Surrendered Treasures

Written by Dorothy Brown

by Vonette Bright

“Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4 ).

A missionary working overseas found the perfect rug for her apartment. It was a treasure! …so beautiful, spread out in her living room.

But God wanted to teach her a lesson about holding “things” loosely… Some villagers came to visit right after working in the fields. One of them headed straight to her living room. His flip – flops and feet were covered with mud. Right onto her new rug!!!

What a lesson for the missionary! She discovered giving up her selfish desires was not quick or painless. But God moved in her heart to surrender everything to Him… even her new rug.

Friend, is there something you need to surrender to God? Kneel before Him and nail your treasures to His cross. Then you will be able to say, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”

Voices of the Faithful: Inspiring Stories of Courage from Christians Serving Around the World with Beth Moore and friends www.integritypublishers.com

About the Author
This devotional was written by Vonette Bright. Learn more about Vonette: http://www.talk.thelife.com/authors/vonette-bright/

Related reading
Beyond expectations: http://retirementwithapurpose.com/lifestories/normabecker.html

9 Responses to “Surrendered Treasures”

Loading comments
leticia says:

February 2, 2007 at 5:17 am

i’m going to be married this yaer
as to hoh or when, i cant tell
i dont even have a fiancee,but i,m trusting GOD on his word and his promises
cos i know his promises are sure and amen
sometimes i want to be in control and take charge
and work things out my own way
but i know it’ll definately not end well with me
a much as i want to marry,i also want to obey GOD
its not easy surrendering my will under GODS will
cos its painfull sometimes
but i pray HE helps me to hold on in the faith
cos his lpans for me i know is the best and his promises are sure and amen
may HE gant me the grace to be submissive and obedint to him
amen
leticia says:

February 2, 2007 at 5:01 am

i surrender my mariage in your hands oh LORD
this year,i’m going to be married
as to how or when i cant tell
i dont even have a fiancee
but i’m holding on on his his and his promises
cos i know his promises are sure and amen
though i sometimes want to help myself,like sarah asked abraham to,
i really want to surrender my will under his will
cos i know his ways are higher than my ways and his thoughts higher than mine
may YOUR will be done oh LORD in my life
and give me the strenght to hold on
His Princess says:

January 28, 2007 at 3:57 pm

Everything I surrender to you my life, my marriage, my children, my carreer…
So often though I take it back and instead of you being in control I make a mess of things again. Help me through your Holy Spirit (wind) that i will let you sail my ship.
I so much want to be the person you want me to be, but I can’t do this in my own strength. I need you Holy Spirit to renew and change me. Give me wisdom so i make the right decisions. Be my shepherd and guide me show me where you want to change me. Grow me into something beautiful and let me glorify you with my life.

Make me clean as sometimes I am covered in mud like that rug, but I am still
Your princess
His Princess says:

January 28, 2007 at 3:41 pm

Everything I want to surrender to you Jesus. My life, my marriage, my children, my carreer … So often though I don’t completely surrender it to you. I take it back and instead of you being in control it is me making a mess of things again. Today I choose this day to give it all back to you. You be in control let your Holy Spirit (wind) sail my ship at least that way we are going somewhere. Give me wisdom so I make the right decisions, let me love others the way you would love them. When I am weak and when instead of love there is anger in my heart. I ask that through your Holy Spirit you will show me and that you change and renew me into this person, that I so want to be, but can never be through my own strength. I need you, Be my shepherd, help me with my struggles, show me what is really important and guide me this year so I will glorify you with my life and make a difference.
Sometimes covered in mud like that rug but still I am
your princess
marcy says:

January 28, 2007 at 12:28 pm

I am really struggling to deal with our friends,they just pop in unexpectedly and no matter if i have guest for dinner they just make themselves comfortable and join in.As a chritians, i know that God requires of me to be tolerent but this is really getting to much to handle,what do i do or am i very selfish?God please remove this thorn out of my flesh.AMEN
Mary Leers says:

January 28, 2007 at 8:31 am

This devotional is the best. If we can surrender these things to God Our lifes will truly be changed. I need to work on this daily and am so glad to be reminded today as I start my day. We have so much to be grateful for. My gateful list will be full today. Thank you so much for letting me get things in proper perspective. I will start praying for others who need my prayers and not listen to self pity today.
deanna says:

January 28, 2007 at 6:53 am

Even while I read this devotion I am struggling. My kids are having a horrible time in school. Very rough school. Daughter being called horrible things and afraid of being beat up. She is in grade 6. While my son struggles as well, being punched in face etc. Rough school like I said, but maybe this stuff goes on everywhere. I want to put them in the christian school, however the cost at times to me would be overwhelming. I am struggling with do I just step out in faith and put them in the christian school. Cost is great. Trying to turn this over to God..Ladies please remember me in prayer. I am a single mom working full time and knowing the abuse the kids can and do go through is overwhelming at times.
Gerry says:

January 28, 2007 at 5:30 am

Chris, I just started reading a book that might be of interest to you. It’s called, “Telling Yourself the Truth”, by William Backus and Marie Chapian. Here is a quotation from page 59: “At times there will be no need to talk about your angry feelings to the person you’re angry with because you will have taken care of it by talking it over with the Lord alone. With your cooperation, He often can remove anger from you in the privacy of your prayer closet.” Have a blessed day!
Chris says:

January 28, 2007 at 5:07 am

Thank You for this devotional, I have so many things I need to turn over to GOD each day. For right now, the biggest thing is turning over my temper to HIM. I can get so angry over the smallest things.
Sweet JESUS, I ask that you take over my temper and teach me to let others know when something they say or do is bothering me in a way that is not disstrutive to me.
THIS I ASK IS JESUS CHRIST NAME AMEN!!!!!!