Surrender 101

We were busy this weekend at the correctional facility where I work. We often do our blood sugar testing with diabetics before they eat in the morning, like around 6:00-6:30 in the morning. This weekend was a different agenda as we had to make some changes with some of our duties. The morning and evening medication nurses's schedule were changed from a 12-hour shift to an 8-hour shift. Along with that, all shifts are involved in sharing "who will do what now" with our duties. So, to make it short, night shift nurses are to give "self-carry medications" [those medications that are allowed for the inmates to keep on their own] previously done by the morning nurses.

So, together with the diabetics, those inmates whose refills were due, were called to come down to the clinic. And it was chaotic indeed! With the bodies slowly filling the small waiting area, one inmate came to my face and in a rude tone of voice, not even asked but sort of demanded, "Give me some toilet paper!". If I wasn't a Christian and if I had not allowed the Lord Jesus to mold me, that inmate might have heard profanities from me and it could even get worse, I could have put her in discipline for being disrespectful to staff.

While I responded to her in a respectful but firm voice, "Please have a seat and you have to wait for your turn when you are called. Do not come to me with that attitude!" So, she had no choice but obeyed. In the back of my mind, that's what we all must do, "surrender"....And this place would be a better place to live in.

The word "surrender" from the dictionary means "to yield to one's possession or power, to give oneself up". It sounds like we are big losers when we do so. But if Jesus' "Surrender 101" classes are offered, we are actually not losers but big time winners, more worth than winning a big lottery jackpot!

When we give in and surrender to Jesus Christ, our lives are transformed in big ways we can't even imagine. Everything happens because of God's grace, not of our own strength. When we yield to Jesus, by accepting Him in our hearts, and making Him our Lord in everything, there is peace, there is true joy despite the trials, and we know that the Holy Spirit will start His work in us by making us grow more like Jesus in our character.

2 Corinthians 3:18 - "All of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him and reflect His glory even more."

Ephesians 4:15- "We will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, Who is the head of His body, the church."

Philippians 1:6 -"I am sure that God, Who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again."

Luke 9:23 - Jesus said to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily, and follow Me."