Sweet Surrender

(Jeremiah 17:9,10) The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.”

It is this condition of the heart that is described by the parched, cracked and broken looking portions of the heart on this painting.

When one has opened up their heart, the deepest part of their being, to Jesus Christ (Yeshua ha maschiach) – to the One who is the River of Life, there is not only hope in that part of the heart but much growth and fruit in the depths that spills out to all.

Once this level of relationship with Jesus has taken hold there is a recognition of the sufficiency and abundance of our God. His goodness becomes seemingly visible and tangible. Fears wash away. Surrender turns to sweet release.

One no longer is preoccupied with protecting their own heart. One becomes free to flow in ultimate trust in God, not preoccupied with trying to gain favor with others.

(Psalm 34:17-19) The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;……

Sweet surrender is a life-long process.
Jesus is in that process, soaking us with Truth and Grace, setting the captive free.