Glory Seed Devotionals, 2015: Year of Promise
Never give up – Instead surrender to God…

Every one of us at one time or another has wanted to give up. The path got dark and littered with pitfalls, the way out seemed so far away, we got tired and with our strength nearly gone we’ve pondered our seemingly hopeless and helpless situation and joined Elijah, “I've had enough. Just let me die!" (1 Kings 19:4 CEV) Then we collapsed and waited for the end – but the end never came because hidden deep in our hearts was the God given desire to keep plugging away, keep hoping not for an ending but for a new beginning, a beginning filled with courage to hope, insight into being patient in long suffering, and waiting to experience Divine Peace.

Does all of that have a familiar ring?
Have you been there before?
Are you there right now?

If your answer is yes to any one or all of those questions then Paul has some good advice for you. “Never give up. Eagerly follow the Holy Spirit and serve the Lord. Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying. Take care of God’s needy people and welcome strangers into your home.” (Romans 12:11–13, CEV)

However, there is a flip side to never giving up. The book of Job explains. “Surrender to God All-Powerful! You will find peace and prosperity. Listen to his teachings and take them to heart. If you return to God and turn from sin, all will go well for you. So get rid of your finest gold, as though it were sand. Let God All-Powerful be your silver and gold, and you will find happiness by worshiping him. God will answer your prayers, and you will keep the promises you made to him. He will do whatever you ask, and life will be bright.” (Job 22:21-28 CEV) Hope comes alive when surrendering to God.

Because it is very easy to give up, to sit comfortably doing nothing waiting for the end and it isn’t easy giving up the things we take comfort in and surrender them and our lives to God we have this PROMISE from God. “The LORD gives strength to those who are weary. Even young people get tired, then stumble and fall. But those who trust the LORD will find new strength. They will be strong like eagles soaring upward on wings; they will walk and run without getting tired.” (Isaiah 40:29-31 CEV)

Believe! Anticipate! Experience! Be transformed!
Grace and PEACE, Amen!
Gary

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Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13 LEB)

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Scriptures marked CEV, “Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.”