When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment . . . and plunged into the sea —John 21:7

Have you ever had a crisis in your life in which you deliberately, earnestly, and recklessly abandoned everything? It is a crisis of the will. You may come to that point many times externally, but it will amount to nothing. The true deep crisis of abandonment, or total surrender, is reached internally, not externally. The giving up of only external things may actually be an indication of your being in total bondage.

Have you deliberately committed your will to Jesus Christ? It is a transaction of the will, not of emotion; any positive emotion that results is simply a superficial blessing arising out of the transaction. If you focus your attention on the emotion, you will never make the transaction. Do not ask God what the transaction is to be, but make the determination to surrender your will regarding whatever you see, whether it is in the shallow or the deep, profound places internally.

If you have heard Jesus Christ’s voice on the waves of the sea, you can let your convictions and your consistency take care of themselves by concentrating on maintaining your intimate relationship to Him.

Journal DJR

Good Morning Lord. The song says that “you ruined my life” but made a miracle. It’s the kind of ruining that I need. But it seems like if I try to schedule it … it doesn’t work, doesn’t really happen. Initially this devo was depressing and guilting me… But the last thought redeems it all… “let your convictions and your consistency take care of themselves by concentrating on maintaining your intimate relationship to Him.” It gives me something “to do” that seems in the realm of possibility to me. Concentrating on maintaining our intimate relationship. But as I think about it, I even need your help with that. Bottom line: I just need you. Left to my own devices, I run amuck. Thank you for loving me and not kicking me out, and providing everything that I need. Along with Paul, I say “Thanks.”

1 Corinthians 15:57 (NIV)
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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