The Magnificent Journey by James Bryan Smith

Here is an excerpt from a book we will start after  Christmas in our Sunday School Class.  We may also start it on Thursday mornings.  It is the heart of discipleship and Christian Spiritual Formation.  Smith is a friend and colleague of Richard Foster and co-founder of Renovaré.  I think we will all enjoy and benefit from it.

(please forgive the formatting--I  had to convert it to a Word doc from a PDF in order to post it and some of the formatting suffered....)

God bless you all.
Cindy

THE

Magnijtcent

JOURNEY

LivingDeepintheKingdom

i:sINTERVARSITYPREssIivpress.com

Takenfrom The MagnificentJourney: LivingDeepintheKingdomby James BryanSmith.

Copyright© 2018by James BryanSmith.

Published by InterVarsityPress,DownersGrove, IL.www.ivpress.com

thewAyofsUrrender

Tworoadsdivergedinawood,andI—Itooktheonelesstraveledby,

Andthathasmadeallthedifference.

robertfrost

D

uring my second year of seminary,the spiritualmooringsofmylifecameloose.Ihadbeenstudyingabout

GodbuthadgrowndistantfromGod.Idecidedtogoonafive-daysilentretreatatanEpiscopalianmonasteryintheNortheasttotrytoreclaimthespiritualwarmthIhadsomehowlost.

UponarrivalIwasassignedamonkwhowouldbemyspiritualdirectorforonehoureachday.Hewalkedintoourmeetingroomwithjoggingclothesunderneathhiscowl.Iwasdisappointed.Ihadbeenexpectinganelderlyman,beardedtohisknees,whowouldpenetratemysoulwithsearingblueeyes.Instead,Igot“thejoggingmonk.”

Mydirectorgavemeonlyonetaskfortheday:meditateonthestoryoftheAnnunciationinthefirstchapterofLuke’sGospel.IwalkedbacktomyroomwonderinghowIwouldoccupymytimewithonlythisoneassignment.Afterall,Ithoughttomyself,Icouldexegetethis entire textin a fewhours.

Whatwas I to do for the restof the day—insilence?

BackatmyroomIopenedmyBibletothepassageandbeganreading.“Birthnarrative,”Imutteredtomyself.ForthenexthourIsplicedanddicedtheversesasanygoodexegetewoulddo,endingupwithafewhypothesesandseveralhourstositinsilence.Asthehourspassedtheroomseemedtogetsmaller.Therewasnoviewtotheoutsidethroughthewindowofmyroom.Otherrooms,Iwouldcometofind,hadabeautifulviewoftheriverthatflowedadjacenttothemonastery.Withoutanyviewtotheouterworld,Iwasforcedtolookwithin.Despitemyhopesoffindingspiritualbliss,I hadnever felt morealone.

ThenextdayImetwiththemonkagaintodiscussmyspir-ituallife.Heaskedwhathadhappenedwiththeassignedtext. Itoldhimitwasjustshyofdi-sasterintermsofprofoundspir-itualrevelations,butthatIhad

comeupwithafewexegeticalinsights.Ithoughtmydiscoveriesmight impresshim.

Theydidn’t.

“Whatwas youraim in readingthis passage?”he asked.

“Myaim?Toarriveatanunderstandingofthemeaningofthetext,I suppose.”

“Anythingelse?”

I paused.“No.Whatelse is there?”

“Well,there’smorethanjustfindingoutwhatitsaysandwhatitmeans.Therearealsoquestionslike,Whatdiditteachyou?Whatdiditsaytoyou?Wereyoustruckbyanything?Andmostimportant,Did youexperience God in yourreading?”

Heassignedthesametextforthenextday,askingmetobeginreadingit not so muchwith my headbutmorewith my heart.

Ihadnoideahowtodothis.ForthefirstthreehoursItriedandfailedrepeatedly.Ipracticallyhadthepassagememorized,andstillitwaslifelessandIwasbored.Theroomseemedevensmaller,andbynightfall,I thought I wouldgodeaf fromthe silence.

Thenextdaywemetagain.IndespairItoldhimthatIsimplycouldnotdowhathewasaskingmetodo.Itwasthenthatthewisdombeneath the jogging clothes became evident.

“You’retryingtoohard,Jim.You’retryingtocontrolGod.You’re running the show.Go back and readthis passageagain.

“Butthistime,beopentoreceivewhateverGodhasforyou.Don’tmanipulateGod;justreceive.Communionwithhimisn’tsomethingyouinstitute.It’slikesleep.Youcan’tmakeyourselfsleep,butyoucancreatetheconditionsthatallowsleeptohappen.AllIwantyoutodoiscreatetheconditions:openyourBible,readitslowly,listen toit,andreflect onit.”

Iwentbacktomyroom(ithadaprisonlikefeelbynow)andbegantoread.Ifounduttersilence.AfteranhourIfinallyshouted,“Igiveup!Youwin!”(though I am not certain who I was shoutingat).Islumpedoverinmychairandbegantoweep.IsuspectthatGodhadbeen waiting for me to let go.

AshorttimelaterIpickeduptheBibleandreadthepassageagain.Thewordslookeddifferent,despitetheirfamiliarity.MymindandheartweresuppleasIread.Iwasnolongertryingtofigureoutthemeaningorthemainpointofthepassage.Iwassimply hearing it.

Myeyesfelluponthewell-lovedwordsofMary,“Letitbewithmeaccordingtoyourword,”herresponsetoGod’sstunningpromisethatshewouldgivebirthtohisSon.Letitbewithme.Thewordsranginmyhead.AndthenGodspoketome.Somemightsayitwas“allinmyhead”or“justmyimagination,”buthowelsedoes God speak?

ItwasasifawindowhadbeenthrownopenandGodwassud-denlypresent,likeafriendwhowantedtotalk.WhatfollowedwasadialogueaboutthestoryinLuke,aboutGod,aboutMary,andaboutme.IwonderedaboutMary—herfeelings,herdoubts,herfears,and her incrediblewillingness to respondto God’srequest.

Thispromptedmetoask(ortheSpiritmovedmetoask)aboutthelimitsofmyobedience,whichseemedmeagerincomparisontoMary’s.“Donotbeafraid,”saidtheangeltoMary.Wetalkedabout fear.Whatwas I afraid of?Whatheld me back?

“YouhavefoundfavorwithGod,”theangeltoldMary. HadI foundfavorwithGod?IsensedthatIhad,butnotbecauseofanythingIhaddone(humilityhadbecomemycompanioninthatroom).I hadfound favorbecause I was his child.

Iwonderedtooaboutthefuture,aboutmycalling.WhatdidGodwantofme?Maryhadjustbeeninformedofherdestiny.Whatwasmine?Wetalkedaboutwhatmightbe—what,infact,couldbeifIwerewilling.IfIwerewilling.LikeAugustine,whoturnedtotheScripturesafterhearingavoicesay,“Takeupandread,”Ihadreachedtheendofmyropeandwas,forthefirsttimeinalongtime,inapositiontohear.Thereismuchtobesaidfordesperation,asdesperationledmetobeginpraying.Myprayerwasreallyaplea:Helpme.Afteranhourofreflectingandlistening,Mary’s“Letitbewithmeaccordingtoyourword”eventuallybecamemyprayer.Thestrugglehadended.IhadafeelingthatIhadjustlostcontrolofmylifebutinthatsamemomenthadfinallyfoundmylife.

Theroomthathadseemedsmallnowseemedspacious.Thefactthattherewasnoviewnolongermattered.Th  viewwaswon-derfulfrommyvantagepoint.Thesilencenolongermattered,nolongermademeanxious.Nowitseemedpeaceful.AndtheterriblefeelingofbeingalonewasreplacedbyasenseofclosenesswithaGodwhowas,inthewordsofSt.Augustine,“nearertomethanIwastomyself.”

LETITBE

MyfavoritepaintingisTheAnnunciationbyHenryOssawaTanner.ItisbasedonLuke1:26-38,whereintheangelGabrielannouncesto Marythat she will givebirth to a Son who will savethe world.AnAfricanAmerican,Tanner(1859–1937)wasthesonofamin-

isterintheAfricanMethodistEpiscopalChurch.Tannergrewup

withadeeploveandknowledgeoftheBible.HealsoknewfirsthandthechallengeoflivingasaChristianinaworldofracialhatredanddiscrimination.HespentthelatterhalfofhislifeinPariswherehe found less discrimination.

TannerpaintedTheAnnunciationwhenhereturnedtoParisfromatriptoEgyptandPalestinein1897.OnthattriphewantedtoseetheHolyLandsohispaintingcouldbemorerealistic.NearlyeverypaintingofMary,particularlyoftheAnnunciation,depictsMaryaswealthy,dressedinexpensive,beautifulgowns,withaserenelookonherfaceandahaloabovehertoshowhersanctity.Andoftenthearchitecturearoundherisgrand.InTanner’spainting,Marylookslikeanadolescentdressedinsimplepeasant’sclothing,inasimplepeasanthome.Itisasifsheisabouttowakeupinherbedwitharumpledbedspread.Ifyoulookcloselyyoucanevenseeher toes pokingout of the blanket.

InmostAnnunciationpaintings,Gabrielisdepictedasawingedcreatureofpower.TannerdepictsGabrielasashaftoflight.ThelightcomingfromGabrielfloodstheroom(noticetheshadows),makingthefaceofMarythecenterofthepainting.AnditisthefaceofMarythatImostlove.Itistheperfectcombinationoffear

and faith, of anxiety and sub-mission.  Many   Annunciationpaintings have Mary reading orprayingorworking,thusshowingherpietyandintellectandindustri-ousness.Nothere.HereMaryisdoingnothing,asfaraswe cantell.

Ilovethispaintingbecauseitissimple and ordinary. As Scott

Lambnotes,“TannerdepictsMaryinamomentofpeacefulsub-missiontothewillofGod.Buteveninthis,Marylooksnormalin

thesensethatwetoocouldfollowGod’swillforourownlivesevenas she did.”

LongbeforetheBeatlessangthesewordsofwisdom,MaryrespondedtoGabrielbysaying,“Letitbewithme...”Letitbe.Iaccept.Thesearewordsofobedienceandsurrender.Itisadec-larationofacceptanceofGod’swill.ItisanofferingofherwillandherlifetoGod.Itisinkeepingwithwordshersonwouldproclaimmanyyearslaterwhenhetaughtaboutthenarrowgate.Itisthegatethroughwhichourmagnificentjourneyintodeepkingdomlivingbegins.

THENARROWGATE

The“letitbewithme”movementofsurrenderisthestartingpointandtheentrancerequirementofthemagnificentjourney.Itisapostureofobedience.Tosurrenderandobeyisthegatewaytolivingdeepinthekingdomof

God.TheSermonontheMount(Matthew5–7)isthegreatestteachingevergiven,bythegreatestteacherwhoeverlived:Jesus.ThecentralverseofthesermonisMatthew6:33:“StrivefirstforthekingdomofGodandhisright-

eousness,andallthesethingswillbegiventoyouaswell.”ToseekfirstthekingdomistodesiretodoGod’swillandtoliveinGod’sway.Whenwedothis,wearelivinginteractivelywiththepower,provision,and protectionof the kingdomof God.

Laterinthisgreatsermon,Jesustellshislisteners,“Enterthroughthenarrowgate;forthegateiswideandtheroadiseasythatleadstodestruction,andtherearemanywhotakeit.Forthegateisnarrowandtheroadishard thatleads tolife,andthere are

fewwhofindit”(Matthew7:13-14).ThenarrowgateisametaphorforchoosingtoobeytheteachingofJesusinthesermon.Itischoosing to gothe secondmile,to giverather than receive,not tobeangrywithyourbrotherorsister,toblessthosewhocurseyou,to forgiveoneanother,and not to judgeor worry.

Asonecommentatornoted,“Jesushimselfisthenarrowgatethroughwhichpeoplepassastheyrespondtohisinvitationtothekingdomofheaven.Thwayofdiscipleshipthenstretchesthroughoutone’syearsonearth,ultimatelyleadingtolifeeternal.”

SteppingthroughthenarrowgateischoosingtoliveasJesus’apprentice,toseektoobeyeverythingheteaches.Ifyoustopandthinkaboutthekindsofthingsrequiredas Jesus’apprentice (stated

earlier),youcanseethetruthofJesus’words:“Thearefewwhofindit.”Itissadbuttrue.Thmajorityofpeoplearenotblessingthosewhocursethem,muchlesseventryingtodoso.Thoughmyassessmentmayseemharsh,thisisalsotrueofmanyChristians.Somehavespeculatedthatonly10percentofagivencongre-gationactuallyintendtoobeythesekindsofcommands.Iworkalotwithpastors,andwhenIhavesharedthatpercentagewiththem,themostcommonresponseis,“Jim,Ithinkthatnumberisabithigh.”

THEROADLESSTRAVELED

ChoosingtoliveinobediencetoJesusandhisteachingis,asRobertFrostputit,aroad“lesstraveledby.”ThroadmoretraveledistheoneJesusspokeabout,where“thegateiswideandtheroadiseasythatleadstodestruction,andtherearemanywho

takeit” (Matthew7:13).Jesusisnotbeingmean,heisbeinghonest.Ashumanbeingswearenaturallydrawntothatwhichiseasy.DuetotheFall,wearealsolivinginadarkenedworldwithdarkenedminds.Wefeelisolatedandalone,afraidandanxious,andtheworldweliveinpreaches,“Lookoutforyourselffi  ”“Greedisgood,”and“Niceguysfi   last.”Thyareroadsmoretraveled.

Buttheydonotlead toamagnificentjourney.

Theroadofself-absorptionleadstoapaltryjourneyatbest,andatworsttheyarethewaytodestructionandruin.SurrenderandobediencetoJesusisdifficult.Todietooneself, totakeupone’scross,isa“hard”roadbutonethat“leadstolife.”Unfortunately,“therearefewwhofindit.”Therearemanyreasonswhypeopledonotfindit.Inadditiontoitbeingdifficult,itisalsoaroadtoofewChristiansevenhearabout.DallasWillardoftensaidheneverat-tendedachurchthathadawell-designed,intentlypursuedplanformakingdisciplesofJesus.Itisoftenuntriedbecauseitisunknown.

But it is the wayto life.

Wecannotenterintothekingdomunlesswe takeupthecross.Th  crossleadstothemagnifi    journeyoflivingintheun-shakablekingdomofGod.Itistheunavoidableprerequisite.Again,toquoteWillard,“Christianspiritualformationrestsonthisindispensablefoundationofdeathtoselfandcannotproceedexceptinsofarasthatfoundationisbeingfirmlylaidandsus-tained.”Weoftenassumethatdyingtoselfwillbepainful.Andofcourseitis.Butwhatisthealternative?SørenKierkegaardcalledthefailuretodothis“asicknessuntodeath.”Humanity,hebelieved,livesinakindofdespairuntilitfindsitsrestintheOnewhomadeit.ThisissimilartothepenetratinginsightofSt.Au-gustine:“ThouhastmadeusforThyself,OGod,andourheartsarerestlessuntiltheyfindtheirrestinThee.”

Ican,forexample,choosetonavigatemylife,liveasIwant,andaimatfulfillingallofmydesires.ThiswillresultinthatdespairKierkegaardwroteof,thesicknessuntodeath.Willardcalledthisa“dyingself.”Thewisest,bestchoice,then,is“thesurrenderofalesser,dyingselfforagreatereternalone.”Ortoquotethemar-tyredmissionaryJimElliot,“Heisnofoolwhogiveswhathecannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

FormationinChristlikenessdependsonsurrender;failuretosurrenderisasicknessuntodeath;IcanneverfindrestuntilIsur-render;Iamexchangingalesserforagreater;andgivingwhatIcannotkeepinexchangeforwhatIcannotloseiswise,notfoolish.Deepreflectionontheserealitiesgoesalongwaytowardhelpingme choose to take up my crossand die to myself.

THECOSTOFNONDISCIPLESHIP

DietrichBonhoefferwroteamasterfulbooktitledTheCostofDiscipleship.Initheattacksthe“cheapgrace”heseessooftenamong

ChristianswhoaskeverythingfromGodandarewillingtooffernothinginreturn.Itistruethatthecostofdis-cipleshipissteep,butitisalsotruethatthecostofnondiscipleshipisevenhigher.InoneofmyfavoriteDallas

Willardquotes,hebeautifullydescribeswhatislostwhenwechoose

nottosurrendertoJesus,nottoliveashisapprentice:

Nondiscipleshipcostsabidingpeace,alifepenetratedthroughoutbylove,faiththatseeseverythinginthelightofGod’soverridinggovernanceforgood,hopefulnessthatstandsfirminthemostdiscouragingofcircumstances,powerto do what is right and withstand the forcesof evil.In short,

itcostsexactlythatabundanceoflifeJesussaidhecametobring(John10:10).The cross-shaped yokeof Christis afterallaninstrumentofliberationandpowertothosewholiveinitwithhimandlearnthemeeknessandlowlinessofheartthatbringsresttothesoul....ThecorrectperspectiveistoseefollowingChristnotonlyasthenecessityitis,butasthefulfillmentofthehighesthumanpossibilitiesandaslifeonthe highest plane.

Whenwedon’tsurrender,weloseprecioustreasure:abidingpeace,love,faith,hope,power,abundanceoflife,restforthesoul.Heendswith“lifeonthehighestplane.” Whatcouldbemorevaluable,moredesirable,moreprized than this?

ItissimilartowhatJesusdescribedinhisparableofthetreasurehiddeninafiJesussaid,“Thkingdomofheavenisliketreasure hidden in afield,whichsomeonefoundand hid;then inhisjoyhegoesandsellsallthathehasandbuysthatfi”(Matthew13:44).Imaginethathappeningtoyou.Youdiscoveratreasureofimmeasurablevalueinafield.Togetthetreasureyouhavetobuythefield,whichrequiresyoutosellallthatyouhave.Wouldyoudosowithregret?Ofcoursenot.Youwouldsellallyouhaveandexperiencejoy.

GraceAdolphsenBrameputsitwell:“Thisyesisaninnerassentofthewill.ItisawillingnesstoreceivethegraceandtheguidanceofGod. Itcanbesodeepandfar-reachingastocausearealcon-versionoflife, arealrepentance, aturningaroundtogoinacom-pletelynewdirection.”Thetruemeaningofrepentanceistochangeyourmind,thenchangeyourway.Jesusoftenpreached,“Repent,forthekingdomofheavenhascomenear”(Matthew4:17).Changeyourmind,heissaying,aboutthekingdom.Itishere.Itisinyourmidst.Youcanenteritnow.Takingthisroadwillmakeallthedifference.

Putsimply,theyesofsurrenderisgreaterthanthenoofself-denial.Whatis gained is far greaterthan what is lost.

PRAYINGFORSURRENDER

JohnWesley(1703–1791) wasthefounderofMethodism.Hewasamanknownforhisdeeppiety.ThMethodistmovementinEnglandandintheUnited

Stateswasoneof thegreatmovementsin thehistoryof thechurch.ButWesleywasalsoanimperfectman,havingmanyfailuresinhisearlyministrycareer.Ifi    itencouragingtodiscoverthatourheroesofthefaithwerehuman.Wefail,butwealsogetitright.OneofthetimesWesleywasathisbestwasinhiscompositionofaprayer,latercalledtheCovenantPrayer(1775),whichfollows:

I am no longermy own,but thine.

Put me to what thou wilt,rank me with whomthou wilt.Putmetodoing,putmetosuffering.

Letme be employedfor thee or laid aside for thee,exalted for thee or broughtlowfor thee.

Letme be full,let me be empty.

Letme haveall things,let me havenothing.

Ifreelyandheartilyyieldallthingstothypleasureanddisposal.Andnow,O glorious and blessed God,Father,Son and

Holy Spirit,

thou art mine,and I am thine.Sobe it.

Andthe covenantwhich I havemadeonearth,letitberatifiedinheaven.

Amen.

Thisisaprayerofuttersurrender.Itdemonstratesgreattrust.InitWesleyissaying,“Iwillacceptwhatyougiveme,nomatterwhat.”ThiskindofprayerputsusinsyncwiththekingdomofGod.

ThesecondprayerofsurrenderthathasbeenablessingtomecomesfromSt.IgnatiusofLoyola(1491–1556).HewasthefounderoftheJesuits,adeeplycommittedandpiousorderwithintheRomanCatholicChurch.Ignatiuswasgoingthroughadifficulttimeinhislife,havingsufferedaninjurytohisleginbattle.HewasfeelingdrawntoalifeofcompletecommitmenttoGod,buthehadtroubleleavingthecomfortablelifeofanobleman.HewentonaretreatinMontserrat,andthereIgnatiusbegantolivehisfaith.HeoncespentanentirenightinprayerbeforethestatueoftheVirgin.Heputonsimpleclothesandgavehisexpensiveclothingto a beggar.

Soonafter,hebeganaperiodofelevenyearswritingwhatbecameoneofthegreatestworksofChristianspirituality,theSpiritualExercises.He,likeWesley,alsopennedoneofthefinestprayersofsurrendereverwritten.ItiscalledtheSuscipePrayer(pronouncedsoos-keep-eh,fromtheLatinwordfor“receive”),foundtowardtheendofhisSpiritualExercises.Ilovethesimplicitythatunderlies this short but potent“surrender”to God:

Take,OLord,andreceive myentire liberty,mymemory,myunderstandingandmywholewill.AllthatIamandallthatIpossess,Thouhastgivenme:IsurrenderitalltoTheetobedisposedofaccordingtoThywill.GivemeonlyThyloveandThygrace;withtheseIwillberichenoughandwilldesirenothingmore.Amen.

HereIgnatiusasksGodtoreceivethreeaspectsofwhoheis:hismemory,understanding,andwill.LikeWesley,heacknowledgesthat all he has is a giftfromGod;it is not his own.Hesurrenders

it“alltoThee”intrust.Ignatiusasksonlyforthesetwothings:God’sloveandGod’speace.Ifheweretoreceivetheseinexchangeforhissurrender,henotes,hewouldbe“richenough”andwould“desirenothing more.”

THEIMPERFECTWAY

Withthisarrangementofsurrenderforjoy,ofobedienceforriches,itmustbenotedthatthisisneithereasynordonewithcompleteperfection.Iamsurethat Willard,Elliot,Wesley,andIgnatiushadtheirtimesofdoubt,failure,andwithdrawal.Ignatiuswrotemuchaboutspiritualdesolation.EventhegreatMotherTeresawrotethatsheexperiencedtimesofstruggle,doubt,and darkness.Whilesome fithisdiscour-aging,Ifiittobeencouraging.Sheisarealperson,ahumanbeing.Noneofusarestrongandobedienteverymomentofourlives.

ThatiswhyIlikethemetaphorofajourney.Wearetravelers.Wedonotreachabsoluteperfection.True,wearecalledtoofferour-

selves“asalivingsacrifice”(Romans12:1).Theproblemwithlivingsacrificesisthatwesometimeswantnothingmorethantocrawloffthealtar.Andwedo.

In“HoldMe,Jesus,”thelatesingerandsongwriterRichMullinssang,

Surrender don’tcomenatural to meI’dratherfightyou forsomething

I don’treally want

than to take what yougivethat I need

Andwestruggleandfightandlearnandtryagain.Wearehereworkingwithreality.Thecostofnondiscipleshipwillnevergoaway.

ItwilltakeusawhiletoliveasJesus’disciples,butwhenwedo,amagnificentjourneyawaitsus.

Inthechaptersthatfollowwewilldiscoverthewayofsurrenderallowsus

•  to growin the graceand knowledgeof God

•  to liveour livesfromabove

•  to listen to God

•  to walk in faith

•  to livewith hope

•  to demonstratelove

•  to experience joy

Themagnificentjourneywillleadustothewayoflifewehavebeendesigned to live,a life deep in the kingdomof God.

IbegantoreadtheHolyScripturesuponmyknees,layingasideallotherbooks,andprayingover,ifpossible,every lineandword.

This provedmeatindeed,anddrinkindeed,tomysoul.Idailyreceivedfreshlife,light,andpowerfromabove.

georgewhitefield

A

tthe end of each chapterIinviteyoutotrytopracticeScripturemeditation.Thepracticeissimple.ReadapassagefromtheGospelsslowly,tryingtoseeitunfoldinyourmind.Asyoureadtheselectedpassage,trytoseewhatishap-peninginyourimagination.Trytoimaginethepeople,theplaces,thesights,thesmells,andthesounds.Placeyourselfasabystanderinthestory.Inallbutthischapterandthelast,thefocusisonJesus.Noticewhatthepeople(andangelinthefollowingpassage)

sayanddo.Ifyoufindsomethingcompellinginthispractice,besuretowriteitdowninyourjournal.

InthesixthmonththeangelGabrielwassentbyGodtoatowninGalileecalledNazareth,toavirginengagedtoamanwhosenamewasJoseph,ofthehouseofDavid.Thevirgin’s

namewasMary.Andhecametoherandsaid,“Greetings,favoredone!TheLordiswithyou.”Butshewasmuchper-plexedbyhiswordsandponderedwhatsortofgreetingthismightbe.Theangelsaidtoher,“Donotbeafraid,Mary,foryouhavefoundfavorwithGod.Andnow,youwillconceiveinyourwombandbearason,andyouwillnamehimJesus.Hewillbegreat,andwillbecalledtheSonoftheMostHigh,andtheLordGodwillgivetohimthethroneofhisancestorDavid.HewillreignoverthehouseofJacobforever,andofhiskingdomtherewillbenoend.”Marysaidtotheangel,“Howcanthisbe,sinceIamavirgin?”Theangelsaidtoher,“TheHolySpiritwillcomeuponyou,andthepoweroftheMostHighwillovershadowyou;thereforethechildtobebornwillbeholy;hewillbecalledSonofGod.Andnow,yourrelativeElizabethinheroldagehasalsoconceivedason;andthisisthesixthmonthforherwhowassaidtobebarren.FornothingwillbeimpossiblewithGod.”ThenMarysaid,“HereamI,theservantoftheLord;letitbewithmeac-cordingtoyourword.”Thentheangeldepartedfromher.(Luke1:26-38)

SURRENDERPRACTICES

Attheendofeachchapteryouwillfindseveralideasofpracticestotakeup.This isnot ato-do list.Allow the Lordto drawyoutothe practicethat is right for youin this seasonof life.

•   Meditate onWesley’sCovenantPrayeruntil it is yourown.

•   Meditate onIgnatius’sSuscipe Prayeruntil it is yourown.

•   MeditateonTanner’sTheAnnunciationpaintinguntilyoucansay,“Letit be.”

BUY   THE   BOOK!

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