Y is for Yield is the 25th post in my Prayer A to Z series which you can find here.
Do I have to Yield?
I have to admit, I’m not a big fan of the world YIELD. I’m certain I was a stubborn and sassy child. And Hubby will probably nod vigorously if you ask him if I have trouble with submission in general.
In fact, here in Oklahoma, we have an annual Women’s Retreat at Falls Creek Campgrounds. The first year I went, I even had to attend a breakout session on submission. And I remember bristling at it.
I think that’s because I had the wrong idea about what it means to yield. I was thinking “Doormat,” while God means “power under control.”
When you YIELD to merge onto the highway, you don’t let other cars run over you. You let them go first. You pay attention to what THEY are doing, and you move/react accordingly.
That’s what God wants. He wants us to pay attention to what He’s already doing and let Him take the lead.
Jesus, take the wheel rudder. I yield.
In three of the four Gospels, we can read the story of Jesus asleep in a boat while the disciples freaked out over a storm that’s threatened to capsize their vessel. (Matt. 8, Mark 4, Luke 8) In each account, the men rush to wake Christ up and then get to witness a miracle: Jesus calmed the storm.
Of course, He also commented on their lack of faith. They were heading off in the direction Christ want to go, but they were trying to take control of the situation — and it wasn’t going well at all. Jesus was there the whole time, but they weren’t engaging with Him at all. They had to yield – EVERYTHING – control, safety, worry, etc. — to Him. And when they failed, He scolded them for their lack of faith.
You see, you can’t yield any part of your life to God without faith. And God doesn’t just want the easy parts. He wants us to turn over control of our WHOLE HEART.
The payoff:
When we finally yield to God’s Control, there is a payoff. A reward . James 4:1 says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up.” Oh! what a wonderful promise.
Lifted Up
I’ve fallen twice this year. Once on the only icy day in February and once on a rough and irregular sidewalk in July. In February, there was no one there to lift me up. I was flailing about on the ice. Alone. And had to make it back up my front steps on my own.
But in July, a stranger came to my rescue. He helped me to my feet, took me inside the restaurant, and got me help.
When we are struggling in the chaos that life (and the enemy) throws at us, we must yield control to God. He will lift us up – and provide what we need. And ponder this: how easy it is to lift the child who wants to be picked up. And how difficult it is to lift the one who is refusing to relinquish control. Which would you rather be for God?
We shouldn’t just wait until the waves are crashing around us. James 4:10 commands us to “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Did you get the connection?
Submit (Yield) to God + resist the devil = devil flees.
Abba Father, Help me to yield to You daily. I know You love me and want what’s best for me. Help me push aside my strong and stubborn will. Open my heart so I can freely submit to You. I’m stretching my arms to You, Lord. Lift me up!
Thanks for stopping by today. The series Prayer A to Z can be found here.
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