Surrender

The Midwest this tour, whether sun, snow, rain, or tornado was successful! Our continual prayers to win back the middle of the country were answered and we had a tour full of amazing hosts and awesome ministry. One of my favorite times of ministry was in Lynwood, IL. We were short a team member which left the four of us remaining to do the two services and workshop for that weekend. We weren't quite sure how we were going to manage but we knew God was in control. As soon as we got to the church we hit it off amazingly with the hosts. We knew everything was going to be just fine. One of the guys that was with us all weekend had mentioned to us that he was in school to be a surgeon. The pastor felt that he was called to ministry but we couldn't convince this kid of it. We found out that his father was a minister but when he wasn't behind the pulpit he was a completely different man; a different, abusive, man. It was obvious that his heart was turned off to anything that had to do with ministry but we just kept praying that God would change his heart. Sunday morning came around and we did our usual Sunday morning skit list which included a skit called Surrender. It was about surrendering our will and lives completely to God.  One of the scenarios was about quitting your job. This hit the guy we were with and at the altar call he came up to the altar barely able to stand and said that he would quit school right now to preach if God called him to and that he was open to whatever God had for his life and was willing to do it. We were so excited! God had answered our prayers. And not only that, at the end of the service the whole youth group was filled with the Holy Spirit and wounds were being healed right and left. God did all of this through four hesitant people! 

Surrender is beautiful. Sometimes, God may ask us to surrender stuff we don't want to or think we shouldn’t have to surrender like our will, our friends, our families, our strengths, our weakness, our pride, our life. Whatever it is God asks us to give it to him. Jeremiah 50:15 says "Shout war cries against her from every side.  Look! She surrenders!  Her walls have fallen. It is the LORD’s vengeance, so take vengeance on her. Do to her as she has done to others!" The part I want to focus on is "Look! She surrenders! Her walls have fallen!" That’s exactly what it is to surrender to Christ, our walls fall, and we are no longer bound by the walls between us and our Father. We need to let our walls fall, whether it is asking for help, letting an old habit die, or letting go of the desires we hold so dear, we need to let our walls begin to crumble so that God can bulldoze the rest. I want people to be able to look at me someday and say "Look! She surrenders! Her walls have fallen!" No matter how painful or difficult we need to surrender in the end it will have been the most beautiful thing we could have done.

As of right now, this summer will be my last tour in the ministry. I appreciate so much the support I have received over the past two years. Knowing that people have been praying and providing for me has been more than enough encouragement to keep going. I pray that God blesses you ten fold for the blessings you have poured onto me. Thank you!

May God bless you,
Brittany