What you feel threatened by and thus get defensive about reveals where you want to be king.

Do you get defensive about your children when someone criticizes them? Your being a good mom or dad is sitting on the throne of your life and you want to defend it when it is threatened.

Do you get defensive about how you spend your money by your spouse or friends? Your association with having things and a good life is threatened and that’s why you want to defend it. Good things are sitting on the throne of your life.

Do you get defensive about your social media habits and give excuses for them? Your reputation/pleasure is sitting on the throne of your life and you want to defend it.

In my youth pastor days, I used to get defensive about the ministry and the youth whenever someone came close to criticizing them. I would give excuses and give counter points to nullify the criticism. That was because as a young man, my worth rode on my performance as a youth pastor. I linked my value to the wellbeing of my ministry since I thought of it as a product of my labor. Little did I know that I had absolutely no control over how the ministry would turn out.

When Jesus was born and the magi were looking for the king of the Jews, Herod wanted to kill Him. Why? Because he was the king of the Jews and his position was threatened. There can only be one king. Either he has to surrender or he has to get rid of the new King. He went for the latter….

If Jesus is to be king of your life, you must surrender. You must surrender your reputation. You must surrender your false sense of control. You must surrender your money, your security, your children, your friends, or whatever you want to keep over and above Him.

How do you know you have surrendered to Jesus? The only time you get upset is if God’s name is desecrated.

PH