The Surrendered Soul Podcast

#002 How do I make the right decisions?

• Todd Castle / Zach Funk • Season 1 • Episode 2

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Life is full of decisions.  How do I make the right decisions? 

Some are easy, while others are more difficult.

The results of these decisions vary greatly in their effect on our lives and on the lives of others. Some decisions will be life changing.  
  So how do we know how to make the right decision? How do we know if we're making the right decision?

And what if there isn't a wrong outcome to our decision? 

Todd:

Hi, this is Todd Castle To the surrendered soul podcast where Zach Funk and I discuss real life issues and how to find the ever elusive key to real life and total freedom. Life is full of decisions. You might even say that life is a series of decisions. Some are easy, while others are more difficult. The results of these decisions vary greatly in their effect on our lives and on the lives of others. Some decisions will be life changing. And even as we will see and discuss. Determine the destination of our soul. So how do we know how to make the right decision? How do we know if we're making the right decision? And what if there isn't a wrong outcome to our decision? thank you for making the decision to join us on this podcast. And please stay tuned as Zach and I discuss the whys, the hows, and the solutions to what to do when I have a decision to make and yet fears and doubts. Come and stand in my way. If you have questions about this or any of our podcast content, please feel free to reach out to us and shoot us an email at the surrendered soul, 24 at gmail. com. That email address again is the surrendered soul, 24 at gmail. com. So today's topic, I have to admit, I am excited

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about this.

Todd:

And with some trepidation, this

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hitting pretty close

Todd:

home on some of this stuff. I've had to

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learn

Todd:

the hard way and God's been it my heart

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

anyway.

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And,

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but I think, We're kind of looking at what three different topics today.

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the practice, practicing rigorous

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authenticity, surrendering to the outcome and also that of, doing uncomfortable work. But in our Pre recording chat, we kind of understood that

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there's going to be a lot of overlap in this conversation. So, as we think about the practice of rigorous authenticity

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

what does that

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what are we, what are we thinking about when we talk about that concept of being authentic, being real? Before we get into that, yeah, I think, These three concepts kind of bundle into decision making and what we,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

what we filter

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through. And I think, yeah, I've been on

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a little longer of

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journey through these. I, maybe,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

I introduced them to you,

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yeah,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

when you start working here, but I think

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they, yeah, are

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kind of the platform of making a lot of

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in life.

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So, yeah, as far as the rigorous

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authenticity,

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it's just the fact of going

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the extra mile

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of making sure that the individual

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that you're communicating

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with, working with,

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is actually understanding the content and motive and the meaning behind what you're talking about.

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There's so many times in our society where we're, we're

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conditioned and used to white lies.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

we We, hear a lie and we just filter it and accept it

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and

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interpret what

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it means.

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We don't even think about it when people are,

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yeah,

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lying to us in ways. and I think that's something

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that

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people are not even used to you Not using

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lies.

Todd:

And I would even maybe argue that they would expect To a certain degree because we're conditioned in our society culture today to tell me what I want

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hear.

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Rather than just what is real.

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And so,

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and, and, and on the other side of that, when you do find somebody that is real, real is

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is very transparent, there would be

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another way to put

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this. It's refreshing,

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but yet we still

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have that inner thing to want to hear the good news. We want to hear what we want to hear, and, as we think about it from a

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Scriptural point of view.

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scripture talks a ton about walking in the light, a ton about being,

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searched and known at a very core level. And I, and I, this kind of goes back to our previous podcast on the whole thought of the subconscious and

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conscious alignment

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

being authentic and real all the way through. So, to walk in that, to walk in the light, would, it would be an indication of

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Even if

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it's to my own detriment, if even if it

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is going to make me

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

look bad, put me in a bad light,

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my reputation, I'm still willing to walk into that, because that is what is real. That is who we are as Christians.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

That is who we are as,

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as Christians. followers of Jesus. And, yeah.

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what's your thoughts

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that?

Zach:

Well, yeah, it's human nature

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

to filter

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responses. We

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

try to look ahead at the, the consequences of the response before we just. Tell the truth. well, how's this going to sound? How are they going to receive it? How are they going to think about me after they

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it?

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

instead of just telling

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truth. And typically we

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

are pretty good at telling the truth. But it's slanted to make it not sound as bad. or, or one way or another.

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one

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

me, one of the areas just in everyday life

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is in

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sales. When people ask me if I can, if

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can do any better on the price. Can we sell it any cheaper? and

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I'll just

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them, I can give you

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the product or whatever for free

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if I want to, but I'm not willing to do it. And it

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typically totally takes him off guard

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because fact of the matter is, for me saying no, I can't go any lower, well that's a lie. I mean, I can go to whatever I want to. You

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

can pay them to. take it. Yeah,

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yeah, so, so, so it's those white lies that we've conditioned to where, well, it's what you're meaning when you say that is, well, that's not what you're saying. So, and then I think it affects in a lot of areas from just working with brothers in the church, how we slant when someone asks us about a situation or asks us how we're doing or something that happened

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

in our life, we're, we're pretty good at.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

Slanting

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

it one way or another to. make it sound

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in some situations or better in other situations. For, for whatever motive,

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whether it's to save our reputation or to slam the, the, the situation in somebody

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favor.

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We're we're pretty good at that rather

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just

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actually laying it out exactly how it was. Making sure that everybody

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on the same page and knows whatever we're talking about.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

Yeah, and I think that, that is very true. We, we, we very much conditioned ourselves and those around us to

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being fine. How are you doing? Fine.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

And that may not necessarily be the truth. What does that mean? What does that, how does that look? And obviously not always when somebody asks

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they have the inclination

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

or desire to hear all of my dirty laundry. But maybe I'm not doing fine. Maybe it

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have not being real in that in that answer. And

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um, maybe I am struggling in an area and I think it's okay. Just No, I've had a rough week. Um,

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Thanks for your prayers.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

and that you can leave it at that, but the being real and thinking through that rather than

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rather than trying to put

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up that self preservation,

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self mask, if you would essentially hypocrisy.

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So what are

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some thoughts? I want to discuss a little

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bit on what does it

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look like to live without fear for that in that required vulnerability? Because it really to live that authentic, to live that real, to live that raw, we're looking at A lot of vulnerability. And this

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gets

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the whole aspect, I think, about how, how surrendered am I that you are, that I can allow you to hurt me

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or be hurt

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by you or anyone. It's, it's,

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so that's a whole, that's almost a topic in and of

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itself. the the thought of offenses and being able to be hurt, but there is a sense of vulnerability. There is an openness there. So I want

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discuss a little bit

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on what, what that looks like. What does it actually take? to be able to open up to that vulnerability and, and, And live without fear in that. Because I think that that would be one obstacle that could come up in our lives. It's it's scary, to be real, to be honest, to be raw.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

well, I think that

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connects

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

right in with the second one, the surrendering the outcome. because that that's

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Until we surrender the outcome

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

of whatever we say or whatever is going on,

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we will never be able to be authentic and

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

just lay it out with, for whatever we're

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with.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

We're going to

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

always be trying to manipulate the outcome of whatever it is.

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But once we surrender the

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that life is going to be

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as God wants it, as long as I'm,

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yeah. Honest,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

authentic with others and him. I, think that's, yeah, a whole nother thing is

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

to

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manipulate God

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goofy as it sounds, we do, we do try it. And

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

so I, I think that that's the, probably the biggest hurdle is just constantly trying to control

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

how

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

others see us and think about us and perceive us.

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and

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

manipulate

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

situations. Yeah, I would

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

agree that that is probably the biggest hurdle and that brings the fear factor into it.

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I think one of the solutions to that would be

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believing

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in God, the purposeful surrendering of

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our security of our identity of who I am

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as a child, a son of God,

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a daughter of God

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leaning hard into that. because we are have to transfer

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

that security

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in what you think of me or somebody thinks of me and which is essentially what you're doing

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or what we're doing

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we are, when that fear comes into us

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as self preservation is

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fear of man and so transferring that to fear of God. To even beyond, I think, almost a fear of God is a resting in God that He is faithful. He is my father and He is good,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

and nothing can happen

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me

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

that He doesn't allow in my life.

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And He, not only

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

is willing

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protect

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

me in my raw vulnerability,

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but he

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

is desiring for that for me because It exposes weaknesses. It exposes,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

it

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gets rid of self

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and lets him do the work he's wanting to do

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

in this given situation in my heart. Maybe

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

the person's

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

other

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

heart, all of it just ties together. That's just how he operates. But, but

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

yeah, resting in the identity

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of the righteousness that is imputed to us is a huge, huge thing. I think that can't be overstated

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because that is

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the removal of fear that does give us the peace. And then it doesn't matter at that point. But

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and then, then there's a couple other things in that as well. The, The, the assurance that my salvation Is solid, that I am

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

his and that he is mine, I think is

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

a very sobering, but exciting.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

And

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

that's what gives us

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

piece. that That we need to

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

be vulnerable

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and to be open.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

Yeah. I'm glad you brought that up. The whole idea of our identity,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

because that that is the only if we're,

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if we're

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

we're trying to be a Christian

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

as

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

on our own or

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

or we are trying to be a Christian,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

there's, it'll

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

never work. We've already lost the battle. Yeah. Exactly. Yeah, it, it won't work. We

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

have to have our identity in him and take on his righteousness is.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

the

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

the only

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

way any of this, any of these three steps will, will truly work and for, for long term Amen. Amen.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

is

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

actually realizing that in and of ourselves,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

we

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

are nothing. We can't prove anything. We can't be good enough. We can't act good enough. or

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

Anything. I

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

mean, we is all we

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

to do is rely on

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

the Holy Spirit's guidance

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and act on that without trying

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

to filter it. But just being,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

yeah, like I

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

said earlier, the idea of

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

real to people,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

But we also have

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

to be authentic with God. And when, yeah, the

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

Holy Spirit prompts, when

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

we have to be

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

Willing to act.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

Yeah,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

willing to act on it and and live, live, yeah, with our, our identity in him

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

not what we have,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

what we have done or created. Yeah. They're this concept of course has been rolling around in my head some, and the thought that

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

because

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

God knows us, we do not need for others to know us.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

sobering is so counterculture. I mean,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

everything around us screams for

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

screams for look at me, you know,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

make a name, and whatever that entails and whatever that

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

bring the money, the fame, the

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

notoriety. the good reputation, all these different idols that

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

we justify in our minds

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

because that is the culture we live in. And that's not what God calls us to.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and, and,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

and being surrendered to if God knows

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

me, and I know him

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

then no one else

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

to It's good enough.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

God is good enough. I did a little reading Dick Brogdon had a point in here that I thought was really relevant

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

to this point.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

I might put it in here, but

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

he

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

said a couple of different things. When we understand that Jesus knows us intimately and loves us deeply, despite what he knows about us, this

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

alleviates any need to be known and exalted by others. And because God knows us we keep no secrets. And

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

I think that is so powerful.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

And

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

to say that

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

keep no secrets is not

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

to encourage this

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

constant self revelation that we see in all these all the

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

things. But it simply means that in relationships with God

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and others, we have nothing to hide. We have no skeletons, in the closet. We have no lies to lie about. we have nothing false or shameful to conceal. to be secretless is to be at peace

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

always, Thank you. Never fearful that someone will discover something negative about us. And this

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

the message. This is a

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

hard point to get to,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

but

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

God knows it all and we have brought everything into his light so that we are impervious to scorn

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

blame. This is a great freedom

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

and the secret to a powerful life according to Dick Brogdon. So it's a, it's a very, I think this is a very

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

pertinent to allowing

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

the Holy Spirit

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

do his work to

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

have full reign

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and to just give up, surrender that to him.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

Yeah. And I think that's

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

of a catch 22 though,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

because if you're,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

if you're known by God and the, you

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

surrender the idea of what people

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

of you and making

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

your own facade, those around you are going to actually know you better. You will actually be known by them, of them, better than

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

Then you

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

would have before. That just isn't your intent or goal anymore. Exactly. It's not your focus. Yeah, yeah. But, but I think naturally, I

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

in

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

any relationship, somebody that's trying to

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

put on

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

a facade, the individuals around them are going to be like, uh, we kind of know him. we think we do.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

And then there's some

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

situations we aren't sure. Mm hmm. Whereas.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

somebody that's just authentic.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

and doesn't have anything to prove,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

people are going to

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

actually know them. Their close friends around them will know them

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

in a, yeah, in a better way.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

And that, the authenticity of that is refreshing because as we spoke about in our last podcast, the, the concept of

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

being

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

real,at core

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

comes out. If we're not,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

if that, if there's a, if there is something in

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

inauthentic, something false in us, it comes out under pressure.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

So when we're put into

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

hard situation or an instant response situation,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

we all of

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

of a sudden,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

our real

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

us comes out. And, and

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

and so

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

if, if, if

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

this is the real us, if we are

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

real and wrong, All the time. Then, when

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

the real

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

out, you can predict how I will respond. You can be like, no, I know him, and that is not him. If something

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

is being allegations come against or whatever, I know

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

him. He will not, he would not respond to that Or

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

given in this situation, this

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

how he would respond.'cause this is how he has always responded.'cause it's always real.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

A person who is not

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

in that

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

real, not authentic, I don't know how he's gonna respond. He'll probably fly off the handle or he'll

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

whatever response is real in him, will come out at that point. And, or whatever

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

trials and heartaches life throws at us, we

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

out of

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

the realness of our heart versus,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and so

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

to make our daily life,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

that realness, is important.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

As

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

we think about and you

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

touched on this a little bit, the thought of communication because a lot

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

times communication is where the authentic

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

comes out, but it's also this area that we

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

get the most

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

thick, the thickest mask.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

Where we can

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

say one thing to one group of people and say and

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

be

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

another thing to another group

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

people. That's not being authentic. That's

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

not

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

real. but

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

yeah, I'd like maybe discuss a little bit more on how we, how we get that,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

mask

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

removed or how we can

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

help someone get through that.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

If that is an issue

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

in our lives.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

Yeah. I don't know. There would be, I, like I said, I think it

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

is the

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

probably the one of the biggest ways because we have been so conditioned to

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

I mean, we've, yeah, been used to,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

I

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

know,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

half communicating for, for so long. So I don't know what you ask, how to, how you work through it or how, I think it's baby steps. I mean, I mean, you start with,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

start

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

with some of the, the harmless white lies And just start refusing to give into them. Like I'm not going to use that language

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

anymore.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

I mean, I I don't know exactly how long it's been since I found these three things. probably five or six years. And at least for me, that's where it was. I mean, it was just, yeah, starting on the simple things. That seemingly are totally harmless. And it really doesn't matter. But just removing those out of my life,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

I'm not going to.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

start using language that's not

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

authentic.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

That's

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

slanting it.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

Basically, if there's a better way to say it that's more clear, use it. If you can come up with any way to be more clear about something, it.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

And then, at least for

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

myself, as soon as I started down that

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

it was,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

you start picking it up on everybody

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

you.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

you.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

It's ah, that was kind of a white lie, they're kidding us. that's not

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

not what they meant at all. That's what they said. But,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and you can

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

translate cause you kind of know what they meant, but, and then it gets deeper and deeper. and if you're serious about it, yeah,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

you end up in situations that

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

Suddenly it's,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

you

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

find yourself, yeah, I guess it gets harder and harder

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and deeper to Do

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

not let

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

yourself

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

slant

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

things to,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

for

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

your benefit or in any situation,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

I mean, whether it's with your children or your wife or whatever,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

just

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

the, the situations get bigger and bigger

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

where it seems like things would be.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

Where the,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

you can tell the truth, but it's

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

not necessarily in the,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

context. And, and stuff

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

like that.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

And,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

you can keep working at it and remove all that stuff. There's, there's freedom there and

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

there's.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

There's situations that get resolved, Or situations that don't

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

come up. Just

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

because there's a trust there. Like, when you're dealing with an individual,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

it's all out on the table, and they know that it's all out on the table, there's a trust there,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

that

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

that's the only way

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

get it, is

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

by

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

being

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

totally authentic.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

And people can tell. And they can, yeah, they

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

whether they realize it or not, they make decisions and treat you differently if they know that you're being totally

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

with them and you're just

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

laying it

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

for them to make a decision.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

on. I think that's important. I think the concept of the baby steps is important. I know for me, it's been a journey. It's almost like muscle memory because our muscle memory, our mind being the muscle is slanted towards telling the

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

lies. And and sometimes they're more white. Sometimes they're not so white,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

but they're still lies. And so

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

at first, that first

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

that first

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

you

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

feel really vulnerable.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

And I think that there is also

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

the desire

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

to be authentic needs to be deep. Because

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

there's going to be times when you have to go backwards. There's been times that I've had to go back

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

say, you know what? I said this, but this is actually how it was. And you repent for that. And you have to

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

course correct

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

that. And I think each time you course correct in that

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

and bring it back to center, bring it back to It is a

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

it, it helps our minds

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

and our hearts.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

Actually,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

our hearts are

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

corrected at that point

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

because I think there's a direct correlation there. and so, so to go back to

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

a

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

brother or a customer or someone on the

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and say, you know what? I said this and I can justify it in my own mind of why I said that I can minimize it. Okay. and so, and I can even do that to them, but to say I was not fully walking in the light with this situation, I would,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

I said this leading you to this

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

conclusion when actually the conclusion is over here, that is humbling, and that,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

because pride I think is

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

is a

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

a real Reason we don't do a lot

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

these things

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

that's why we do

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

slip, walk In

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

self

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

preservation, and then,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

yeah, and try to control things.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

So and,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

and,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and that then is the whole concept that it doesn't matter what you say. It matters what they hear. So putting it into context, putting it into clarity, making

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

sure that what I say is what they hear. and what they hear

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

what I said is so important. even if it's just in the passing.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

rather than throwing shade one direction or the other.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

So

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

as we think about moving into surrendering the outcome and the overlap of that, then the authenticity that comes with that is essentially allowing the Holy Spirit to have full control, surrendering the outcome. The conversation, surrendering the outcome of a meeting, surrendering even the reason for the meeting,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

the

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

meeting, you might have a meeting to discuss X, Y, and Z. When actually the Holy Spirit had a whole nother reason for the U2 or U5 or U10 or U50 or U150 people to come together

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and have this meeting, and

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

surrendering that. We talked a little bit about it at another point, but that the concept, even in our church meetings and getting together to worship, we have

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

often

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

a reason for

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

together.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

And usually that reason is self serving. But I think that a lot of times that Holy Spirit has a whole nother reason

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

it.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

Maybe it's an encouragement for a brother or sister, or maybe it's to be fed or is to feed. There's a lot of different ways that

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

he

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

may or may not have us coming together, for whatever reason, but allowing that my thoughts on what's going

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

happen or how that is

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

that outcome is going to be satisfied is out of my control, and I want it

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

be out of my control

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

because I've tried to control. For years and decades sometimes. And look at the mess has gotten

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

into.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

So being able to walk into any given

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

situation,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

just yielded is tremendous. It's, it's contrary to our flesh. It's contrary to our nature. It's contrary to our culture. And some people will think you're just a little bit nuts. but at the end of the day, it's freedom, it's peace, it's, it's, life giving Because,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

if I can't

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

surrender,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

To the thoughts, the intentions and the

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

desires of the creator of the universe. What else

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

I trust? I trust my own thoughts.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

How, how corrupt and wicked is that? Yeah, no, I,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

you mentioned something there a little

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

bit ago that

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

you have to be serious about it.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

And I think that's, well, like we talked about earlier, I mean, our, our identity has to be in Christ. We, we have to. We have to get rid of the concept that it's just a white line. It really doesn't make

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

difference. Like

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

it is, as long as it doesn't matter to them, or it doesn't matter in a situation. then

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

Then,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

yeah, it's not that big of a deal when fact, fact of the matter is most of the time,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

not even

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

most of the time, all, all the time,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

it comes

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

down

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

to

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

to us

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

slanting something because

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

We're afraid of the way something's

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

gonna turn out.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

So unless we are serious

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

it, and can soothe it. If we just surrender whatever comes and whatever happens, then we will find ourselves at

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

the crossroads of oh my word, is this like actually worth it to actually lay it out the way it, happened, when I can still tell the truth, just not

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

they all the truth, maybe

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

all the truth, or it may

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

even be all the truth, but in a little different context where they aren't going to actually understand what happened. And, and we yeah, I mean, I, I think we can find ourselves

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

in that. And unless we're

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

totally committed to, as you mentioned,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

surrender the outcome and whatever it

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

is, then

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

I think we, we will find ourselves,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

yeah, falling prey to the,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

to the,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

yeah, bottom line, it's pride of, you know, trying to control the outcome and prop ourselves up through this.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

I had to think in, in considering this, why, why would I, what,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

why,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

why would I go through the exercise? Why would I go through the humbling? Why would I go through the,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

the, the whole.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

Concerning myself with surrendering the outcome or walking authentically Or doing the uncomfortable work And and one of the reasons that came to my mind was the whole concept that why,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

why am I here? What is the purpose of my life? And is

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

it not to give glory to God? Is it not to

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

allow him to receive glory from my life? The

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

alternative is to I receive glory for myself.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

And that is. wrong at so many

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

different levels. so, so if the goal is for the Holy Spirit to lead me into a life of glorifying God

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and being an honor to God. Surrendering the outcome of every situation does just that because now he's in

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

control of my

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

He's in

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

control of the

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

He's in control

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

of the situation

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and he will see that God is the Lord. Even if it looks and makes me look extremely foolish, and that's

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

got to be okay with me.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

I got to surrender that, Control.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

Well, I'd go a step further to even say that the someone that's not

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

willing

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

To use these the Holy Spirit at best is

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

to have a serious challenge to use them, using it

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

Because, because fact of the matter is,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

we aren't,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

like you said, we, we aren't out. to get the glory.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

And yet,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

so to allow the Holy Spirit to

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

use us in

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

situations

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

we can't even Understand the purpose of the meaning

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

of the situation. The only way that's going to work, that we're going

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

humanly

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

be able to walk into those situations. Not even understanding what they are is to be surrendered

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

to be okay

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

with what we thought the outcome was gonna be to look like a

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

total failure. And yet be okay

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

with what we label as a failure. Which, that's kind of

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

a whole nother topic of, yeah, labeling

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

but I think, yeah, we have to,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

the,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

the,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

the reasons we would go through this is because it's the only way he can use

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

us.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

That, that, that's the, the core of it. Now, there, there's freedom and peace like we can experience no other way. and In my experience there's, I, I don't know if it's a I think people can pick up on it way faster than

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

you think.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

Like people pick up

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

it

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

and there, there is a almost an automatic trust

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

that

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

would take us

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

10 interactions

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

with an individual to build.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

on our own.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

When, when we meet with somebody,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

I think they

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

can just feel if there's

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

at

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

least it, it sure seems

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

it, because

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

there, yeah, there, there's individuals that yeah, that I've dealt with and stuff,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

that,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

that there seems to be a trust there that's not naughty, not earned or deserved,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

but

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

it's there for some reason. And I don't, and I, I don't know, I, I think it's some of the idea of being

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

just authentic and just surrender

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

to that. I don't have a motive in

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

this. I'm not

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

coming into this relationship to get you to do this or to convince you

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

of this. It's

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

yeah, whatever the Holy Spirit has, whatever the outcome is, that's what, yeah, what I

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

to be and

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

that's where we knew him to be positioned. Yeah. And I think the other part of that too then is to realize and understand that if we are

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

trying to

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

uh, to your point earlier if, if we're not willing to surrender

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

this point if we're not surrender willing to submit

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

to the Holy Spirit to this level

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

We're actually walking in sin because

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

now we've, we've,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

We've,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

We've actually allowed, we're, we're allowing that something else

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

in the

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

throne of our heart. Something else is more important and we don't, we're trusting ourselves. we're trusting our situation. We're

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

our own

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

mentality, our own thinking, our own common sense, whatever

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

tag we want to

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

put

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

it, we're trusting that more than we're trusting him.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

And so I think repentance is a very important

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

of this

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

whole thing. It's

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

no actually that is sin. That

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

is wrong. That is a lack

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

of communion with

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

Jesus. That is a lack of communion with the Holy Spirit

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and we're not allowing him to have that control because if he doesn't have that control somebody else does and

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

If it's not him, it's not right

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

So I

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

think that this is very important that we have to realize that no actually if I pick it up, I need to lay it back

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and that's

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

a couple of

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

thoughts on, uh, like, how do I walk this out? How do I,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

how do I

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

surrender to that? How, so I see pride in my life. I see that I have not surrendered the outcome. I'm not walking in this. So

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

some, some

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

thoughts on,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

I don't, I hate to say steps that we can take, but there are some things that we can, that, that

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

actions that can be taken on our part that would. facilitate the yielding of our pride, the

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

yielding of our

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

lives to this,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

to this level. Hold that. Yeah, we can get to that in a little bit, but I think the idea of it

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

being sin I think

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

is important, Especially in the fact that we

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

can,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

we can be on the fence, so to speak, and want the Holy Spirit's power and want His guidance under our conditions. And to fulfill our righteous motives.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

And I, I think that's, yeah, something that is

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

very prevalent

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

around us.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

And

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

think that is something, yeah, that we have to, Repent of

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

and, but first recognize.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

mean, if, yeah,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

that we, we have to recognize that there is.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

there is,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

There is a place that we can find ourselves in inviting the Holy Spirit to work in our lives and yet want to govern it and control

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

it.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

And I think that's, that is

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

sin and yet I think it's prevalent

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

that

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

have to, yeah, be, be careful for it.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

I think you

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

that a

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

a lot

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

our prayers.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

We will pray for him to heal. We will pray for him

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

protect. We will

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

pray for him to do certain things.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

Channeled by our own selfish desires even scripture talks about you ask But you ask of this that you might consume it upon your own Desires your own lust your own flesh And so

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

even in our prayers I think jesus

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

pointing out that you're actually being very selfish

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

You're being very self focused and

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

you're not surrendering this to me. You're not

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

allowing me to see that

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

I just

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

think that that's one area that

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

the It One area that shows

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

the selfishness is in our hearts

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

In trying to

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

control the outcome of the Holy Spirit Yeah, that is, but that I

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

I think we do need to be careful there because

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

I don't I mean, I, there is there is scripture that also says that you don't receive because you don't ask So I, I think there is,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

Mean

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

asking for healing, asking for some of those things I'm not sure if that's the problem or is it the surrendering the actual outcome. That's the problem. Asking, I'm not sure if asking for things is a problem as much as how we Process it

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

when the prayer

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

is answered or not answered exactly in the way we ask. I, I think we can ask for things, well, it's kind of like we put amen on the end of our prayers. And if you look into the meaning of that.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

Basically, we're

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

putting a capstone on the whole prayer saying

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

that

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

everything I ask for, yeah, do what you want to do, God, not what I

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

ask.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

So, so I don't know, just,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

yeah.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

And even in the Lord's prayer, Jesus did ask

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

for things,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

but then he, his heart was not my will, but your will

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

done. And I think that that would be

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

where

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

the surrender heart would be that

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

this is, and, and, and even in the authenticity of that is to admit that this

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

my will. This is how I see it. What I think looks like bread,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

and you're saying it's

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

stone, or, but if

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

you say it's a stone, Lord, it's

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

stone.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

We surrender that.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

And, and I

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

think you're right. It's not so much the asking as much as maybe it is

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

how the heart behind it admitting to

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

God and be real

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

God and be raw with God. It's like

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

From my point of view, this is what it looks like would be the best scenario.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

But you are the father, you

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

are the God, you are

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

creator

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

and you know these things. Okay. So on the, yeah. What, what was your question there before I backtracked

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

this?

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

I think it was, we were just discussing about,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

I was just asking thoughts on, on how we can. So some motion that can be

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

taken to

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

help move into the direction of surrendering.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

I see pride.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

see I see these

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

things in my heart. What are some steps that I

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

take or

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

yeah.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

there's, that's not the right terminology,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

but the right

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

concept. To

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

help me move away from self and

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

into him and

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

surrendering. We talked about the baby steps of surrendering in being come

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

authentic, surrendering the outcome, I think would But I

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

think

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

asking,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

being real

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

in that that Lord, I have tried to control for this long, for, for however many years, it's not working and I just want to give you, and, and maybe it's an individual time and individual

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

decision by decision, by decision.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

that I yield. And

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

the, in Galatians five, the fruit of the spirit, one of them I mean, we've got love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

meekness and temperance.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

but

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

meekness, I think praying for meekness meekness is being defined as surrendering my will

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

to the will of another,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

particularly if

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

in a position to

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

assert my will.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

It's, it's easier to submit

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

your will when you don't have an option, but when you do have an option and you willingly submit that like Jesus did, he willingly submitted.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

His will to

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

the, to the soldiers, to,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

the, the, the world, the system

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

and, and that's meekness. That

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

is the epitome of meekness and

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

praying for that, I think in our lives is very important because that brings us down

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

that brings us under. When faced with the situation

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

faced with a decision,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

it's you know, actually I can surrender that I

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

don't have to be right.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

I don't have to be

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

heard.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

I don't have to be seen. I

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

don't have to be anything. My name means nothing. I mean nothing. And, and only in that the Holy spirit can use me if he's willing to desires to, and just submitting and in meekness. So, yeah, no, I, yeah, I agree with that. And I think And I kind of sound like a broken record.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

record

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

And the idea of, I think we have to stop labeling the whole surrender thing. We have to stop labeling things right and wrong. In good and bad as far as, I shouldn't say right and wrong, good and bad, as they come into our life.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

I

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

mean, it, it is

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

so, so natural to

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

say,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

yeah, I, I, I

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

can't believe that happened, or, I don't know why that had to happen,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

or why me,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

Yeah, why me and all that stuff, and removing that out of our vocabulary, And no matter what happens, it's

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

for a purpose, and

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

we're gonna I'm going to learn from it,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and I'm

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

going to move forward regardless

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

what it is,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

I mean, and and not I don't hit, hit changes at least for myself. and for me, it was hard

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

because I'm

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

a little

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

black and white,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

And I mean, something's yeah, either good or bad, or it could be done better or. And

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

And

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

the fact of not

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

immediately forming an opinion on everything

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

was, was hard, but it's,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

it'll

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

totally open up a new lens

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

on

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

how we look at

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

when something that

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

quote bad happens

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

suddenly

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

is just another route, another learning curve, whatever that can come out of it. It totally

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

our perspective on life and

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

our perspective of who we are

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

because suddenly we aren't

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

blaming ourselves

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

Because we

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

if enough things start going wrong, eventually we start looking at ourselves and blaming ourselves

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

suddenly we aren't blaming ourselves, and yet, on the flip side, if things are going good, We aren't getting puffed up

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and we're not getting Pride doeth

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

before it falls, so, yeah, we aren't riding the wave either, patting ourselves

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

the back.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

It's just, life

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

happens,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

and we can, I don't know, I think we can be way more flexible, we can be way more just surrendered when we aren't always, I don't know, I mean, I don't want to sound unpersonal, but we aren't personalizing everything. Oh, this horrible thing happened

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

me. I don't

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

No, it might not be horrible, it just happened.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

And

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

it doesn't, it's,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

yeah,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

Even though, and I don't want to minimize some massive things in

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

life, but

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

if we're authentic, life's going to go sideways. People are going to die. I mean, there's

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and it's

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

going to happen. So we shouldn't

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

act

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

totally

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

totally shocked and oh my word this should never happen to me when it

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

it happens.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

I mean, the phrase, when a young

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

person passes away,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

do we say?

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

Oh, they died way before their time.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

Based on, I mean, the only

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

scripture I know,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

it mentions a man's supposed to live to, what, three score and ten years or something,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

is the only one, but we aren't guaranteed those years,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

But, but subconsciously there again,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

we like to program

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

things and

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

when anytime it's outside of that band,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

we view it as yeah, not good or something we have to

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

persevere through and whereas if it, if it's just life that we're gonna, yeah, that we're dealing with for a purpose, To make us stronger, to make us trust in him more, to make us. More agile, more flexible, more

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

meek,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

able to, yeah, work with those around us better, whatever, there, there's lessons in everything, and

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

in every situation in life.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

Yeah, I would, I would agree

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

that.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

I would almost say though that

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

even a

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

deeper level

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

that. It's

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

not, it's more than just light. because we're talking about.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

As a

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

child of God,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

he is just allowing this into my life for a reason. I don't think it's just happenstance. It's not just that things happen. We do live in a fallen world, and we do live in a situation where things do happen.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

But I think as his children, we have another level

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

of protection. We

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

have another level of

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

protection. area that we can just,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

and, and and there's another caveat

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

I want to throw into this too, is the whole concept of, well, he just, God can make work, make something good out of something bad. Well, so we have a flat tire and we think that's a bad thing. Well, it's not him making something good out, he allowed that flat tire to happen to me at this exact time for an exact reason. I don't know what that reason, I may never know what that reason is. But he had a purpose in it. So my job is to respond in yieldedness.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

yieldedness. So

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

in meekness. Respond in, I don't know why this happened. but to do, respond in the other way is for me to try to control and

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

try

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

to figure out and try to, reason a reason for the, for the situation. Or we get ourselves

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

into where we're like,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

Hoping that God, you know, well,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

he will use this,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

use, make something good come out of this bad

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

situation Well, once again, we're like you said we're tagging it as a bad situation We're in his

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

view, he's looking

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

at

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

from a whole other angle. Whole big picture. He's you're my child and I need you to be

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

conformed in this way. And this is what will help go that, direction.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

And we can choose to

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

go the opposite against his will.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

But,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

I think that, yeah, it's a whole nother level.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

It's not just responding

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

to life as it hits us, but it's actually life

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

coming at us with a purpose on purpose

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

for his

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

purpose and being surrendered to that rather than fighting it rather than trying to reason it out, trying to

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

wrestle with it.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

think surrendering it to yeah, rather than

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

responding, we're surrendering,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

I guess, is

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

is be another way of

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

it.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

So many times in

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

life we respond

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

To life we react and it's it hits us.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

We respond.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

It hits us. We respond. rather than just

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

relax, let it flow.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

Let him work in our lives and manipulate and and move and, and shift us and, course, correct us and humble us

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and, and use us and lift us up. He

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

said he'll do that

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

if we surrender to him and seek him first. Our

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

real only goal is to seek him and surrender

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

him. He can do all the rest.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

A co couple things there.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

Yeah. You mentioned

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

that it's deeper than life,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

I think

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

I, I don't wanna separate the idea that there's like life

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and then the

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

spiritual. though. Oh, I agree with that.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

That,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

that, that, that it's all

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

same. And I think sometimes we can, the tendency may be to say that it's more than life and it's like God working. And now suddenly we, we try

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

to figure out how God's working or what he's doing.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

When, when I agree, it's to say that it's. More than life. I mean,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

life is God at work. I mean, that's what life is. And

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

I think that

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

trying to,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

for us to

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

try to figure out why God would do this

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

or

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

if it's a

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

temptation or a test from the devil,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

did he allow it to happen or did

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

do it? And

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

all that stuff. there again, maybe I'm too black and white, but it, it doesn't, it doesn't matter. I mean, as long as we're, yeah, surrendered and, and another thing, the whole idea of being surrendered. I do want to separate the idea

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

of disconnected

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

or laziness with the whole idea of surrendered,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

like

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

all, all because the situation.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

comes

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

into our lives and it's I'm going

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

surrender. so I'm just going to just

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

let it play out

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and do nothing.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

Well, that that's, that's not surrendered. We be being lazy. Yeah. that's being

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

Being surrendered is being available for any action we would be called to.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

No matter what the

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

is. Even if it seems like it's the wrong action

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

for that situation.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

In

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

our human minds,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

oh man, fix this, we need

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

to do this or

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

or whatever.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

We, we need to be willing to step out

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

surrender the outcome of the outcome. If we're called to.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

step

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

into a situation

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

confront

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

somebody or whatever it might be. It might look like it's making the situation worse,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

but if

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

that's, if that's the next right thing to do, I know that's kind of,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

maybe something that's overused, but

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

I think it can be a baby step

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

to

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

use in this, in the whole surrendering the

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

thing

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

is what's the next right

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

to do.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

Don't, don't look at three steps down the road

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

how this is going to

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

fit. what what if is all I can see is this,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

what is the next right thing to do in this situation? And then just. Do it that yeah,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

do the uncomfortable work.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

Just do it, do it immediately or

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

when he prompts

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

you To,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

To, to get it done and not try to control

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

it and or

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

figure out if it's God's doing it or if he, or why, why he's doing it

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

or or what's going on.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

on. And the, the other part of that I'm seeing now we've

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

focused a lot on how this affects my life

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

me being surrendered. And what that walks out,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

maybe in a very real

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

way,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

but there's also a beauty of

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

when

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

think about the body of Christ

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

as fellow believers, you get two

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

plus People

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

who are surrendered

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

working together, walking together, talking together, living together. Now all of a sudden you've got a whole nother level of, it's, it's not one plus one equals two. It's One plus one equals 50 because now say 50 X in the surrendering because now all of a sudden I'm watching your life and you're surrendered. You're doing something that doesn't make any sense to me. It, it looks like from my perspective, but instead as a surrender person, now I am. Surrendering that it's like I it humanly it makes no sense what he's doing. I don't know why but We don't know what god's doing in his heart We don't know what god's doing in his life and he's walking surrendered And i'm walking surrendered now all of a sudden we've got a Seriously Beautiful picture because everyone has surrendered. There's no judgment going on. There's no there's no trying to figure out Peter fell into that trap. He's Jesus, follow me. And he's well, what about him? And Jesus is well, if that's you you follow me. And Peter had to learn that lesson pretty publicly and pretty blatantly

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

from the Lord himself.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

But that's the same lesson for every one of us follow Jesus. If you're following Jesus, I'm following Jesus. He's following Jesus. We're all following Jesus. It may not look Vertically or horizontally. It may not make any sense. But.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

As long as vertically

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

where we're at. and yet I say that with some trepidation because there is also this whole thing of going off on your own tangent that all I've got to do is follow Jesus or not. And what you think of me doesn't matter. There is a brotherhood. There is a body that

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

that

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

is spoken of very strongly in scripture. Jesus talks about he's coming back for his body, for his bride. And I think that,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

if if everyone is truly

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

to the Holy Spirit, so

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

we got, now we got one spirit, we got one mind, the

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

of Christ, we got one purpose, to

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

glorify Him, we will walk

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

in unison. We will walk in real unity. It may look different, the uniformity may not be there, but the unity will be solid, it will be rooted in Him.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

So I think,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

yeah.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

And, and, and the whole thing is contrary

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

our nature. The whole thing is not, so it has to be,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

the only way we

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

do it is to fully allow the Holy Spirit to do His work and let, yeah, let Him have His way.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

I

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

in,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

in a group setting like that, there are gonna be times, like you said,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

it might,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

what an individual's doing might look a little off or whatever.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

But

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

if the, if the trust is there. the, the overarching vision and, and time,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

things

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

will,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

things will make

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

sense. Like you said, it'll, it'll be of one spirit moving in one direction. I mean, we,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

We

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

we may be looking at the, the back of the,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

the

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

tapestry, and it may look weird.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

But I think

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

through, as we work with individuals, As there'll be

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

instances happen, it'll give us glimpses of the front,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

that we can see enough of what's going on, that,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

we can see that there's,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

there's beauty happening

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and yet oftentimes, yeah, it might not

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

look like we

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

it should

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

whatever, and a situation with the group, that through the years and and, and walking

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

through this, has changed the

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

simple fact of

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

what

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

goes through your mind when you see a couple individuals

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

standing in

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

in a corner

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

the, maybe,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

I

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

don't know, having a, an in depth conversation and glancing your way or something. It's usually self preservation and curiosity and a lot of things rear up. Yeah, there's so many situations or it's Oh my word. Like what, what's going on?

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

what? Yeah. And

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

and of course it's 90

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

of the

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

time it goes through our head. It's

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

like something. negative of some type.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

And it's like, why not give them the benefit of the doubt

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

that, yeah,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

they're

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

wrestling

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

with something. They're,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

yeah, growing

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

Together, they're like, like it

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

it's nothing mischievous at all.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

Like it's, it's just,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

I don't know.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

there, There's so many situations

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

things that happen.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

that if there was, if there was a, a trust and, surrender,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

that they wouldn't, they wouldn't have the same effect,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

but

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

it takes time,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

takes time to

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

takes time to build on it, I guess, is the fact like, the whole authentic thing and surrendering the outcome.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

It

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

doesn't

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

work

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

80 percent of the time. You, You, can't do it 80 percent of the

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and then in

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

certain situations,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

this seemed fit

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

to tell a white lie

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

there was so much at stake

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

that that doesn't cut it,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

it destroys

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

the rest of the 80%. You might as well not

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

try it.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

it

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

Because, and, and that, that's been a huge challenge is there, there is, Well, you mentioned earlier, you have to be serious about it. There is no top. There is no situation that it's like, Oh, the stakes are so high that, fill in the blank. There is none of that. And there can't be any of it to

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

build

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

the oneness of spirit

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

and the the momentum with a group to actually walk in the spirit, live in the spirit. If in the back of our minds, we're going to hold out that If things get crazy enough.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

we may

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

have to take different

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

measures. That is

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

just not surrender. Yeah. Yeah. That's not trust. That's

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

That's not faith.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

And,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

And, and, and then, and I think there's in the surrender to the Holy Spirit, we need to allow that the Holy Spirit will work in other one's lives in a group situation as well. So the two guys in the corner in your scenario, I have to surrender that I have to surrender them. I have to surrender. It doesn't matter what they're saying. It doesn't matter. Okay. But beyond that, if these two gentlemen are in your scenario are surrendered, then there are only wanting my good. Even if they are talking about me, even if

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

it is about

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

something failure in my life, whatever it is, it doesn't matter. But they only wanted my good anyway, because we're one body, one unity. One spirit, one, one goal. And if they are seeking my ill, maybe it is the worst case scenario. That's still okay because God is going to allow that or not, or I'll shut him down. He is in control, allowing that it really doesn't matter. And I think one thing that's helped me a lot in this whole thing of being vulnerable is that no matter what happens to me, and I've had people push back on this thing, but no matter what happens to me, It's tremendously less than I deserve. It's when we think that we deserve better, that it becomes an issue in us because that's what I want to rear out because

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

I'm trying

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

defend my rights. I got to defend myself for some reason, even if it's a

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

a, a subconscious thing,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

I think

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

I deserve better than what I'm receiving or about

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

receive or whatever I'm surmising that I should be receiving.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

And the reality is no reality is

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

that no, you can't do anything to me. That is beyond

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

what I deserve. Worse

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

I deserve. And

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

so it's,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

thinking that I deserve more. That

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

creates

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

this pushback against surrender. And

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

it's,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

it's a tough, tough.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

and it's tough, but

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

I don't even like using the

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

word hard or tough because

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

not really. It's It's hard, but it's, it's so simple. To surrender, just give it up. It's no, it's actually doesn't matter. It really doesn't matter.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

Because he is still in control. I want to talk a little bit about

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

this thought of

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

uncomfortable work and I, and this is going to overlap a

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

amount but some of the uncomfortable work that we're called to

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

do

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and, and, and I would define maybe this as being the, the things that just aren't fun or easy

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

to do. And, and maybe that's

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

confronting a person. on some sin in their lives. And I want to back up

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

just a little bit

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

that whole concept as well. Because what you were talking about in the concept of of, of

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

the group setting

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

at some levels, we are not going to be fully, I

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

shouldn't even say

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

at some level, we are not always going to be 100 percent surrender. And we may think

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

we're surrendered and be a blind spot

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

our

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

my life. I should use it

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

personally. But

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

I may think that I'm walking surrender. I may think that I surrendered the outcome to a situation. But I haven't. And so you see that in my life,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

You see that. You're like, no, actually

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

Todd, that is not surrendered. I surrendered

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

would be this. And then of course, correct. And, and I

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

think that that's what a body, that's one of the great

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

functions of a body is

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

people helping people.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

Course correct, helping people see the blind spots because there's not

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

going to be, as we walk on this earth, a hundred percent, fully surrendered.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

Person,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

but through the Holy Spirit and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he will use individuals into our lives to help us

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

correct

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

into seeing those unsurrendered areas. Or maybe it's just a spot, one decision that we've made. no, if you truly would have surrendered it,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

this

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

is your attitude would

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

been. And so I think,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

I think that is something that is good to

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

keep in mind.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

The idea of the, the do uncomfortable work, I think, like you mentioned, it kind of ties it, the. Maybe the action to all of this together. I mean, if, if, if we're authentic

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

surrendering the outcome, there will be, it's going to put us in situations that are outside of our comfort zone.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

It's

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

going to put us in situations

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

that

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

we, we need to, you mentioned follow up with somebody or yeah,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

go

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

back to something that we said and take it back. It's gonna.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

going

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

to, be going to, we're going to have to do things that there's no way to know the outcome of

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

of.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

There's no way to know exactly how that person is going

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

respond. There's

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

no way to know what the, yeah, what

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

the,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

the backlash of the situation could be, but we just have to

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

do

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

do it. Walk, walk into it.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and, and

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

I think some of them too can be. We've kind of been going through steps through each one of these. Some of them can be simple, as far as, I mean, it shouldn't be hard to send a text message to

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

right?

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

But a lot of times it is.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

we

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

may be prompted to send somebody an encouraging text message

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

or something.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

And, and, and we put it

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

It shouldn't, it

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

seems like it shouldn't fall under uncomfortable work. Right. But, but,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

as active a matter as it does. So, so, I think it's

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

the same way there.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

It's the small things, and I think it's going to vary with different individuals.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

I mean, I, I

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

I mean some people, for whatever reason, the idea of picking up the phone and calling somebody is terrifying,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

and they'll put it off.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

They'll, yeah, that's, yeah. So I, I think they can,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

whatever

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

uncomfortable work is for you,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

just lean into it

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and as soon as it comes up, just do it. start, start with the small things. and just get it done

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

And you'll

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

out at least in my own life 90 percent of the time the, if you do a worst case scenario, best case scenario, 90 percent of the time it turns out better than

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

the better

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

best case scenario. It's like the, the mountain that we made it,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

it wasn't anywhere

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

close to that.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

It was

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

better than what we expected. So, yeah, I think that's.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

Yeah, then we, yeah, we could get into some of the

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

heavier, do uncomfortable

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

work things

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

well.

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

And I don't know, yeah, if we want

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

do some practical scenarios

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

of this at all. I think that would be a good thing.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

So, but

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

but yeah, I don't

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

yeah, if you

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

got anything

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

on the, the

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

uncomfortable. well, there are, there are things

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

that I

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

think, I think.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

One of the

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

the things about doing uncomfortable work,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

I think the

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

Holy Spirit will actually

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

us. You hear a lot of times when someone's calling in life was not something they would, maybe

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

they're called to

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

preach and they've

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

more. Always been

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

an introvert or, called to

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

do whatever. The

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

Spirit will often lead us into uncomfortable work. Because of a lot of different reasons, but one of them I think is,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

it, it does make us vulnerable and

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

the Holy Spirit loves for us to be vulnerable because it, it,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

it

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

us to his strength. It shows, allows him to be strong when, when he leans into our strengths, we have a tendency to take that back on ourselves. And so he,

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

he allows us

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

to or he, he leads us

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

into

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

our weaknesses. He leads us into

todd-castle_1_05-21-2024_174536:

our vulnerabilities.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

Like the Holy Spirit, I think, works much the same way he has put into our lives to work. And so he's like a person, and so he as he builds

todd-castle_2_05-21-2024_190314:

this relationship.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

he's going to give us these little things, like you mentioned, can I trust him with this? can I trust Todd? I'm going to ask him to do a cup of cold water to go to

todd-castle_2_05-21-2024_190314:

a

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

side.

todd-castle_2_05-21-2024_190314:

Is

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

Can I trust him to do that? And so as we as we exercise that. Then he says, you know what maybe I can trust him in this area.

todd-castle_2_05-21-2024_190314:

Let's

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

And then he's like, you know what if he would, so he of course corrects us through circumstances in life, but he, the trust has to go both directions. We learn to trust him, but I think he learns to trust Um, not that he is omniscient

todd-castle_2_05-21-2024_190314:

Omniscient and

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

he, knows everything, but he, he needs to, I Abraham's test. Can I trust you to give up your son? Um, and

todd-castle_2_05-21-2024_190314:

I think that the same way with us, Jesus gave a

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

parable that what did we do with that talent? And then he who was faithful with his talents, he gave more talents. and I think the same way with god. he allows us Test us in an area and if we're trustworthy, if we, if we can come through on this little steps, then he could trust more and more and more and I think that's where

todd-castle_2_05-21-2024_190314:

he wants us.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

That's his glory. Um,

todd-castle_2_05-21-2024_190314:

if, he gives us a

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

task and

todd-castle_2_05-21-2024_190314:

we received the glory

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

of ourselves, we have failed the task. But

todd-castle_2_05-21-2024_190314:

if we can give him the

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

glory allow him to be shining through, then we, wants it for us.

todd-castle_2_05-21-2024_190314:

Yeah,

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

I think, I think,

todd-castle_2_05-21-2024_190314:

that whole trust thing goes well, kinda like

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

both.

todd-castle_2_05-21-2024_190314:

It's he and us, and us and him.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

and I think it's kind of the same. He, he

todd-castle_2_05-21-2024_190314:

us those

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

things so us. and yet kind

todd-castle_2_05-21-2024_190314:

of like

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

you said,

todd-castle_2_05-21-2024_190314:

I mean, he already knows

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

So a

todd-castle_2_05-21-2024_190314:

lot of it is he gives us

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

the small things because I think the trust factor may be more trusting him because fact of the matter is the reason. We don't act on a lot of the situations isn't

todd-castle_2_05-21-2024_190314:

because

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

we don't know how, or we don't maybe not even that We, don't necessarily want to. We, we want

todd-castle_2_05-21-2024_190314:

the good outcome, don't honestly trust him that it's going to work out.

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

Right. Because we can't see it. Yeah. We can't see it. And we haven't, yeah,

todd-castle_2_05-21-2024_190314:

built that trust that it'll

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

actually work out. with what they

todd-castle_2_05-21-2024_190314:

want. Actually is in

DJI_20240521174752_0030_D:

control.

Todd:

Thank you for listening to this edition of the surrendered soul podcast. We hope you have found hope, healing, and freedom from the topic of learning how to make great decisions as you practice rigorous authenticity, surrendering the outcome of those decisions and doing the uncomfortable work of putting the outcome of those decisions into action. If you have any questions about today's topic or have a topic or question that you'd like us to discuss, please feel free to email us at the surrendered soul 24. At gmail. com that email address again is the surrendered soul. 24 at gmail. com Zach. And I pray that this podcast has been a blessing to you as you learn to fully surrender your soul to God, his son, Jesus, and the Holy spirit.

People on this episode

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Todd Castle

Host
Contributor

Zach Funk

Host

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