How do we get to a place of faith like Paul and Stephen? They both died for their faith. They knew as it was happening what was coming and surrendered. As we celebrate this Easter, there are some sobering stats about the state of faith in America. Just 20% of American self-professed Christians attend church on a weekly basis. That number climbs to 50% for Easter. What this might tell us is that the church is failing in its job to show Jesus. Many Christians haven't really met Him. Romans 10:9 is the origin of the salvation prayer, but many don't think about the true meaning and intent of those words. The heart is at the center of life: all physical, spiritual, and soul (thoughts, desires, purposes), flow from the heart. In order to trust God, we have to develop a relationship with Him and if we have a damaged heart because we have been burned by people or the church, we might not want to open ourselves up. We have to learn to trust God and give up control, with three areas where we must surrender to deepen our relationship with Him. First, we build trust through His Word. Romans 12:2 reminds us to renew our minds. Ask yourself: What am I spending more time doing - watching tv or spending time in the Word with God? If we don't desire to spend time in the Word and learn more, it is a dangerous place to be, making us an easy target for the enemy. Second, we build trust with God through prayer. We talk to Him and share our thoughts, feelings, concerns, and fears. Check out Matthew 7:11, Philippians 4:6, 1 John 5:14, and Colossians 4:2. Third, we build relationships with other believers to encourage one another and walk together as in Hebrews 10:24-25. To have a deep relationship with God, we must be willing to sacrifice, whether that is things, relationships, or our selfish desires, to completely surrender our lives to Him. Some questions to ponder this week: What am I prioritizing above God? What am I holding onto that is keeping me from the promises of God? Step into surrender!