Surrender All

Following Jesus is not easy. It requires surrendering your own will, your own ways, and your own plans and choosing to follow the will, the ways, and the plans of the Lord. Romans 12 tells us it also requires us to surrender our bodies and our minds to the Lord. God desires every part of us to be fully surrendered to Him, not just physically, but also spiritually.

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2 NLT)

Surrender is an act of worship, and it is only through the act of complete surrender that we can walk out the rest of what Romans 12 teaches us about living as a follower of Christ. On our own, we lack the ability to live for Christ or fully work in the gifts that the Lord has given us. When we are willing to surrender all, we find the freedom to live for Christ like never before. The truth is, the body of Christ cannot function properly if every part isn’t fully surrendered to God.

One Sunday during a worship service, I felt instructed by the Lord to posture myself on my knees during worship. At first, I was worried about what others would think. But I knew I needed to be obedient and worship on my knees.

I thought, “It’s the closing song, most people will be packing up their things anyway, so they won’t see me.” When the music started, I immediately found myself on my knees, with my eyes closed. I sang as if no one else was there. It was just me and the Lord. When the song was over, I lingered in that moment for a while, tears streaming down my face. I didn’t want it to end. When I finally opened my eyes, there was a crowd of people waiting at the edge of the platform for me.

When they saw me on my knees in worship to the Lord, they put their things down and worshipped the Lord the way they connected with Him the most. Some joined me on their knees, others with their hands raised, and some worshipped in sign language. Each one told me with tears in their eyes that they hadn’t worshipped the Lord like that in a long time and they thanked me for my obedience to the Lord. It was such a humbling experience and one I will never forget. Surrendering to the Lord allows Him to work through us for our benefit but also for the benefit of others.

Father God, I want to be fully surrendered to You. Reveal to me any areas of my life, my body, and my mind that are not surrendered to You and give me the strength to surrender all. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

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Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.