An Unexpected Detour 

Christmas was over and I was greeting the New Year by returning to St. Louis to begin the new seminary term. I spent the holidays with my sister Mary and her family in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The home cooking and time with loved ones had revived my soul after a semester of studying Greek, Hebrew, systematics, hermeneutics, homiletics, and Old Testament theology. As I drove west on I-70, somewhere between Indianapolis and the Illinois border, I noticed that the soft whining sound I had ignored had turned into a much louder grinding sound coming from the front right side of my ’67 Plymouth. It sounded awful, rapidly increasing my anxiety. I decided to leave the freeway at the next exit and seek help. 

After exiting, I drove a few miles north past winter fields with remnants of the last snowfall until I came to a four-way stop intersection. On one corner was a restaurant that looked permanently closed. Another corner was part of a cemetery, the third corner had a foundation and the remnants of what been a building, but the last corner was the answer to my prayers—a gas station and it was open! I immediately turned into the station and discovered the attendant was also a mechanic. I explained my problem and he put my car on the lift to check it out. Minutes later, he shared his diagnosis. The front right wheel bearings had completely failed. He was surprised that the wheel had not fallen off while I had been driving. 

Shaken, I asked how much it would cost to fix it. He replied, “About eighty-dollars.” That was my second problem. I had less than twenty-dollars in cash (just enough to fill my gas tank). I did not have a credit or debit card, no mobile phone (this was the first day of 1976), and my checkbook was in St. Louis. The mechanic, learning of my plight, shrugged his shoulders. I walked outside to consider my options, but there were none. I was grateful the wheel had not come off on the freeway but felt stuck, alone, and forlorn. All I could do was continue to pray. But even that felt futile on that lonely corner in rural Indiana. 

After standing there for a short time, without seeing another vehicle or person, I noticed a car approaching from the south. I watched as it turned into the station and stopped next to me. The driver jumped out and said, “Hi Don. Is everything okay?” He was a fellow seminary student (with his wife and child). I explained my predicament. He smiled, reached into his pocket for his wallet and removed two fifty-dollar bills and placed them in my hands. “This was a gift from my grandmother when we left Detroit this morning,” he explained. I thanked him enthusiastically and then asked him why he had exited I-70 at that exit and driven to this remote location. He replied he had just sensed he should, but we both knew why he was standing there. God had led him, and he had followed in faith. After a brief conversation, he turned around and headed back to the freeway. 

The mechanic ordered the parts (on a holiday!) which were delivered a short time later, and before long I was back on the road. This experience taught me more about God than I would ever learn in a classroom. I realized that I never travel alone on my life journey. He is always my unseen companion. Secondly, I realized it is best to trust and follow Jesus wherever I go and whatever I do, even when circumstances lead me to believe otherwise. Jesus leads and I follow. 

Unpleasant News 

The consequences of the Covid pandemic are staggering and continue to impact the way we live and go about our lives. In the United States, there were 103,436,829 cases recorded which led to 1,127,153 deaths (Microsoft Bing compiled this data from CDC, WHO, Wikipedia, and the NYT). But that’s just a part of the story. Covid changed how we live. Widespread shortages, an overwhelmed health system,  and less trust in our institutions became the norm. In addition to these obvious changes, I suspect the pandemic contributed to the spread of an even more dangerous and contagious malaise that has no medical treatment to buffer its severity or to reverse its deadly toll. Worst of all, it’s the youngest generations that are most susceptible to this terrible affliction with its symptoms that include extreme anxiety, depression, stress, isolation, and suicide. In addition, the Covid pandemic intensified the loneliness and isolation suffered by those fighting these mental health conditions. 

Two recent generations, the so-called Millennials (those born between 1980 and 1994) and Gen Z (born between 1995 and 2012) are especially vulnerable. It is primarily our current teens and young adults who are ravaged by this malady. Multiple factors contribute to their suffering, social media being the most obvious. But I propose there are two other distinct but mutually dependent factors that may have a greater impact on this social plague affecting mental health. 

Sociologist Jean M. Twenge (Generations, 2023) suggests that the most cherished value of the Millennial generation is individualism. This is the first factor challenging the mental health of Millennials. Every person must find their own way through the journey called life. Extreme or radical individualism acts like a universal solvent dissolving everything in the cosmos except you. Consequently, you alone must figure out and solve all the mysteries of life while overcoming every challenge and obstacle you will ever meet. Exhaustion and discouragement inevitably follow. 

There are multiple implications as ever-increasing numbers of Americans embrace this type of individualism as the norm or rule for life. They claim they have a right to formulate the rules that they will live by and expect others to do the same. Truth is reduced to private opinions. Thus, every person must simultaneously create their own truth, craft their own unique identity, formulate the meaning of life, and choose their ultimate purpose. These are challenging issues that require wisdom and life experience, not qualities that characterize most teenagers and young adults. Recognizing this trend of extreme individualism helps explain why countless numbers of teens and young adults feel overwhelmed, burdened, and anxious. The heavy burdens each person must carry squeezes the joy out of living. 

RADICAL INDIVIDUALISM: 

A social malignancy that destroys instead of liberating individuals. It is believing and acting as if life is all about you — going “all-in” for yourself.

These life skills and truths were formerly learned in the wider community of families, schools, neighborhoods, churches, Boy and Girl Scouts, and other familiar institutions. One generation passed foundational truths about the meaning and purpose of life on to the next generation. I call it collective wisdom. But now in our “do-it-yourself” culture and our “me-first world,” the individual bears the responsibility of making each of these life-enhancing or life-diminishing decisions. 

None of this should surprise us. The trend toward radical individualism has gathered speed and momentum in our lifetimes. The boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, just by their massive numbers, moved the needle towards increasing individualism, starting with the sexual revolution and the use of recreational drugs. They were a generation of rebels. Life increasingly became about the individual and contributed to what was called the “generation gap.” The boomers passed the baton of increasing individualism on to the next generation now identified as Generation X, those born between 1965 and 1979. Gen X embraced and normalized what the boomers started. Then the Millennials and Gen Zers came along and took individualism to its most extreme expressions. Subsequently, they also have suffered the most severe consequences. 

The second and related factor that typically accompanies extreme individualism is the demise of religious faith, which in Western culture means Christianity. Just as we can track the growth of extreme individualism, so we can easily track the diminished numbers of people attending worship services in a typical week. Surveys show the numbers of people who affirm any religious faith are declining rapidly. Spirituality has become a do-it-yourself endeavor as well. For the Millennials and Gen Zers, the rapid increase of extreme individualism is matched by the rapid decline of religious faith. The diminished role of faith becomes obvious just by observing who attends and who does not attend worship services at most churches in America. Grey hair is the norm for those still occupying but not filling the pews in the worship spaces of our nation. The Millennials and Gen Zers are sparse. These two trends, increasing individualism and decreasing religious faith, are like the flip sides of a coin, distinct but inseparable. These two trends are the norm, but fortunately there are also many exceptions. 

Likewise, as individualism has advanced, it appears to me that the social institutions and charities (NGO’s) that cushioned life for those overwhelmed and crushed by social injustice, personal failure, or just poor decision making have declined. Legislation cannot offer love, personal touch, and cannot change human hearts. As a result, the cost of radical individualism must increasingly be paid by the individual alone. The consequences for Gen Z are more devastating than the Covid pandemic, which only intensified their loneliness and isolation. Crime continues to increase. Drug and alcohol addictions continue to rise. Fentanyl kills those most vulnerable. Ever increasing numbers of homeless men, women, and children live in the streets and parks of our cities. Yes, extreme individualism acts like the universal solvent, dissolving everything in the cosmos, including God, leaving only the lonely individual.  

However, we must acknowledge that individualism has been a part of all societies throughout human history. This is not unique to the generations living in post-modern and post-Christian America. Individualism, in fact, is one of the defining virtues in our nation’s history. We value self-reliance, self-determination, and healthy self-esteem. Self-discipline, delayed gratification, and the ability to manage our urges are foundational for a healthy society. Individuals are expected to act responsibly. Democracy is only possible if individuals show self-restraint, which extreme individualism does not encourage. Thus, the more extreme and radical expressions of individualism have the potential to dissolve civilization. 

The Biblical Lens 

Extreme individualism is not a new approach to life. We see its roots and consequences in the first three chapters of the of Bible. 

¹⁵ The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. ¹⁶ But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—¹⁷ except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.
Genesis 2:15-17 

In the beginning there was almost absolute freedom. There was only one prohibition. And that one rule functioned as a guardrail to keep humans safe and free, not as prison bars to rob them of freedom. In the following chapter of Genesis, the serpent twisted this truth into a lie. He essentially said, “God is deceiving you. He’s not interested in your well-being. He wants to restrict your freedom. Eat the fruit and you will see things more clearly and realize you don’t need God because you will be God-like—able to figure out good and evil for yourself” (my paraphrase of Gen 3:4-5). 

Adam and Eve believed the lie that they could become “like God, knowing both good and evil” (3:5). So, they ate the fruit God had forbidden. Choosing to eat the fruit was not a minor infraction, like receiving a parking ticket; this was an insurrection against the Creator’s authority. They had been given almost total freedom except for that one rule: they were forbidden to eat the fruit from one particular tree. Their disobedience announced they no longer believed God to be good and trustworthy. Instead of staying on the path God had set before them, a path leading to life, they chose the path leading to death.  

Sin is not breaking a silly or unnecessary rule; sin is a rejection of God’s love and an act of rebellion against his supreme authority. Their actions conveyed a clear message to their Creator: We don’t need or want your help. We will manage our lives and find our own way without you. This sounds very modern and remarkably similar to radical individualism. 

Regardless of whether you interpret the story of Adam and Eve literally or figuratively, it reveals the same truth. From that time forward, human nature has been bent toward sin, not faith. From birth onwards (see Psalm 51:5), our proclivity is to choose going our own way over following God’s way. We deceive ourselves and one another by calling it personal freedom or true independence. Instead of trusting God and following his way to life, we stubbornly go our own way which inevitably leads to death. To choose our way over God’s way is to challenge God’s character (his goodness) and to usurp his authority. 

Sin comes naturally to us because it is our nature to sin. We sin because we were born sinners. We were created in the image of God, but our rejection of God has disfigured us. Sin was grafted into human nature when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, which led to death. Since then, we live as if we were gods, deciding good and evil for ourselves. Just as the tiger cannot change its stripes, so we cannot change our sinful and rebellious nature. We need help from outside of ourselves to rescue us. 

The Good News 

The good news (gospel) is the wonderful message that God has fixed the problem of sin through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The Bible declares, “God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” God sent Jesus to fix the problem that we cannot fix. 

The Jesus Way is a life-long endeavor requiring both patience and persistence. Theologians describe this transformation process as “sanctification” (the process of becoming holy or like Jesus). Following Jesus inevitably changes us. But before we can be transformed, we must understand what going all-in for Jesus means and requires. There is a cost. 

The unpleasant truth is we have rejected God and are on a path that leads to death. The rest of this challenge and all that follows it is about the good news and its implications, about God and what he has done for us. He sent Jesus to rescue us. Jesus is literally the gift of life. On the cross, Jesus saved us from sin. He conquered death through his resurrection. Going all-in for Jesus changes the course of our lives; it is the first and most important step we take on the Jesus Way. God no longer considers us rebels but beloved daughters and sons. He forgives our sins and becomes our heavenly Father. By affirming our faith in Jesus, we become part of God’s community, the church, with countless sisters and brothers. Jesus calls us to become his apprentices [disciples] and teaches us how to live in God’s Kingdom. The Holy Spirit enters us and promises to never leave us. He confirms his presence by the fruit he bears in us: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Gal 5:22-23). Jesus welcomes us as citizens in God’s Kingdom. As our Father, God promises to feed and clothe us, and to never leave us. Going all-in is the beginning, like laying a foundation, which is the prerequisite for everything that follows, a life-long journey with Jesus – the Jesus Way. 

The gospel is news of what God has done for you in Jesus, priceless and yet free. You can’t buy it. You can’t earn it. You can’t steal it. The only way you can receive this gift is by faith—simply trusting Jesus to keep his promises. This sounds too good to be true. But this outrageous truth that Jesus died for you and invites you to receive the priceless gift of forgiveness is the gospel, the good news—no, more than that, the best news ever! 

The Challenge 

Going all-in for Jesus is the polar opposite of extreme individualism. Individualism is all about you, and extreme or radical individualism means going all-in for yourself. The Christian faith is about Jesus who went all-in for you on the cross. Going all-in for him is the correct and natural response to his sacrifice. To respond in any other way is inadequate and diminishes God’s priceless gift. You receive this divine gift of love and acceptance by believing and receiving it—taking your first step on the Jesus Way. To go all-in is to unconditionally surrender to Jesus. Your other alternative is to follow the path blazed first by Adam and Eve, the way that leads to death. 

²³ “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. ²⁴ If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.”
Luke 9:23-24 

You cannot do this half-heartedly. Unconditional surrender is required. There’s no backup plan. But before you surrender you must reject the lie (I don’t need Jesus) and embrace the truth (Jesus gives me life). Choosing to surrender doesn’t mean all your problems will go away, but problems need not overwhelm you because you are following Jesus, the source and giver of life. 

To end WW II, the United States and her allies demanded “unconditional surrender” of their defeated foes (primarily Germany and Japan). It was not a negotiated peace treaty between equals, but a peace established by the unconditional surrender of our defeated enemies. Their surrender led to peace and eventually to their prosperity. Our former enemies became our allies. To go all-in requires unconditional surrender to God’s overwhelming and conquering love. Unconditional surrender is the narrow gate we must pass through in order to follow Jesus. Unconditional surrender (all-in) is also the antidote to the anxious and burdensome way of life in our world which is increasingly characterized by extreme individualism. 

Listen to Jesus’ personal invitation to follow him on the Jesus way. 

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. 
Matthew 11:28-30, The Message (MSG) 

Be assured that accepting the challenge by going all-in for Jesus does not prevent you from enjoying life. To say otherwise is a subtle twist of the serpent’s lie in the garden. God is the source and giver of life. There are no hidden rules in God’s Kingdom against drinking, dancing, going to a movie, playing card games, enjoying a delicious meal, or simply having fun. Let laughter abound as you delight in the gift of life. Jesus wants you to experience his overflowing and contagious joy. God enjoys giving you wonderful gifts which reveal his goodness. Our enjoyment of those gifts brings pleasure to God. The Jesus Way is the route to kingdom living, life at its best. 

God wants you to experience life, abundant life that overflows with joy, love, and hope. God went all-in for you when you were still his enemy, a rebel determined to run your own life. God has something better for you. This is the truth, not a lie. Will you believe the serpent’s lie or God’s unchanging truth by going all-in for Jesus? 

Going All-In Is a Child-Like Leap of Faith 

When my wife, our two daughters, and I moved in the middle of July from Seattle, WA to Phoenix, AZ, we were overwhelmed by the heat. Daily high temperatures were forty degrees warmer than in Seattle. The only water not in swimming pools was in ponds on the golf courses. The adjustment was even more difficult for our two preschool daughters. They played outside on the warmest days in Seattle but stayed inside on even the coolest summer days in Phoenix. 

The only relief was found in a swimming pool owned by friends. They encouraged us to use it whenever we wanted, which was often. The girls dog-paddled and splashed around the shallow end loving every minute. One day I stood near the edge of the pool in four to five feet of water and invited the girls to stand on the edge of pool in front of me and jump into my arms. They wanted no part of it. They were fearful because the water was over their heads, and they could not really swim. But I continued to coax and challenge them to leap into my arms, promising to catch them. Finally, Laura, who was four years old, worked up her courage, leaped into the water and my outstretched arms. We were both ecstatic. She was eager to jump in again and again. 

Meanwhile her younger sister, Julie, was watching all the fun we were having. She decided to take the leap. She hesitated on the edge, trying to overcome her fears while the rest of us shouted “Jump!” She finally did it and I caught her. Then we laughed and hugged while I repeatedly threw her up in the air and caught her in my arms. From that moment on, the two girls raced to be the next one to jump. It was a delightful experience for all of us. That day the girls went all-in by jumping into their daddy’s arms. Faith in their father overcame their fears. 

That’s the starting point for beginning your life-long journey on the Jesus way. It’s a leap of faith, not into the unknown but into the loving arms of Jesus. He demonstrated his love when his outstretched arms were nailed to a cross. My girls never regretted jumping into my arms and I’ve never regretted whole-heartedly jumping into Jesus’ arms. Life was better for my girls when they jumped into my arms. Your life will be fuller and richer if you overcome your fears and take a flying leap into Jesus’ arms. 

THINKING IT THROUGH

“With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation.” Isaiah 12:3 

THE TRUTH: Jesus went all-in for me on the cross. 

YOUR CHALLENGE: Will I go all-in for Jesus?

Each part of every four-part challenge concludes with a “Thinking it Through” segment which consists of a list of Scriptures related to the topic being considered, questions for group discussion and personal reflection, and notes. Each of the twelve challenges will end with an exercise to guide you through the process of naming lies, believing the truth, and clarifying the personal implications and applications of the truth to your life. Truth, if believed, must be lived, and living the truth brings personal transformation (Kingdom living). Please consider this section as a tool to help you to understand the truth, not as a test or as busy work. 

Related Scriptures

Psalm 18:30 ³⁰ God’s way is perfect. 

Psalm 23:1-4 ¹ The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. ² He lets me rest in green meadows. He leads me beside peaceful streams. ³ He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. ⁴ Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me; your rod and your staff, protect and comfort me. 

Psalm 25 1-2, 4-5 ¹ O Lord, I give my life to you. ² I trust in you, my God!

⁴ Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. ⁵ Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me; all day long I put my hope in you. 

Psalm 53:3 ³ But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one! 

Proverbs 3:5-6 ⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. ⁶ Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. 

Matthew 9:12-13 ¹² When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” ¹³ Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” 

1 John 1:8-10 ⁸ If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. ⁹ But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. ¹⁰ If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. 

2 Corinthians 5:21 ²¹ For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 

Galatians 3:22 ²² But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ. 

Ecclesiastes 7:20 ²⁰ Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins. 

See also Psalm 51 

Questions 

You are encouraged to use these questions for group discussion or personal reflection. Respond to the questions that are most relevant or interesting to you (I urge you to write your responses in a journal or notebook). 

1. When you read the author’s story about his car’s mechanical failure in rural Indiana, what was your first reaction. Did you attribute the unexpected arrival of a friend as a stroke of good luck, a God-thing, or something else? Have you ever had a similar experience? If so, share your story. 

2. The section on “Unpleasant News” classified extreme individualism as a social malignancy that destroys instead of liberating individuals. Extreme individualism is believing and acting as if life is all about you, it’s going all-in for yourself. What are its consequences? 

3. The “Biblical Lens” discussion, sought to trace the roots of extreme individualism back to the biblical story of Adam and Eve. “They were the first practitioners of radial individualism.” Explain why you agree or disagree with the last sentence. 

4. Adam and Eve believed a lie. What was the lie they believed and do people still believe the same lie? Have you ever believed it? 

5. Eating the forbidden fruit was the first sin. Yet sin is not breaking a rule, but rejecting God’s love, goodness, and trustworthiness. Sin is insurrection, a rejection of God’s authority, and an attempt to usurp God’s rule by assuming that role for yourself. It’s a deadly mistake. God had warned Adam if they ate the fruit “you are sure to die” (Gen 2:17). Instead of following God’s pathway to life, they chose a path leading to death. In light of this background, explain the meaning of the first phrase in Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. 

6. If we follow the pattern of Adam and Eve, choosing to go our own way instead of following God’s way, we are living as if we are our own God. Is this an expression of idolatry—the worship of a false god? 

7. If we humans don’t have a bent toward sin, explain why wars, violence, hatred, crime, greed, and injustice appear to characterize history and the world around us in our current age. Why do we want to determine what is right and wrong, good and evil, for ourselves? 

8. Do you believe you were born a sinner? Explain why or why not. 

9. Have you ever gone “all-in” on anything? If so, how did it turn out? What did you learn from that experience? If you have never gone all-in on anything, why not? What prevents you from going all-in? 

10. Going all-in for Jesus, is the first challenge. It is passing through the narrow gate (Matt 7:13- 14) to start your journey on the Jesus Way. Describe in your own words what going all-in for Jesus means to you. 

11. I suggest that a synonym for “all-in” is “unconditional surrender.” Which term do you prefer and why?

Notes 

Faith: The Greek word for faith can be translated by three English words: faith, belief, or trust. True faith includes the meanings of each of those words. Used in certain contexts it may give more emphasis to one of the three English words used to translate it. Yet there’s always an element of all three meanings, whether it is used as a noun or a verb. Finally, it is helpful to understand the opposite of faith is not unbelief, but fear. 

The name Jesus’ in Hebrew (language of the O.T.) is Joshua or Yeshua, which is a contraction of two Hebrew words, YHWH (name of God) and salvation. Thus, the name Jesus originally meant “YHWH is salvation” or “YHWH saves.” 

God’s name is shrouded in mystery. In Exodus 3:1-22, God spoke to Moses from the burning bush, telling him to go to Pharaoh to lead his people out of their slavery in Egypt. Moses objected saying the people would demand to know God’s name. God replied, “I am who I am: (3:14, NLT). Different translations translate it differently because we cannot be sure of the exact word God spoke. Many if not most biblical scholars believe it is best transliterated (written in English) as Yahweh which is a form of the verb “I Am.” And it likely means “I am,” or like in the NLT, “I Am Who I Am.” The confusion or mystery is because the ancient Hebrew language which it translates to, had only consonants. (The original readers would have known the correct vowels.) Over three thousand years later, it is written as Yahweh (with the likely vowels added) or simply transliterated as YHWH. 

To further complicate matters, the OT Jews were fearful of breaking the third commandment, “You must not misuse the name of the YHWH your God” (Ex 20:3). So over time, they ceased to say God’s name (Yahweh or Jehovah in the KJV). In ancient times, when Scripture was being read, whenever YHWH appeared in the text the reader would substitute the word “Adonai” which means Lord. Most translations have followed this ancient tradition by translating YHWH as “LORD.” The upper-case letters distinguish it from the Hebrew word of Lord (which also appears frequently in the OT). Consequently, whenever you see LORD in an English translation, it means that YHWH is the word in the Hebrew text.

Praying Your Response 

Finally, take a few moments to reflect on the theme of the first challenge. Have you gone all-in for Jesus? I suggest you read through the sample prayer printed below. Read it slowly, pausing between each phrase to think about what it means. Feel free to revise it or to write your own prayer. Whatever you pray needs to express your faith and trust. Do you trust God and accept his gift of unmerited love and forgiveness? If so, tell him and thank him. If you are not ready to go all-in for Jesus at this time, this prayer will be printed after each of the four parts of Challenge 1. You can pray in this way whenever the Spirit nudges you and you realize it’s time to take the leap into the arms of Jesus.

Loving God, I still have questions and doubts, but I don’t want to say “no” to your love any longer. Please forgive my self-centeredness and attempts to run my own life. I believe your way is best, not mine. Thank you for your “all-in” love for me which seems too good to be true. Yet I need and crave your love, even though I don’t deserve it. I surrender to you unconditionally, without consciously holding back anything or any part of my life from you. I give you my life, my strengths and weaknesses, my successes and failures, my joy and pain, my limitations and dreams, my needs and wants, and all of my relationships. I am going “all-in” for Jesus. From this moment on, Jesus leads, and I will do my best to follow. Thank you Lord for your loving guidance. Amen. 

Copyright © 2024 Don Waite

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