God’s Sovereignty

The definition of sovereignty is supreme power or authority.

As a modern, independent woman, I think the word surrender conjures up negative feelings. We’ve been taught that a woman can do anything a man can do, and she doesn’t need a man to survive, etc. When we think about surrendering, it makes us feel a bit weak. When we say we want to completely surrender to God, how seriously do we take that sentiment? Have you ever said, “God I surrender my whole life to you,” and then a few days or even minutes later God speaks something in your spirit and you think, "umm…no not that part. I would rather keep control of that piece of my life."

What does supreme power and authority look like in everyday life? It is anything as small as, should I buy that pair of shoes or something as big as, should I take this job? God’s sovereignty is complete, with no questions. His complete control over your life. So how do we justify unjustifiable outcomes? How do we continue to trust when a child dies as his mother prays for healing? How do we continue to have faith and love God when we see our world falling apart? One-word FAITH. Our faith that God is God and we are not. Our faith that He has a plan that we may not be able to see this side of heaven.

Let’s look at the story of Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 22). Abraham had been waiting for years for this promised, beloved child, and yet one day God asks him to take Isaac and sacrifice him on the alter. And we’re like, ‘wait, what?!?!’ Nope. I don’t think so. If we look at the story, Abraham did not hesitate or even ask any questions. He just did it.

Warren Wiersbe Bible Commentary says that Abraham believed God and obeyed Him when he did not know where, he did not know when, and he did not know how. He knew God would provide, even if He allowed him to kill Isaac, Abraham believed He would raise Isaac from the dead since God had told him that through Isaac He would establish His covenant. He had faith in God’s promises.

All too often when our faith is being tested, we ask God why? Wiersbe states the fact that we ask our Father for explanations suggests that we may not know ourselves as we should or God as we should.’

FAITH DOES NOT DEMAND EXPLANATION – FAITH RESTS ON PROMISES.

There is a little booklet called My Heart – Christ’s Home by Robert Boyd Munger based on Eph 3:16-17, "That God may grant you to be strengthened with might through his Spirit in the inner man, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith’ or ‘That Christ may settle down and be at home in your hearts by faith." It shows how Christ moves into your heart at salvation and slowly begins to change things in your heart, going through each room. At the end, the man realizes that he had made Christ a guest in his heart instead of giving Him ownership. It was only after he had given over ownership to Christ that the work of keeping his heart clean became easier.

These are the rooms discussed in the booklet:

• The Study – Is your mind Christ centered? Are there things on the walls of your mind that need to be removed?

• The Dining Room – Are you eating the food that satisfies the soul, doing the will of your heavenly father?

• The Living Room – Do you know that Jesus waits expectantly and excitedly to spend time with you every day? Do you take that time?

• The Workroom – What are you producing with your life for the kingdom of God? How are you using the gifts and talents He has given to you? Do you try to use those gifts on our own, do you ask Christ to do it through you?

• The Rec Room – Do you take God everywhere you go? And in everything you do?

• The Bedroom – Is your sexual life pure?

• The Hall Closet – Do you have any skeletons, secret sins you are trying to hide from God?

• Transferring the Title – Have you signed over the deed of your heart to Christ?

• Do you think Jesus feels at home in your heart?

Until we can get to place of transferring the title of our heart to Christ,

we cannot be truly surrendered to God’s Sovereignty!