Have you ever felt like this before? Jesus had very specific instructions for the disciples when He was preparing to leave. He told them there was One coming who was greater than He. Wow! Can you imagine that? He told them the fields were ripe for the harvest. He told them to go into the whole world, preaching, teaching and baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit. He told them to do all that He had commanded/shown them. They were so excited they must have jumped up to hit the door! They couldn’t wait to be obedient! They were so ready to do the will of the One who died for them and was now standing in their presence again. They jumped so fast Jesus had to say, “Wait!” He told them they didn’t have everything they needed to accomplish that task yet. All the French fries weren’t in the Happy Meal yet. “Wait!” For what? For the One who was coming who was greater than He—the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit is the gift God gave to the church. He brings everything we need to thrive. We can survive on our own. I’ve been surviving for 34 years.* My guess is, as a believer, you’ve been surviving for the majority of the time. I’m ready to thrive. I’m ready to move and think and speak as Jesus intends for me to move and think and speak. I can’t do that on my own. It’s impossible. Jesus says, “Wait!” For what? Equipping: the tools needed for the job. Encouragement: the mindset needed for the job. Enlistment: the rest of the members of the Body that Jesus has gathered for the task. Enabling: the actual ability to accomplish what He has called you to do. “Wait for it!” So, I resign.

Resignation is what it takes to begin the journey. I’ve tried partnership before. Jesus really isn’t interested in being our partner. Partners have equal rights; equal votes. Partnership Christianity doesn’t exist. It can’t. We like to take over too much! We have a CEO mentality. We don’t like to be told what to do. Jesus says we have to die to gain His life. Are you ready?

Are you willing to give up your hopes and dreams? Do you understand that following Jesus is NEVER about you? Surrendering your life to Him NEVER means you will now get what you want without any guilty strings attached. Following Jesus means losing yourself in Him. It means the only Daniel Bramlett left is the new creation now in Christ. The old man is dead. You can’t find him anymore. No calls, no answers. He’s gone. Wanna come with me? I don’t have it all figured out and neither do you. What I do know is there’s only one chairman of this board…and it’s not me.

*I wrote these words 11 years ago. I remember well the situation that prompted the writing. I was in a set of circumstances that I couldn’t control. I didn’t have enough strength, creativity, leadership ability or wisdom to do the job that was in front of me. I had the desire, but that wasn’t enough. It was hard, hard soil and the plow I was using just wasn’t cutting it. I remember crying out to God for rescue. I wanted out of the situation. God said, “No.” I wanted an easier assignment. He said, “Not gonna happen.” But He began to give me insight and abilities I hadn’t known before. No sudden changes happened, but slowly, I began to notice a difference in my attitude. Slowly, I had a deeper desire to pray than I’d ever known before. As surely as the sun rises, I started to experience the Spirit of God in ways I’d never before tasted. I wouldn’t describe life after my surrender to the Spirit as wonderful—life was still hard, problems still existed and I still was up against a brick wall. But I had a confidence that wasn’t
there before. There was strength in my bones, whereas before I felt absolutely empty all the time. There were many more moments when I had answers to problems that had stymied me for a long time. I knew the Spirit was at work in my life in a new, deeper, more real way.

I’m not going to say it hasn’t been hard and I won’t say I haven’t looked back, but every time I’m tempted and evaluate my life, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Life in the Spirit is so much more rewarding than life on my own. The friendship He brings is full. The comfort is as real as a touch. The wisdom and insight that come in times of desperation are amazing. I love to see less of myself and more of Him with each passing year. I’m happy to say, “I still choose to resign!”