Guardian of My Soul

 

            If you have been reading my Blog for a while, you probably wonder why I talk so much about “surrender”. It’s probably because surrendering to God is something that I struggle with constantly.  I am a control freak – I like to have things planned out and know exactly where I am going and God doesn’t work that way.    That is probably the lesson that I continue to learn every day. 

             As Christians, it should be a “no-brainer” to submit to God’s will, if for no other reason than the fact that He is a whole lot smarter than we are.  But, as human beings, it is out of our character to willingly submit to someone else’s will.

             As a lawyer, I have put that in legal terms.  It’s the difference between a Power of Attorney and a Guardianship.  When there is a choice between a power of attorney and the appointment of a guardian, I always encourage my clients to use a power of attorney because it still allows them to maintain some amount of control.  While someone else has the power to make decisions on their behalf, they still have all their legal rights, they can handle their own affairs to whatever extent they desire, and they can withdraw the power of attorney whenever they want.  In short, they haven’t surrendered anything.  They are still in control.

 In contrast, when a guardian is appointed, the person loses all their rights.  They no longer control their finances, they no longer decide where they live, and they no longer make their own medical decisions.  In effect, they are forced to surrender their will and their future totally to the care of their guardian.

             As Christians, I think we often choose between a power of attorney and guardianship with Christ.  We know that God’s choices for us will be better than our own and so we are willing to give Him some control, but we would prefer that it be in the form of a power of attorney.  That way, when His will is contrary to ours, we can just revoke it and go our own way.  With guardianship, we must totally, and unconditionally, surrender our will to His. 

 Every day I have to examine myself to see if I’m operating in power of attorney mode or if I have truly surrendered guardianship of my life to the God of the universe.  Following Christ isn’t always easy.  Christ said there would be trouble.  Wouldn’t you rather have someone a lot smarter than you calling the shots during that trouble?  I know I would!  So, every day I have to recommit my life to the Guardian of my soul. 

 How about you?  Have you given Christ power of attorney, or have you made Him Guardian of your soul?

 

Matthew 16: 24

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