I fear we’ve lost the art of yielding. I’m as guilty as the next. I mean it literally as much as spiritually. It may be a tired example, but let’s use driving to make the point. Whether it’s cutting through parking lots, California rolls through stop signs, gunning it through yellow lights, or completely ignoring yield signs, we would rather speed up than slow down, make a way instead of wait, or put ourselves and others in danger rather than yield when it’s right and safe. Driving is just one example. The need to be in control, to be promoted, or to be first are a few others that come to mind.
We’ve lost the art of yielding.
Most importantly, this lost art affects us spiritually, as in regards to our walk with Christ. Hmmm. Each word in that phrase is important. Walk. With. Jesus. How can we walk with him if we are hastily cutting a way for ourselves? How can we stay with him if we insist on a different pace? How can we become like Jesus if we bypass him?
To walk with God, to yield to him, is to resist every urge to move without him. Shortcuts in the kingdom of God don’t exist. Neither does independence. There is an acceleration that occurs when we yield to the Lord, but that is not something we can fake, forge, manipulate, or even demand.
WHAT IS YIELDING?
Yielding is Waiting. Waiting feels like my nemesis most of the time. Except, in hindsight, there is not one thing I regret waiting on with the Lord. I do, however, regret every time I got ahead of him. That is always unnecessary trouble.
The Lord recently showed me a different way of thinking about waiting. As I watched some surfing heats during the Olympics, I was intrigued by how the surfers kept adjusting their position as they waited for the right waves. They would swim out to a good spot. Each swell that passed pushed them back towards shore so they would paddle again to a good place. They would watch the sets and move laterally to get in good positions to catch a wave. In the thirty-minute heats, a surfer may have caught 4 to 8 waves, maybe more. Collectively, that’s only about 5 minutes of wave time and 25 minutes of being ready. It depended on how well a surfer waited–watched and adjusted. Surfing is a good picture of yielding for us. As we walk with Jesus, we are actively waiting.
Yielding is Patience. The word alone makes me anxious. Anyone else? Waiting and waiting patiently are two different things. What I’m learning about patience is, yet again, the adjustments that happen as I wait. More than not, whatever I’m “patiently” waiting for falls to the wayside. My self-driven desires don’t make the cut. But in the process of walking with Jesus, new desires saturated in righteousness form in me. They are so much better. Not to mention, patience is part of the Spirit’s fruit. Yes, please! And because the things of the Spirit are eternal, even though the unfolding of those desires takes time, each step towards them is its own arrival or fruition. Yielding yields patience, that’s a very good thing.
Yielding is Surrender. Yielding is the willingness to walk with God at his pace. I heard someone say recently that God’s pace is perfect. That’s good! If I’m striving, I can be sure it’s me. I’m either ahead or behind. Probably ahead—If I’m honest. Once again, surrender is part of the adjusting that takes place as we yield to the Lord. There is no adjustment without the surrender of our will, our way, our preference, our… everything. When we do, a supernatural shift occurs that leads us to peace.
Yielding is Peace. The beauty of yielding is peace, which is also a part of the Spirit’s fruit. Is waiting hard? Yep. Does patience seem impossible at times? Oh, yes. Is surrendering letting go of every self-preserving instinct? Sure is. But the peace that comes with yielding passes our understanding (Philippians 4:4-7). I think that’s the whole point. Peace is what we forfeit every time we don’t yield to God’s perfect pace. Walking with Jesus passes our understanding as we transform into his image. That’s what we want. We want to be one with him.
I’ve been asking God to restore the art of yielding in me. I want to be really good at waiting for his promises instead of making my own way. I want exude patience and peace. And I think it would be really cool if the Lord changed my name to surrender. But my prayers are not only for me. They are for the body of Christ. The readied bride Jesus is coming back for will be excellent at yielding.
PRACTICALLY SPEAKING. What are some action steps toward yielding?
- Set some time apart and ask the Holy Spirit for help. He will give you specifics for you. Have a notebook ready to write down the things that come to mind during this time.
- Quiet Time. Secret Place. I know I’m a broken record about the secret place, but it’s a record worth breaking. Setting time apart each day to wash in the water of the Word*, to pray, and to practice listening is a sure step towards the art of yielding. Encountering his presence in the secret place gives us a marker or taste for his presence throughout our day, through every season, every growth spurt, and every change that comes our way. (*See some selected verses below.)
- Surround yourself with communities who are walking with God. Befriend people who are good at yielding. They will encourage you to do the same. Community is powerful.
- This may sound silly, but practice yielding in little tangible things. Practice while you’re driving, or standing in a line, or waiting for someone. Practice is it anytime you feel the urge to break the rules, break the line, break kindness, or be the exception to the rule for your benefit. It will be revealing. A lot of self will surface. But, in my experience, these little practice sessions have been a good, helpful practice.
- Create time margins in your schedule so you’re not pressed for time. Urgency is no friend of yielding. Most of our sense of urgency (which is mostly an underlying issue, if we’re honest) is heightened when we are running late. It will lead to us making our own way. For example, if your GPS says the drive to work takes 10 minutes, give yourself 15 or 20 and create a little buffer. Worst case scenario, you have 10 minutes to sip on coffee at your desk or check in with a friend. Best case scenario, you didn’t call the other drivers bad names. Or, if a doctor’s appointment should take 30 minutes, allow for 45. Give yourself 15-minute breaks in your daily routine to be still and breathe. And, don’t be afraid to order your time while at home either. It’s just as important. Margins may sound counterproductive or like wasting time, but what I’ve found is that they usher in peace and usually (there are always bad days) allow time for more important things.
A PRAYER.
Jesus, you are the king of yielding. Your patience is astounding. Teach us your ways. We want to be like you. We want to be a readied bride for you. Holy Spirit, have your way in us.
SOME VERSES ON YIELDING to get you started.
Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Isaiah 40:31
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Song of Solomon 8:5 Who is that coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved?
Psalm 40:1-3
I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.
Matthew 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Brave Sparrow 