Surrender Value**

There are so many things in today’s world to be distracted by (like social media and other electronics). If one isn’t careful, their steps (little by little) can be headed innocently in a direction that neither they (nor God ever intended). The end result can turn out to be nothing but danger.

It’s important to live one’s life path in light of Psalm 37:23 (NIV). “The Lord makes [certain] the steps of the one who delights in Him.”

Verse three and the chorus of Phil Joel’s song, “Take My Heart,” summarize what we all need to know in allowing the Almighty to be in charge.

Verse Three

Here we are, the day is young
What will be? What will become now?
I'm gonna let You decide
I'll be me and You be You
Why do I confuse the two?
I've gotta swallow my pride

Chorus
Take my heart, take it all
I lay my life down at Your feet
'Cause I want what You want for me
Take my heart, take it all

The eternally important factor to find out in one’s life is do you have a personal, intimate relationship with the Heavenly Father, or do you know a lot about Him? Hear God’s voice clearly among the hundreds of other voices vying for your attention. You decide.

Have you ever thought of yourself as a sacrifice? One definition of that word is “something that is highly valued being given up for the sake of something else of greater value.” Romans 12:1-2 (MSG) gives us a much clearer insight into the idea of being a sacrifice for the Heavenly Father.

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—you’re sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.

Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”

*Inspired by a sermon from Phil Joel (of Zealand Worship and Newsboys), July 31, 2016, CenterPoint Church Gahanna, Gahanna, OH

**This term refers to the worth of an insurance policy for the owner (or the beneficiary) upon its expiration.