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A Surrendered Heart

Christlike love can not come from an unsurrendered heart.

Taylor Cole

Jul 25, 2016

Lamar University

Jordan Collier

If there's one thing that hurts my heart the most, it's when relationships and friendships that mean so much to you fall apart for what seems like no reason at all. When the friendship you've had since Kindergarten fizzles out during your Senior year of High School-- yeah that hurts and it's confusing.

But to me, what's even more confusing is why it's so hard to find a relationship, friendly or romantic, that can honestly withstand the tests of time, disagreements, and distance. If we're being honest, I have one friend who I can say has been significant in my life for more than 5 years. But if I were to try to count the amount of people I've been close to in the past 5 years, I wouldn't even be able to. Ask me where any of those people are today and I'd have no clue.

But, why? Aren't we intended and created for relationships?

Here's a picture:

Originally, in the beginning, our hearts are filled with this "love" that is selfish, dirty and worldly. We try to love someone and it just doesn't work. It doesn't feel right; it feels forced and superficial. We get frustrated and question why our relationships aren't working out. Why are our friendships falling apart? Why do these relationships that we are supposedly intended for feel so surface level and empty?

We know that it's a problem, but how do we fix it? How do we love each other better?

You surrender your heart to Jesus; you give it to Him and he cleans it. He takes away that worldly "love" and He fills your heart with His beautiful, selfless love. We can only love because He first loved us. We can't expect to love others the way Jesus did-- the way we are called to, until we have allowed Him to fill our hearts with His love. We do this by surrendering 100 percent of ourselves to Him. Christlike love can not come from an unsurrendered heart.

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." -1 John 4:7

Today, I encourage you to consciously surrender your heart to the one who loves you so perfectly.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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A Surrendered Heart

Christlike love can not come from an unsurrendered heart.

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No matter how old you are.

1. Build a snowman

2. Start a snowball fight

3. Build a fort

4. Binge-watch Netflix

4. Look out the window

5. Grab coffee with a friend

6. Complete school or office work

7. Sleep

8. Read a book

9. Bake cookies

10. Drink hot cocoa

11. Go ice skating

12. Take a Walk

"I don't want to do things. I want to not do things."

1. When you look at the syllabus and realize there are only three weeks of the semester left; even though the first day was LITERALLY yesterday.

2. You look at your grades and realize they probably aren't as high as they should be, which is a terrifying realization.

3. When you think to yourself at night, "tomorrow, I will wake up early and go to the library ALL day, and, hell, maybe after I'll go to the gym for a little bit, just to push myself that extra mile."

4. Tomorrow actually comes. The inevitable and overpowering sense of procrastination is too strong to overcome.

5. But you DO end up going to the library. Not all day though, but still, a while. But no, you do not go to the gym. Still, you made an effort, so you decide to treat yo' self.

6. When you realize you need to schedule a meeting with your adviser because you need to sign up for classes next semester. But you also realize that since you waited until the last minute, you're going to get stuck with all of the crappy classes.

7. When you low-key try to slip into conversation with your professors that you need extra credit because you're that desperate.

8. When it's already the third time you've seen your adviser in two days because you have no damn clue what you're doing and need all the help you can get.

9. When you apply for a job associated with your major even though you have no experience, but you just want to dive headfirst into the deep end of adulthood and get it over with.

The world is not always sunshine and rainbows, and you do not have to be, either.

It would be so much easier to just pay someone to do it for you

1. Figuring out when to start

2. Searching through list after list to get everything you need

3. Shopping for deals

4. Getting bins to put everything in

5. Figuring what you can’t live without

6. Going through clothes to find what you need

7. Finding out your siblings took something from you

8. Fighting with your parents.

9. Trying to plan things with your roommate

10. The fear of forgetting something

11. Move in day

Relatable moments from one of the best shows I have ever watched.

1. When you fail that midterm you studied so hard for.

2. When your crush finally texts back.

3. When payday comes around.

4. When you accidentally like someone's picture from 108 weeks ago.

5. When someone takes your unassigned assigned seat.

6. When your favorite character in your favorite TV series dies.

7. When that guy/girl you’ve been crushing on agrees to go on a date with you.

8. When you have so much to do, and such little motivation to do it.

9. When someone asks for your last fry.

10. When you try a new health-food craze.

11. When you get new clothing.

12. When you check your bank account.

13. When they're serving good food in the dining hall.

14. When someone tries to tell you what to do.

15. Or just your thoughts about life in general.

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