As I pulled the weeds away from the beautiful rose bush’s base, I noticed the root ball had four sections. I wondered if I should leave them together or divide and place each section at different posts across the fence…
Just like the uprooting of my rose bush, some of my life’s leaves wilted, petals fell to the ground and a few of my branches produced more thorns than blossoms – at least for a while. God was pruning my ministry and my life, teaching me how to surrender my plans for His.
It was hard. But God was doing a new thing and allowing me to perceive it. (Is.43:19) That was five years ago and I can say without a doubt that I wouldn’t be the woman I am today if He had not uprooted me and planted me in a new place, with new dreams.
It’s easy to doubt God, ourselves and our futures when our lives feel uprooted and our dreams fall apart. For years, I had allowed pain in my past to hinder me from trusting God with my future. I allowed insecurities and fears to keep me from living in the assurance of His promises and the confidence of His love.
The only way I could surrender my former soil was to get rooted in God’s love. So I spent time with Jesus. He was all I had. Each time I wanted to cry or run, I took the broken pieces of my heart and my will and gave them to Him. I was honest with Him about how I felt. How disappointed I was. How mad I was. How hurt I was. How scared I was.
Each day I would ask Him to show me how to process my pain or my questions through His truth. How to rely on Him. How to embrace what He was doing so that I would become more like Him. I remember reading, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. “(Philippians 2:5-7)
As I asked Him to help me understand, I began to see How God could reveal more of Himself through me as I depended more on Him. Eventually those around me would enjoy the new blossoms that were produced through my surrender..
I read through the book of John, journaling each time I noticed Jesus laying down His comforts, His familiar places and people, His rights, His life – to bring glory to His Father. And each time I would let go a little more.
It taught me absolute dependence on God like I had never known and changed me from the inside out. I came to new place of trusting Him and experiencing His glory in my life and in my family. Even now we are living out the lesson of the rose bush as we make room for a new “planting of the Lord” in our lives. I invite you to read through my posts last week and see our little crown of beauty: a display of His glory revealed through a little girl who’s becoming part of our story!
What is God asking you to surrender? I’d love to know so I can pray for you! And if you’d like a chance to win a copy of my “Beyond the Shadow of Doubt” message on DVD, be sure to click on the word “comments” just below my name, then type in the white box. If you don’t have a blog, just click anonymous. It’d be fun to know your first name, age and city (& email address so I can let you know if you win)!
Oh Renee!
I am in tears as I read this devotion.
I have been a stay at home mom for the past 5 years and my husband is now asking me to return to work outside the home.
I am sad and I am questioning this and I am just not comfortable with it AT ALL!
Your devotion penetrated my heart! Words like surrender and uprooting…wow. That is where I find myself today.
I know that I need to submit to what my husband is asking me…esp if I am praying everyday that God would guide my husband! 😉 I need to take a step of faith and wait expectantly for God to then reveal Himself in this!
So to answer your question…I need to surrender my COMFORT and trust that God will use these changes for HIS glory. It's not about where I feel most comfortable. It's about wanting to be where God wants me to be so He can use me most effectively for HIS purposes!
Bless you Renee!
Amy Hale
Rossville, TN
This is just what I needed to hear this morning. I am struggling with surrendering a long and dear friendship to God. My friend has decided that I am the worst person on the face of the earth and has broken off the friendship. I am struggling with the NEED to defend myself and with how God wants me to act and react.
I am Shelley, 53 and in Minnesota
[email protected]
Renee, you have blessed me today. Thank you. I need to surrender to God's will for every detail of my life. There is so much about my life that I don't understand. My husband has walked away from our marriage after 14 years. My son is 18 years old and can't find his way. My daughter is 24 years old and lives a lesbian lifestyle. I know satan is trying to destroy my family. I am standing in restoration for my marriage and for my family. I am committed to my house serving God. I know God can change everything in my life. I want to trust Him to do just that and get out of His way. I know God is so awesome and I want Him to use me in a mighty way.
God bless you and your family.
My name is Yolonda, and I live in Bartlett, TN.
[email protected]
Hi Renee,
I've been seeking and searching for God to show me why I am where I am. I am on a journey to becoming a life coach, as I believe this is the path He wants me on, but I find myself stuck in my current job (which is not meaningful work) and apprehensive about my new career as a life coach. If you could say a prayer for me, I would be so grateful. I seek His truth and purpose for me.
My name is Jamie and i live in Des Moines, Iowa. My email is [email protected]
Thanks, Renee!
Hi Renee,
your devotion came via email as they always do and I was excited to see the verse you chose from Isaiah 61. It's a verse I've been holding onto recently as I go through some personal struggles with friendships. I'm struggling to trust God that it will turn out to be a 'display of His splendor'.
I absolutely love receiving the Proverbs 31 devotions and would like to join the drawing, too. I live in Ontario, Canada.
([email protected])
Hi Renee,
Thanks for all that you do! Finding these devotions and your blog has truly been a blessing.
I was really excited this morning when I opened my email and found that today's Devotion was about Surrender. God has been speaking to me about surrender, quite a bit lately, although I haven't figured out yet areas I need to surrender more to Him. I know He will continue to reveal that to me.
Melodie, age 32
North Battleford, SK
Your Proverbs 31 message for today was exactly what I needed to hear today.
Please pray for me, my husband,our children, and our marriage as we face some very challenging, devastating obstacles that have the potential to end our marriage. It is very, very hard for me to even consider that this would be anything that God would want for us, and again, as it has for the past three years, the future of our marriage seems hopeless. I rest in in the knowledge that all things are possible with God and that my husband and his strongholds are in God's hands. Please join me in praying that my husband will seek
God and will completely give over his temptations and strongholds to God-the only hope there is to overcome-and finally have the God-centered marriage He wants us to have.
Thank you.
Hey Renee,
I've only been receiving the P31 email devotionals for about 3 weeks now. I look so forward to them here at work. I appreciate you welcoming my prayer request. My job seems to be a little unstable and there is a good chance that I will be let go. The problem I have is I feel like God is telling me to "up root" from this company I have been at for 12 years, while EVERYONE else is telling me to take a different position at the company. I felt I had it all settled with God and leaving was what He had for me. However, as time goes on I feel doubts coming in (from others people as well as spiritually) and I start to wonder did I have it settled before because of my agenda or was it really from God. (I believe the Devil knows my weakness in this area and knows how to use it.) I keep searching my heart and praying that I will be obedient to God because I know His way is BEST so if you could just pray for me to be obedient and not let thoughts of doubt from the evil one interfere with the communication between me and my heavenly father it would mean a TON!
Thank you
Kristi, 30yrs young, Florida
[email protected]
Thanks for your devotion today. The rose bush is a great example of the process we go thru when we are transplanted to new territory. It can be painful but when we are obedient to God the end result is beautiful glory to Him. Right now I am dealing with some negative attitudes I know I must surrender to Him.
God Bless You
[email protected]
OOPS…here is my e-mail address:
[email protected]
Lara O'Brien
Thanks!
Lara
Hi Renee! What wonderful news about your new baby girl! God is SOOOOOOOO good, isn't He?
Right now, I am busily working on the ministry God gave me: God's Perfect Image Ministries (www.godsperfectimageministries.blogspot.com), but I am also still working full-time as a paralegal in a very toxic work environment. Please pray that I would surrender my frustrations to Him – He ultimately knows what is best for me.
God Bless you, Renee!!
Blessings,
Lara O'Brien (Age 41, Atlanta, GA)
please pray for my family situation. My husband left March '08. We married in '75 and I was not even aware we were in trouble. I have grown so much closer to the Lord and ask for guidance. You used 2 of my favorite scriptures today!
Cindy
[email protected]
Thanks so much Renee,
I am going through a time of struggling to surrender to the father, his pruning, his discipling me has left me alone physically. I also had a mentor, they were like family, actually they were the only family I ever knew…now the Lord has removed me from them and they are living out their ministry, while I'm waiting for what the Lord will do with me…there are good days and there those days that I disobey and I just feel like I'm slipping and I can't see or hear what he's doing or even saying….please pray for me.
My name is Sage, 29, from Brooklyn, New York at [email protected]
Thank you so much Renee!
And Stay Bless!
Hello Renee,
I am Carolyn Cummins, Myrtle Beach,SC…I am now 66 and in a new phase of life. I don't want to quit, stop, or become sour in my older years. I don't want to die on the vine! I have been a Christian since age six…God has brought me through much and I can honestly say, "He has never let me down in any way."
I recently was challenged to do a week missions trip to Ecuador…which has ignited me to "BE ALL I CAN BE FOR HIM". My heart seeks an even deeper, newer, knowledge of Him….Thus I read the devotions I get and have just read your blog for the first time. I will be back. Please pray for my daughter, Carla, who will be leaving to go back to Crete,Greece. She has known God but is floundering in her faith…she is teaching English to Greeks and is soon to marry a Greek boy…..I have found her very fragile on different days…many challlenges ahead of her….please pray for God to become more real to her……and that she will fall back in love with Him…….she is talented and gifted…..thanks for your prayers. She has a blog called "Living Happiness"…she doesn't know that I know that but it has given me insight to her struggles…..in Christian love, Carolyn Cummins
Hey Renee,
I think God is asking me to surrender my time and the priorities I have within the minutes and hours I have each day.
This was a great post/devotional–great illustration to go along with it, too! 🙂
Rebecca
Vancleave, MS
34
[email protected]
Thank you …this so ministered to my heart as I am in transition 'again'…His Blessings
Your words have really touched me. I am having a terrible time letting go of a past relationship. I have tried to leave it with God so many times, but my heart is still breaking. Please pray for me to be able to fully give it to him so I can have the peace only God can give me. Thank you so much.
[email protected]
Hello, Renee!
I loved your devotional today, as my mantra as of late has been a saying I heard years ago: "Bloom Where You are Planted". Though I yearn for change in my life, and I feel like I am on the edge of a cliff ready to jump off into God's waiting arms and see where He takes me, I know I must remain rooted where I am, for now, and try to find my way while
I remain here. Though I feel that I have surrendered all I am to Him for His purpose, I sense that there is so much more waiting for me: a deeper relationship with Him, an even greater trust, and a life that I can't even glimpse right now. I loved how you used the retrospective look of five years passing to begin to grasp what God is doing in your life. I pray that the trials I have been facing and the "refining" He is doing in my life will produce the fruit that He is pruning me for.
I am writing from Waukesha, Wisconsin on a gently raining morning. My age? I'm old enough to know better, but young enough to still stumble and fall. I need Jesus so much!
Blessings,
Colleen
[email protected]
Renee, the P31 devo was so fitting for me. I know I am in the middle of something, and although I trust God completely and know He is using this time in my life for refining me, I don't like it, I've told Him and can't wait for it to be over. In your blog you wrote some words that are going to be my prayer. Thank you very much.
Hello Renee–I really enjoyed reading your devotional this morning because it really brought things into prospective for me.
I will be graduating next weekend from college and I just don't know where my next move is. I currently work full-time for a great company that has its issues at times, but I am not sure if I am meant to stay here or explore other options. I don't want to feel as though my degree is being wasted and I am so used to planning out every aspect of my life (so I thought).
Plus my daughter is going to middle school next week and will be riding the bus for the first time. That is freaking me out because I am a very protective mother with many fears. Please pray for us.
Even though this may seem small to some, it is a journey for us and we need prayers.
Latoya, 28 years, Winterville
[email protected]
First I must tell you that your example of the rose bush is a God sent message to me at this time in my life. After eleven years of work,recent raise,service award I was asked to resign over a conflict of interest issue that I had approval for from 3 supervisors. As you can imagine I am feeling angry, hurt and scared. God has taken me out of my comfort zone big time. But at the same time He has sent me messages EVERY DAY since this happened like your's through my daily devotionals and my study of Joseph. My support circle of friends and family is unbelievable. After many years of being a single parent (now of a troubled teenager…another heartache) I have tried to be in control of my life. As my walk with the Lord has progressed in the past five years I am being tested and pruned. I have screamed at Satan to let him know that I will not falter. I will trust my heavenly Father even when my nature is fighting to figure out solutions to my situation and do it on my own. I just wanted you to say a prayer for me and my family. I am so thankful for devotionals which to me seem like manna from Jesus saying, I am here, lean on me and trust me. God bless you and keep you and your ministry successful. Teresa [email protected]
Hi Renee! I am 23 from Stone Mountain, GA, and God is calling me to surrender my career and my relationship to Him. I am currently in graduate school, but I now realize that some of my "career" choice changes have been driven by fear…and I am wondering exactly what God wants me to do. Also, I am engaged…throughout our relationship I have seen God work and move, but now I am doubting us. I don't know if this relationship should have been just for a season or whether this is the right timing. i appreciate your prayers, and thank you so much for your devotion and blog!
[email protected]
I forget, my e-mail is carmen_0_glez@hotmail,com I am the one who lives in Wa state and have a 7 years old husband"nephew.
Hi Renee!
Thanks a lot for your devotional it was like hear my Heavenly Father telling me what is my problem right now with my anger.
My husband and I moved to live in the same property where his family live, is a big struggle to me, they are not believers and that costs me a lot of headaches. Yesterday was a heavy day, his nephew is a little 7 years old boy who have been very attached with me, we pray for him, The Lord show me that his soul is in ruins, we live in Wa. state in a farm and around here we have old barns and that is how his soul and spirit is. My heart is broken for that child but his mother and grandmother are so aggressive to me that some times I just can't stand firm and persevere showing God"s mercy, Please include me in you prayers.
Have a good day!
Love.
Carmen.
Denise thank you for planting of the lord .please pray for me for strenth to keep God way frist me and my boyfriend are trying to live holy for the lord but we fall back into our old sin way try to sustain from have sex.and we want to wait till we are marry please pray for us keep God frist.
Thank you for sharing your story. I have just recently been called into ministry and my pastor is preparing me, "pruning" me, and stretching me. My pastor asked me to do the message last night to the youth and I was all for it. Then when I told him what I was talking about, he asked me to do an alter call as well. That freaked me out at first, but I learned more about how to do it and it was such a wonderful night! Just under a dozen youth kids (jr and sr high) accepted Christ for the first time! There is nothing better in life than to have helped with that! Our God is so good.
[email protected]
Thank you Renee for your wonderful devotion. I needed it more now that ever. A good friend of mine just moved and also I have been diagnosed with a rare disease that can cripple me if now treated agressively. I've always been a control freak but this has definitely been my season of surrender. I do surrender all to the Lord because I know that He knows what is best for me.
Renee,
Thank you for sharing this story. It really helped me to continue to see that letting God lead my life is the best way. It is hard sometimes, especially when we see our "dreams" not turn out as we planned. But God has a greater plan, and I need to be reminded of that everyday.
Wow! Thanks so much for sharing. The timing is perfect! God is calling my 14-year old daughter and I to El Salvador! We are leaving behind everything – every part of "life" as we know it here in North Carolina. But even as I write this, I realize that we are taking with us the most precious part of our "life"; our experiences, our growth, our witness of Him in our every circumstance. Thank you!
I love the rose bush analogy. I would like to participate in the drawing. My name is Rhonda, I am 43 and I live in Apex, NC. My e-mail is [email protected].
Thank you for letting God use you to serve and bless others.
Hi sweet friends, I am reading comments as they come in today and praying for you. We are all going through a lot aren't we? Let's pray for each other today and find comfort and strength in knowing that we are not alone!
Lord, I pray for each of my friends and sisters in Christ. Jesus, I pray that You would meet them here and speak tenderly and reassuringly to their hearts. I pray that you would give them Your peace and a sense of Hope in the new things that you are doing in their lives, in their marriages, in their homes. Give them courage to surrender and trust you! Sweet Savior, You know our pain,our fears, our doubts and the sting of suffering. Please help us to abide in You today and draw from the courage and power You give us through Your Holy Spirit. It is in Your precious Name we pray. Amen.
Like many families now we are struggling financially. Right now I am a stay at mom to my two very young girls. There is a very good possibility that I will have to return to work a lot sooner than I had hoped and wanted and I struggle daily with the idea of having to find good childcare for my girls. I know I must trust in God completely and surrender completely to Him. He has a plan for me and my family and will get us through whatever lies ahead. But right now I am definitely struggling with giving all the stress and worry and questions over to Him to answer.
You write my heart. 🙂
Love you,
K
Renee-
Thank you for your sweeet words; can't wait to see a pic of Aster. I was also touched by the other comments left here and pray for each as I read them. As with others, my life has been shaped by a "superficial" family. and now by my husband's cancer. Many people are praying around the world for us! Remarkably, God has put many things in place; I can see His workings day by day, and He has prepared and molded me/us in ways I could never have predicted. Whatever happens, I am stronger now than I ever could have imagined. Life is still good and our marriage is still intact! God bless you! Pat, 59, Edison, NJ
([email protected])
God have pruned me a lot already. I can't believe at 71, He is still pruning me. Thanks for your message on "Surrendering" There are still many issues I have to surrender: my vanity, my love for material things.
[email protected]
thanks for the devotion and your blog, I sure am in that place that feel like what God was taking me on fell, and your rosebush example, I have to trust even though it seems there is nothing ahead, but press into my father, who will not waste the gifts he has given me
my name is stacy I am 44 years old and live in Cincinnati, OH
Hello I was reading you passage and I felt like it was meant for me. 1 day ago my mom passed away. This is truly hard for me. My parents relationship throughout my life has been superficial. As a child and now adult I have been seeking the love and validation that we all need from a parent. This battle is a beginning for me and I despartely want God to reveal to me the way I can heal and grow to serve him. I am Marissa 49 Howell NJ [email protected]
Hi Renee! God is telling me to surrender myself actively, not just as a lip service.
It's wonderful how God uses everyday things to teach us about Him and ourselves. This just further verifies Him!
For the drawing, my name is Larie, 31, Goldsboro.
smooches,
Larie
Renee,
Loved the devotion today! I am preparing to go in to my last day of work as I will begin working full time in ministry starting Sunday! Please pray for my family as we are obedient and step out in FAITH that HE will provide and protect us! I so love the ministry you ladies do, it was only a few short weeks ago that I was struggling with the decision to leave my full time job and go into ministry all the ladies at church were praying for clarity for me and the following week I get the daily devotional from Marybeth Whalen "Do It" I knew at that moment what I was supposed to do!!! Thank you all for being Women of God that He may speak through you and touch the lives of so many!
Blessings,
Maria Shepherd
[email protected]
Hello,
i have just read you story, with tears in my heart. yesterday i was so confused and hurt, because of what i am going trough, now i understand God wants me to surrender All MY LIFE, i have seen my dreams falling appart and all my support turning their back on me. it is painful but like you said He has to get the glory only Him. I want you to pray so that my hear must be willing to obey and let go on things and people and surrender all in Him.
Thank you for your testimonie. May God bless you in everything.
I am so inspired by the daily devotions. My life is in upside down mode. I come here each morning to read, and come away with such God inspired messages and ideas for my day! Renee, I am going thru some pruning, and your words speak truth. We are in interesting times. I see God's hand in so much more than I ever did. We are dealing with issues of the struggling economy, finances, and the nest emptying..
age 52
Cincinnati, OH
Thank you so much for your stories ,they are such an encouragement in my life.I'm a christian who is still growing ,i'm still wnat to know what God wants me to in His ministry,I want Him to use me.Please pray for me that i may draw closer to God.My name is Ruth Ncube
Renee, this blog was so wonderfully timed with my life right now. In another week my very dear friend and her family will be leaving NY and moving to CO and I am feeling the heartache of separation even though I know it is God's plan for them to move out there. Also, a dear friend of mine passed away yesterday and there are so many questions left unanswered as to why God chose to take him now when he is needed by his family, friends, and church community. Please pray for his family – his name was Phil. Thanks!
Thank you so much for sharing your walk with God with others.It is really encouraging and strenghtening to know that I am not alone in this journey.God is getting me to surrender the hurt and pain of two broken marriages.
Thank you so much for sharing your walk with God with others.It is really encouraging and strenghtening to know that I am not alone in this journey.God is getting me to surrender the hurt and pain of two broken marriages.
Thank you so much for sharing your walk with God with others.It is really encouraging and strenghtening to know that I am not alone in this journey.God is getting me to surrender the hurt and pain of two broken marriages.
I just graduated law school and took the bar however I am still unemployed as well as battling forgiveness of someone who hurt me very deeply. If you would have asked me 3 years ago where I planned to be right now I never would have guessed that this is where I would end up. I feel as if my hard work was for naught. I struggle so much with letting go of what I think my life should be and giving God complete control. Your devotional really touched me today and I thank you for it. If you have time I would greatly appreciate a quick prayer on my behalf. Thank you again
Hi Renee — I've been following the story of Aster and it has touched my heart. It brings back such wonderful memories of bringing my own little girl home from Korea some 21 years ago now.
One of the *many* things (LOL) I'm trying to surrender is my need to try to direct that little girl's life now that she's grown up. It's so difficult to place a child's future in God's hands, knowing full well that she may not go in the direction *I* would like. It's a constant struggle for me!
Thank you for your wonderful words of encouragement and for sharing so much of your personal walk. It is such a great example!
opps here is my email address, 🙂
[email protected]
Lisa
Halifax, NS
Hey Renee:) what a Beautiful little princess you have there, she smiles and you see God:)
God is getting me to surrender the guilt that happens to creep up when i do something he told me to do and my family doesnt agree with and they let me know they dont. It really causes me to second guess myself.
For the drawing you are doing here is my info: My name is Lisa and im 41, and i live in Halifax, NS.
God bless you and your family:)