Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12
To apprehend means: to arrest someone or to grasp the meaning of something. It also means to perceive something.
Paul used the word apprehend twice in the above text. The first usage of the word proceeds the second. Paul is saying by The Holy Spirit; for us to understand why we are born again (and use the word apprehended) we have to choose to follow or surrender to the one who gave birth to you.
The day you’ve got born again, God Almighty took full possession of you. The only way to understand why He posses you, is to surrender to Him and choose to follow every instruction. Otherwise you will end up hurting yourself or getting yourself in problems.
Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Amos 3:3
You can follow Jesus Christ our Lord with your own plans. The only key of qualification for God to walk with us: surrendering ourselves to Him. He does not want you to surrender a habit or your money but He needs your full surrender to Him. That is spirit, soul and body and He God Almighty will take care of the rest in Jesus name.
A true disciple of Jesus has one agenda. And that agenda is God’s vision plan for his or her life.
He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 10:37-39
The reason why we struggle with bad habits is because we have not surrender ourselves to God. One of the great works of God in our life is to give us beauty for ashes (Read Isaiah 61:3). This happends when we surrender ourselves to God and choose to follow Him. Any other thing that have had power over our lives will be destroyed by God Himself in Jesus Name.
Let’s pray together and confess with me out loud:
Heavenly Father,
I surrender myself to you today and choose to follow you as a disciple of Jesus Christ in the name of Jesus. Amen!