Dear Friend,

Study, read, listen, pray, or think as I may, I cannot find any door to the abundant Christian life other than abandon to Christ. Complete abandon. Utter surrender. Holding nothing back that He asks.

It is then that our false Churchianity suddenly becomes true Christianity and our ordinary life extraordinary. The very moment we decide to let God do or have whatever He wants, the door flings open and we begin living the full-orbed, Spirit-led, Word-enlightened, hope-filled, heavenly minded, deeply joyful Christian life. This is the "abundant life" Jesus expressly promised: "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

Stubborn by nature, our old man opens every other door available - good works, financial contributions, new studies on the deeper life, more church work, short-term missions, social activism, seminary training, even prayer and fasting - hoping it will usher us into abundant spiritual life, all while we are still holding on to things Jesus has asked us to surrender. And it just won't work! Instead of entering the promised land of abundant life, we continue wandering in the aimless desert of apathetic life. Why remain apathetic when you can live animated?

It's time we recognize our "door closers," the stubborn places in our lives that keep the door to abundant life shut. They may be one of many things: refusal to take time for Bible study or prayer; unforgiveness; laziness; indulging the flesh; bad attitudes toward family members or fellow Christians; resenting authority; maintaining bad friendships; unjustified divorce; invalid remarriage; chronic doubt of God's Word; disbelief in miracles; rejection of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit; not answering God's call to ministry; refusing to practice self-examination; or many other issues of chronic disobedience to Christ. As long as these remain undealt with, the door to abundant life remains unopened. And Jesus awaits one thing: our abandon!

Utter surrender to Him immediately ushers us into an utterly amazing closeness to and security in Him. Suddenly, His Word is alive, personal, enlightening, inspiring. Immediately, obedience becomes a delight and no sacrifice seems costly. Instantly, we discern His hand working in our lives with absolute certainty, answering prayers, giving us opportunities to practice His Word (tests), blessing our kingdom labors, and giving favor and opening doors in His will. Why?

We finally abandoned! Fully. Holding nothing back. And we've taken on a new motto. It's no more, "My way or the highway," but now it's, "His way or no way." This is the portal to the life you've been wanting and praying for - and perhaps envying in the Christlike Christians you know or have read about in church history. And it can be yours and mine today. This very moment.

If unstirred by this appeal, may I reason with you. Let's simply take a practical look at this matter?

We've given ourselves to selfishness and sin and seen what that got us. Is that what we want? Does it satisfy and fulfill us? Does it make us live life fully alive? Does it make Jesus near, dear, and real? Does it bring the Holy Spirit's refreshing anointing every morning or make His still, small voice clearer every day?

If not, there's only one logical thing to do: try what this piece proposes! Open the door! Abandon! Yield wholly to Jesus - surrendering whatever He asks and embracing wholeheartedly whatever He orders - and watch with wonder as He responds and leads you into a new, spiritually empowered, humbler-yet-higher walk very close by His side. Every day. Every moment. In every trial. In every triumph. Till He comes.

Oh, and by the way, this is true Christianity. Let us not try to find another kind.

Opening the door,

Greg Hinnant
Greg Hinnant Ministries