Today's Devotion Sunday, May 4, 2003 "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength." (Isaiah 40:29) Today's Thought There is a place in God where we can find increased strength . . . strength to live a holy life according to His will for us. It seems ironic that what we call "surrender" is actually the means to the most powerful place found in God! A soldier in wartime dreads the moment when he is cornered on all sides by the enemy and forced to surrender . . . he willingly gives up all his personal rights, leaving him totally vulnerable to his captor. But with God, this is exactly what He desires for us . . . to totally surrender to Him . . . to willingly give up all our personal rights and become totally vulnerable to Him! He wants to "captivate" us totally through our surrender to Him! "To them that have no might he increaseth strength" . . . When our might and our strength to do things our own way are surrendered to Him, we lay down our will to the Father enabling Him to increase His strength in us . . . He is able to empower us for service . . . He is then able to provide everything we need that pertains to life and godliness. "We must decrease that He may increase" . . . "to them that have no might he increaseth strength"! Have you totally surrendered? Have you decreased that He may increase? Is the strength in your life His strength or are you living on your own might? Examine yourself today and make a decision to totally surrender to Him so His strength will be increased in you . . . so He will be seen in all you do, everywhere you go, and in whatever you set your hand to! Glorify Him today through total surrender . . . it's our highest calling! Today's Prayer Father, I long to be totally surrendered to You. It is a place I desire more than anything . . . not for the empowerment, not for the blessings, not for any other reason other than to glorify You! Father, I recognize total surrender as my highest calling . . . but I'm calling upon You for help as I fall so short of the mark so many times! Help me surrender to you totally . . . help me decrease that You may increase . . . help me walk in my highest calling . . . total surrender to You! Amen! Have a blessed day! Jan Ross jan@... "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. (Isaiah 54:17) ~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~ "Sha'alu Shalom Yerushalayim" (Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem) Psalm 122:6 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----