Real Living
The Value Of Surrender Part 1
In this episode Lavinia Spirito and Mary Lou Nemechek discusses the concept of surrender, particularly in a religious context. Lavinia and Mary Lou emphasize that surrendering to God's will is not about passivity, fatalism, or indifference, but rather an active and faithful engagement with God's plan.
Key points from their discussion include:
- Distinction of Surrender: Surrender to God should not be confused with giving up or being passive. It's about actively choosing to follow God's will, which is seen as a path to holiness and sanctification.
- Holiness and Faithfulness: They reference Jean-Pierre de Caussade, highlighting that holiness is about being faithful to God's plan. This faithfulness is within everyone's reach and is crucial for sanctification.
- Understanding God's Will: Surrender involves recognizing and accepting God's will, trusting that God's plans are ultimately for our good, even if they seem difficult or unclear.
- Fear of the Lord: Lavinia discusses the concept of the fear of the Lord, explaining that it means acknowledging God's sovereignty and our place in His plan, not living in fear or anxiety.
- Daily Surrender: Surrender is a daily, ongoing process, not a one-time choice. It involves continuously seeking and submitting to God's guidance.
- Analogy of a Child: They compare this surrender to the trust and dependence of a child on their parents, suggesting that a similar trust in God leads to peace and freedom.
- Cultural Context: They touch on the challenges posed by modern values of individualism and autonomy, which can make surrendering to God's will countercultural and difficult.
- Role of Trust: The importance of trusting God, even in the face of past hurts or abuses of authority by others, is highlighted. Trusting God's overarching authority guarantees a positive outcome.
- Practical Surrender: They encourage listeners to look to God for guidance in the midst of life's challenges and to trust in His plan rather than relying solely on worldly solutions.
The episode concludes with a promise to explore different levels of surrender in future discussions, indicating that the journey of surrendering to God has many layers and stages.