Committing your spirit

“Into Your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O Lord, the God of truth.” Psalm 31:5
These words probably sound familiar to us – and they should, because they are the words uttered by Jesus on the cross (Luke 23:46), and by Stephen as he was being stoned to death (Acts 7:59). We should have this attitude too. However, it should not only be when we are on our deathbeds, but while we are still alive. If we have been born again, then we are to count our old nature, the sin nature, as dead to us (Rom. 6:2, 11). “But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness” (Rom. 8:11). “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3).
This new life that we have is spiritual life, not physical life. Physically, we are all getting closer to death. Our bodies are wearing out; becoming a Christian doesn’t change that. But coming to faith in Christ grants us new, eternal life, with Him. And here’s the point: we don’t have to wait until we physically die, to start enjoying that eternal life. God gives it to us, and the smartest thing we can do with it is to give it right back to Him – committing it into His hands. This means, to say to God, ‘You are in control.’ This isn’t a once-for-all thing; it’s a daily decision we need to make. And that’s the first step you need to take, in order for God to use you in a mighty way.