by Helen Grace Lescheid
** Are you feeling hopeless? We have mentors who would love to talk with you. http://thelife.com/experience/talk-to-a-mentor/
Listen to this devotional read aloud online: http://thelife.com/blogs/experience/kindle/2008/10/07/kneeling-on-both-knees-4/
“…‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment’” (Matthew 22: 37 & 38)
I met a man -whom I shall call Dave- who showed me what full surrender to God will do for a person.
Dave was different from the kids at school: he could never catch up in learning or in sports with his peers. He was teased as being “dumb” and was picked on. The teachers lectured him to apply himself but his mind froze when they asked him the simplest question. He just couldn’t do it and nobody seemed to know what was wrong with him.
Getting a job was another problem. When he did have one, the anxiety of keeping it caused him to turn to alcohol to steady his nerves. Soon Dave became addicted to alcohol and prescription drugs, which he was taking for a bipolar disorder. He acted irresponsibly at work and had several serious accidents. The boss said, “You’re a menace at this job,” and let him go. Feeling completely hopeless, Dave attempted suicide several times. Once he was unconscious for seven days. When he awoke, he found his family at his bedside praying fervently for his recovery.
Dave began to pray on his own. He said, “I had always prayed on one knee telling God that I wanted His help so that I could be in control of myself. But this time, I dropped on both knees and wept before the Lord. ‘I’ve made a terrible mess of my life,’ I said. ‘If you still want me, I give you all there is of me.’”
“My life has made a 180 degree turn around,” Dave concluded. “I haven’t been on alcohol for six years. I start each day with a prayer of surrender and a gratitude journal. I feel more hopeful than I have in many years. I’m reconciled with my family. In fact, my wife and I are trying to write my story thinking it might help someone else.”
Listening to Dave’s story, I thought, how often do we pray to God with the attitude: “God, if you’ll help me, I’ll do better.” Dave called it praying on one knee, which means I want some control myself. But before God can do anything for us, He must have all of us. We must pray on both knees.
Permanent devotional link: http://thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/kneeling-on-both-knees/
~Lord, Please help me to give You all of me today. May I hold nothing back as I give You complete control. In Jesus’ name I ask this, amen.
Questions: Is there something in your life you need to turn over to God completely? It may be your job or your children or your husband. In surrender and acceptance we open the door for God to come in and work.
About the Author: http://talk.thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/helen-lescheid/
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October 10th, 2008 at 5:37 am
I am so thankful for this devotional. I have recently become unemployed and my husband’s car has broken down. It is times like these when I am encouraged because I know God has all of this in His hands. I will bend on both knees!
October 10th, 2008 at 7:09 am
hi i read this “Kneeling On Both Knees” at the end of it, its been give to “surrender yr job or your children or your husband. In surrender and acceptance we open the door for God to come in and work.”
how to do this? i am a chirstian but how do i do this?
October 10th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Suvitha, it means that you give the situation totally over to the Lord. You give it up, surrender it to Him and let it go, trusting that the Lord will take care of everything. This is not always easy to do, but I too am learning that once I have let it go I may have to do it again, continually. For me this has been a process. I hope this helps you understand surrendering-letting go.
October 10th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Oh! We all need to get on our knees and pray for our country. Pray that the Lord will bring His Holy Spirit back to the US OF A. Our country was founded on biblical principals and we have gotten so FAR away from God. Pray . . . pray . . . pray.
And pray for our elections and the economics for our country.
October 10th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Helen, thank you for such wonderful devotional. To Judy D: “Amen” to your comments.
October 10th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Judy D, amen to that!! I recently read, on another Christian devotional, that our nation’s social deterioration is due to the gradual surrender of Christians to the enemy! Satan has the power to influence our media, our government, our public schools because Christians have abandoned our culture, basically handing it over to the enemy! Not willing to stand up for Truth, we have compromised our Christian principles, and forsaken our Christian heritage, that this great nation was founded upon! We desperately need to claim God’s promise from 2 Chronicles 7:14 which says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” We, in the USA, would ask that our brothers and sisters across the globe would please pray for our nation, for our humble repentance before God, for His mercy upon us, and for His restoration!
October 10th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
My dear friends,
I am with you in prayer….JudyD and Marilyn and anyone else who has heard this cry for prayer. We in Australia are already feeling the effects of the economic crisis in the US. I fully agree with you Marilyn…we are lettting the enemy take hold of our Christian culture because we are not willing to stand up for Truth, to surrender all to God and live our lives by his wisdom and guidance. This is a timely devotion which should give us all alot to reflect on as we look to God to forgive us, deliver us and change us into a people who will glorify Him and trust and depend on Him. Loving you all from here, Donna
October 10th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Dear DonnaL, your faithful prayers are coveted by those of us who so desire for God to heal our land! Thank you for standing in the gap for us!! God bless you, dear sister and friend! And, sending love to you, as well! :)
October 10th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
DonnaL, thank you for your prayers . . . from clear over there in Australia. You mentioned we have not been standing up to the Truth.
My husband and I recently attended a focus on the family satellite broadcast called the truth project. Our DVDs just arrived and now we will go though them and have a bible study and teach otheres. Please pray for that. Below is listed a couple of websites to explain about the Truth Project.
http://www.youtube.com/user/TruthProject
http://www.thetruthproject.org/whatistruthproject/
October 10th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Thank you, Marilyn and others. You are so right. As Christians, in a Nation ..founded on Christian principles, I believe many of us have been complacent and apathetic, as we have watched our Nation become more worldly and influenced by unGodly people.
We have become, as a whole, uninformed, realize we need change…but are in danger of following anyone who simply uses the word.
I totally agree with 2 Chronicles 7:14, and it does not just stop with the USA. We must join Christians all over the world and pray for our leaders.
Next week, our Canadian friends are facing an important election….and we must pray for and with them as well.
I must start with myself, right here at home. I think of the scripture…
Psalm 139:23 “23 & 24…. ” Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”
May we be different…that we will be a people of faith and boldness…who do not compromise out of fear that we won’t be accepted.
I believe we can change our Nations, if we begin right here in our hearts, in our homes, towns and cities. I pray we will stand up for Godly principles, and be Holy Spirit filled as we as we bow faithfully before Him .
And….if we do this, claim Isaiah 65:24 “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. ”
Thank You Lord, for going to the Cross that we may have salvation. I pray that as we seek forgiveness in our lives and our nations, that our faithfulness will be sweet fragrance to You…that You will hear our prayers and heal our land.
In Jesus Name…..
October 11th, 2008 at 8:29 am
Dear Patti, you are so right — it must start with ourselves! We cannot be lighthouses for God if we live by the world’s standards and principles! We either believe the Bible or we don’t, but it is not a smorgasbord for us to choose from! This gradual secular mindset that has infected the Christian church has produced ‘Christians’ who think like the world, and renounce biblical standards and Truth as ‘extremism.’ I think we have allowed our ‘Christian’ denominations to become so watered down with secularism in our churches, that many in the pews don’t even know what the Bible teaches, or the Bible is offered as ‘fiction,’ mere stories to ponder, with nice principles to apply to our lives, if convenient and not too constricting! Churches are meant for worship, for the believer, who has received Christ and recognizes the Bible as Truth. It is where believers go to collectively worship God, through His Son, and where they are refreshed, encouraged, and equipped to go out and share the ‘Good News’ with a darkened world! So many of our churches have become social networks, where a little Bible teaching is combined with ‘programs’ to entertain their membership, in the name of numbers. We so need to reclaim our churches for God, and be true Christ-followers, not fearful of man, but fearful of God!
October 11th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Please forgive me if I have offended anyone here with my passionate plea for reform, but I am certain that God is offended by the condition of His Church, and what offends Him, ought offend us!
October 11th, 2008 at 9:52 am
Marilyn, there is no need for an apology - you spoke the truth in love. God loves your passionate plea, reminding all of us that He has called us to be “Jesus in skin” to the rest of the world. (My pastor uses the term “cracked pots” through which Jesus’ light can shine! :D)
You go, girl!
October 11th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Thank you for your words of encouragement, Sheila! I am angry at Satan, for it is he who has so duped God’s people! And, sadly, because many Christians do not know their Bible, they are easily fooled by a little Truth mixed with ‘political correctness.’ If our hearts truly long to know God and discover His Truth, He is faithful to reveal Himself to us. And, as His Spirit uncovers this Truth, we can discern between Truth and lies. But, God knows our hearts, and therefore, He knows who will receive Truth, and He hides it from those who He knows will reject it. We must beware of false teachers, for we are warned about the prevalence of them, particularly in the endtimes. Again, when Christians are ignorant of the Bible, they are perfect targets for Satan, as they are ill-equipped to defend The Word, or discern Truth from lies. This is why we are told as Christians to gird ourselves with the armor of God, that we may stand strong against the evil schemes of Satan! “Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus, going on before.”
Precious Lord, we praise You for being our Shield and our Defender in this spiritual battle in these days! We know that the victory is Yours, Lord, and so we have hope and peace in the midst of this warfare! We humbly bow before You, confessing our sin of rebellion against You and Your Word, asking for Your mercy and forgiveness to wash us clean. Break our hearts, Lord, that You may empty them of our selfish and evil pursuits, then rinse them with Your cleansing blood, and fill them with Your Spirit! Come alive in us, Holy Spirit, and renew our minds! Feed us Your Truth, that anything less leaves us hungry and wanting! Grant us Your eyes, Lord, that we might mourn for the lost, recognizing that it is only by Your grace that any one of us are saved! Help us, Lord, to pray fervently, unceasingly for our leaders, that they would seek Your face and govern us according to Your principles and Your wisdom! Heal our land, Lord, and start with me! In Your most hallowed Name we pray, Amen!
October 11th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Good Morning Dear Friends,
What a joy it is to stand with my Christian sisters and join in prayer for the lost and misinformed!! JudyD thanks for the website reference, it will be a priviledge to pray for your bible study group. Marilyn thanks to you too and Patti for your words that will make many stop and think about how this world has influenced us in such a way that we have allowed worldly thinking take over our families and churches. Our church has 2,000 on its role, but how sad it is when our average Sunday attendence is half that because we don’t want to honour God first. Instead we get swept away by all the world offers. Yes, this is a battle and I imagine it will get worse before it gets better. But we know that God is sovereign and nothing is beyond his control. You are right Patti and Marilyn…it starts with each one of us. God can do amazing things with the smallest of things. Love to you all today. My thoughts and prayers are with each one of you. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship the the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2Cor13:14
October 12th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Thank you for the devotion. I am really blessed for the message. There are times in our life that when we depend on our self-sufficiency we tend to forget God which is the source of everything. Thank God for his promises never fails during our hardship and storms of life Our Sovereign God is always there for us. Great is His Faithfulness. Praise Him Forever.
October 12th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Thank you for the devotion. I am really blessed with the message. There are times in our life that when we depend on our self-sufficiency we tend to forget God which is the source of everything. I really thank God for his promises never fails, He is always there for us. Great is HIS faithfulness. Praise HIS NAME Forever.