This morning 8/9/08, I was arrested for possessing stolen property! Because of the value and issues involved it was a federal felony crime! I was out for one of my last long runs training for an upcoming race. I had just spent two days at Willow Creek’s Leadership Summit, Thursday and Friday. I think it was sleeping on the powerful things I heard that prompted my arrest. I was running and really sensed the Lord calling me to a deeper surrender of my life. I actually sensed Him saying you are in possession of stolen property, you actually belong fully to Me (You have been bought with a price) but you have taken possession of something that no longer belongs to you. I’m not going to give you all the gory details of the exchange but I believe I came to the fullest surrender of my Christian life. First, He started with who He is. Do you believe I’m Good? Do you believe I’m fair? Do you believe I’m safe and can be trusted? Why do you hold back so much of yourself then? Why do you draw so many lines you are not willing to cross for Me? By now I’m ready and willing to begin the process of looking deeply into myself and I start surrendering areas I have been squeezing tightly.

 

Lord, I surrender my rights: To Live near the coast. To ever even see an ocean again. To have creature comforts. To pursue the "American Dream." To ever retire. To live where I can see family even children. To ever expect anyone to forgive me for a wrong I’ve committed. Lord, I die to myself so the life I now live will be Christ in me. There was way more, some very personal, the bottom line is each moment of each day at every fork in the road when I have a choice between my desire and His will, His will wins. What He chooses to do with me if anything is totally His business. I’m called to love Him, even if I never sense His presence again in my earthly life. As Job said, though He slay me yet will I trust Him. He is Good, He is fair, and He is safe and I belong fully to Him!

 

Scott