see you at Mom Heart in January!!!
Keisha D says
Thank you so much for your book! I can’t wait to put these actions into place with my kiddos. What a great way to serve others during the holiday season!
Blessings!
Hayley says
Oh to be wise in calculating the cost before giving the “yes”. I confess that I have a habit of over-committing myself/our family and as a result we’ve experienced burn out, costly burn out. Knowing our priorities and keeping them in line is the first step in living a life that matters. Is volunteering for xyz going to damage my relationship with God, my husband, our children? If I can assess the cost before making that move, I’m more likely to surrender to His will. Thank you, Sarah Mae!
Jasmine, I’m joining the others in praying for you today. Come to the cross as you are, friend, He will receive you with arms wide open. HUGS!
Kimberly says
Your last two questions challenged me this morning as I face some big decisions about how I will use my time and how it will impact my family in the next few years. Praying, thinking, hopefully surrendering…
Lisa-Jo @lisajobaker says
How much do I LOVE that your kids were in the Smile Booth with you? LOVE IT!
Ashley says
You are doing brave things. Bless you. <3
Wendy says
Hi Sarah Mae,
This was exactly what I needed to hear today. I have recently started a blog. I felt like God was really leading me and I surrendered to His call, but I am having a hard time finding the time to write and get “everything else” done. You are right; saying yes to Jesus should always come first. Thanks for the reminder. Have an awesome day!
Wendy
Lisa says
This is a much needed reminder…No my hours don’t always match my dedication…I heard someone once put it, it’s not how you spend your time that matters, its how you invest your time.
Patty Muich says
Thank you for the post Sarah. I enjoy, so much, coming to this blog and reading the posts. And the responses. I sometimes feel that I am the only one in the world with a feeling or a problem and then I come here and find that everyone is so much like me and feels the same feelings! God is awesome in that way! I am learning to surrender. Love to you and yours,
Patty
Amy Lopez says
Beautifully written, this was on my heart as well today as I sat tapping away blogging about the softening that is taking place in my heart. When you said “He will knead and roll and create beauty and life out of this clay, the clay that can only but be still before Him.” It confirmed what Hes doing in His childrens hearts…
Jasmine says
Thank you Sarah Mae, Sonya, Shelia, Marcy & Hayley I appreciate my link to this community it is truly helping me to draw closer to HIM. And Bev I love your comment finding that true peace that community and time with HIM brings. I pray that The Lord will bless you all x
Marty says
“Some days you wish you could just have clear direction; you wish that the voice of the One would speak louder the voices of those who you aim to please. You want to please Him, but those voices…that person who you feel like you must live up to, or offer defense of your choices, or feel unworthy compared to them. If you just knew what to do, or what was pleasing to God, or who to listen to, you’d follow.”
This is most every mother’s struggle.It was mine, when my kids were young. In many ways, it still is. Thank you for reminding us that we just need to surrender.
Thank you for sharing.
Beth Williams says
It can be hard to hear God with all the noise and clutter of our daily world. We need to find a quiet place & time to sit and be still! Once done then you will hear Him and know His true will!!!
We need to surrender our entire lives to God and follow Him–no matter what or where He leads!! Serving is easy. You just need to serve neighbors, friends, help those in need–mold the little ones He’s given you. Just do a little here and there as you are able. All this is pleasing to God!
Denise says
Thank you Sarah Mae. Surrendering is opening my life to God, warts and all, and saying its all yours Lord, and giving everything up to Him and then doing what he puts on your heart to do. The more time you spend with Him, the clearer His voice will be. Much love and prayers for you all, and Jasmine too
Beth Williams says
Wow! Such poignant questions. It is imperative how we spend our time/ resources that God has given us. We can choose to waste our resources-time/money, etc. or we can choose to give back by serving in our community or helping family and friends. It is as simple as helping serve a meal at a shelter on Thanksgiving/Christmas, giving some food to food pantry, etc. so many small ways to give back! 🙂
If everyone would surrender their entire lives to God and make Him Lord of their lives we could have more peace in the world. Everyone would be acting as God would have us and give back to many.
This Christmas I’m not expecting much–but giving away a lot. I even adopted 2 salvation army children.
Christine says
The days roll forward with indifference; it’s up to you to make them count. It’s up to you how you shape and stretch the hours to form the life you choose to live.
“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” Annie Dillard
“Your children are at your mercy with their hours and their days and their mornings and their nights. You are the god of their time. Are you digging your fingers into the clay that is the moments and molding something worth keeping?”…”Yes, you’re tired, I know. Some days you wish you could just have clear direction; you wish that the voice of the One would speak louder the voices of those who you aim to please. You want to please Him, but those voices…that person who you feel like you must live up to, or offer defense of your choices, or feel unworthy compared to them. ”
I am finally learning to trust and surrender myself to Him.
I was not brought up with God in my home but thankfully I was introduced to Him as a child from a kind neighbor. I chose to be baptized in the Catholic Church when I was 20 years old. I am now 35 and over the last 15 years I have had an “unstable” relationship with Him. Mostly do to the lack of learning on my part. The one absolute understanding I do have is that, although I have not ever heard my Father talking to me directly, I can hear Him through the voice of others., and when I do it is like that person heard my words to Him and they’re speaking directly to me. This is one of those times. Thank you Sarah Mea for answering Our Fathers calling and being an inspiration for so many.
Christine says
“The days roll forward with indifference; it’s up to you to make them count. It’s up to you how you shape and stretch the hours to form the life you choose to live.” … “Your children are at your mercy with their hours and their days and their mornings and their nights. You are the god of their time. Are you digging your fingers into the clay that is the moments and molding something worth keeping?”…”Yes, you’re tired, I know. Some days you wish you could just have clear direction; you wish that the voice of the One would speak louder the voices of those who you aim to please. You want to please Him, but those voices…that person who you feel like you must live up to, or offer defense of your choices, or feel unworthy compared to them. ”
I am finally learning to trust and surrender myself to Him.
I was not brought up with God in my home but thankfully I was introduced to Him as a child from a kind neighbor. I chose to be baptized in the Catholic Church when I was 20 years old. I am now 35 and over the last 15 years I have had an “unstable” relationship with Him. Mostly do to the lack of learning on my part. The one absolute understanding I do have is that, although I have not ever heard my Father talking to me directly, I can hear Him through the voice of others., and when I do it is like that person heard my words to Him and they’re speaking directly to me. This is one of those times. Thank you Sarah Mea for answering Our Fathers calling and being an inspiration for so many.
Christine says
Sorry didn’t mean to publish twice