Lesson 16: Peaceful Surrender
By: David Chaltas

Is it not wondrous that you have been given choices? Everyday, every hour, every minute you are afforded choices and have decisions to make. We must decide what to wear, what to eat, where to go and what to say. We choose to attend school, go to work, and the thousand and one things that demand our attention. It is your will that drives you, that motivates you, and that inspires you. But sometimes our will, our choices, result from the pressure that we encounter daily. Recently I had to reflect upon my choice years ago to make a change in my life. You see I came to a crossroad in which I had to decide whether to continue doing things that were sinful and wrong or to begin rebuilding my life with assistance from one much wiser than me. My choice was simple in its complexity. And it still takes daily commitments to that choice. I chose to have faith. I chose to be happy. I not only chose happiness, I chose a peaceful happiness that passeth all understanding. I continue to choose and serve that all encompassing joy that we call love. I cannot imagine my life without it. And when I think of how simple it was to obtain, I shudder with gratitude to an All Knowing Creator.

Your ancestors knew the basic principle of selection. Your forefathers made the same life or death choices that we encounter. One can only imagine how they felt on the battlefield deciding to follow their conscience and do their duty or disappear into the night. They had choices and understood the consequences of the decision. And I pray, so do we.

You see, ‘God so loved this world that He gave his only Begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.’ So it took the love of God to provide the will of man a choice. What is your choice this day? Are you still making decisions that are leading you nowhere and you find your cup half empty instead of half full? Is falling to your knees in submission to an awesome God too large a price to pay for a complete peace that cannot be described without the first-hand knowledge of it? It seems the whole world is seeking that peaceful surrender that costs nothing and opens the doors to such indescribable joys of the spirit. The asking price is faith in the Father, asking Him to forgive you and to enter into your heart. He is knocking and all you have to do is acknowledge Him as your personal Savior. Many of your ancestors have done it and generations to come will do so too.

Won’t you answer the calling of the peaceful surrender and find your destiny? In the book, Souls on Fire, the author states that when you die and go to heaven, you are not going to be asked why didn’t you become a lawyer, why didn’t you study medicine and find the cure for some dreaded disease or why didn’t you become a servant of the people or a great prophet. The only question that you will be asked at the greatest moment of surrender is why didn’t you truly become you. You can lean into the wind or attempt to stand against its forces. The mighty oak knows to bend to the will of the wind. But it is the choice of the tree. Will you bend to the wind, bow to the Redeemer or remain on a collision course with destiny? The choice is yours. Do not let another opportunity pass you by. May you find that peaceful surrender, joy and love this day. Feel free to contact any of us for we welcome you.

2:58 PM 4/13/2005