surrender

{via}

Alright, now for the question of what to give up for Lent... I have played out all the obvious choices in my mind (caffeine, sweets, technology), and all of them seem... I don't know, just kind of small. Not that it's bad to give those things up, I just mean that none of them really have a huge grip on me right now. But as I've thought more on the topic, I do know of something that my heart and mind have been fixed upon - the future. Dreams, excitement, questions, lists, resumes, desires, anxieties... it's all been swimming through this little noggin' of mine. And, in complete honesty, it's been producing some ugly things like doubt and mistrust and fear and worry. So, for Lent this year...

I am giving up my future (+ all that is wrapped up in it)

I shared this thought with my sweet friend Shannon (who just so happens to be visiting me in t-minus 7 days). She too is preparing to graduate and has a whole lot of uncertainty about what life is going to look like after May. With the hope of surrendering our futures to the Lordship of Christ, we concocted up a little plan to put our hope into action. Here's the detailed scheme we came up with:

1. I will not allow myself to ruminate on thoughts/plans/worries about the future
2. I will not write one list in preparation for the future (i'm a chronic list maker, okay?!)
   
3. When a thought about the future does enter my mind, I will briefly write a letter to the Lord in a spirit of submission... Getting the thought out of my mind, onto a piece of paper, and into the hands of God. It will be a running letter - or string of letters - for the next 40+ days.
4. The job hunt will cease and I will commit to praying for God's will to be done and for His provision in the days ahead. When you're fasting from something for long periods of time, it's common to break on Sabbaths, so I will block out one day a week where I will allow myself to search and apply for jobs, if needed and not it excess (while still working on maintaining an attitude of faith and trust).
   
5. I will not discuss my future/plans with other people (So, please hold all questions)
   
6. I will meditate on Proverbs 19:21 daily ("Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the purpose of the Lord that prevails")

I'm not entirely sure what to expect, but I'm just feeling like this is what I'm supposed to surrender during this season. As Shannon so eloquently wrote, "it's basically declaring that God will show up and completely direct the job search [and our futures]. We'll be able to look back an use this a story of God's faithfulness and provision (hopefully) and know He did it all." Amen - that is our hope. To be sure, our intent is not to set our futures aside in order to seek His blessings upon them. Rather, our intent is to set our futures aside in order to seek HIM, all the while trusting that he is working everything out for our good and His glory.

How about you... do you recognize Lent? What are you giving up? I would love to hear about it!

p.s. Sorry for the double post today... don't worry, I don't intent to make a habit of it.
p.p.s. If you didn't get a chance to celebrate Shrove Tuesday, you should definitely think about celebrating in retrospect! I mean, who doesn't love pancake day?!?!