I Surrender

I’ve been thinking a lot about surrender lately. What does it really mean to surrender as a follower of Christ? The word surrender literally means, to stop resisting and submit. Here’s what Jesus said:

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:24-25 NIV).

In other words, Jesus is asking for all of each of us. No resistance, but willing submission. Why? He knows that we so desperately want to be in control of our lives and if we are left to ourselves, we will actually ruin it.  When we surrender to God and His will, we will then find the life that God intended for us. Listen to what Jesus says:

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

It’s so hard to give up control, isn’t it? Perhaps surrender is not so much something that we do but rather something that happens to us when we welcome the Holy Spirit’s power in our lives? I mean, think about this — I can’t just decide one day I’m going to totally surrender every thought, every word, every action to Christ and voila, it just happens! Surrender only comes through the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us, a journey of growing in faith. As we surrender one area of our lives to Christ’s control, then God puts His spotlight on another area where we’re still trying to be the boss.

Oh yes, people of Zion, citizens of Jerusalem, your time of tears is over. Cry for help and you’ll find it’s grace and more grace. The moment he hears, he’ll answer. Just as the Master kept you alive during the hard times, he’ll keep your teacher alive and present among you. Your teacher will be right there, local and on the job, urging you on whenever you wander left or right: “This is the right road. Walk down this road.” You’ll scrap your expensive and fashionable god-images. You’ll throw them in the trash as so much garbage, saying, “Good riddance!” (Isaiah 30:19-22 MSG).

I love this picture described by the prophet Isaiah. Surrender is a result of living out of a loving and trusting relationship with God. We learn one step of trust at a time and one day at a time as we depend on the Spirit. Our confidence grows as we discern His voice and see the way He is guiding us. That’s why we can surrender. The life that results from surrendering to God will far exceed our old idols and dreams. Like Isaiah, we will gladly say, “Be gone! I don’t want you anymore!”  I surrender! And that’s courageous living.

Prayer of Commitment
Jesus, thank You for life to the full. I choose to surrender and lose my life for Your sake. Guide me in Your way.

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Scripture is quoted from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations as noted are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.