What does surrender look like in your life?
God has asked us to give Him our whole life; what exactly does that look like, since we don’t even know what our whole life will look like yet? We are supposed to put God first; how much room in your day is that? An hour in the morning for devotions, or a prayer before you eat or go to bed? The rest of the day is yours to watch movies or even work, right? Is more required?
What does giving Him your whole life look like?
Other than the day you gave your life to Jesus, has He ever asked you to give up something? A job. Your dreams. Your ideal house. Your stuff. Your rights or preferences. The idea of having coworkers around you that don’t drive you crazy or test your patience. Your comforts.
It reminds me of when Jesus met the rich young ruler.
Mark 10:17
17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do so that I may inherit eternal life?” 18 But Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not give false testimony, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth.” 21 Looking at him, Jesus showed love to him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But he was deeply dismayed by these words, and he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. 23 And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus responded again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And they were even more astonished, and said to Him, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”
Anything we prioritize before God only hinders our walk with Him. He want us to follow Him, not holding on to anything else; fully obedient, fully His.
Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Surrendering is hard. There are so many things we want or dream of or have; God is so much more. He has so much more for us then to be held down by people or things. He gave us an example by how He lived.
Mathew 8:18-22
18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 21 Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
When I was in Discipleship Training School (DTS) God began to reveal where my heart was by asking questions about surrender. “What if I asked you to give up _____?” In asking me those questions I began to realize idols in my life and where I felt my identity was found. He has continued to ask me those questions through the years since then, stripping away “every weight, and sin which clings so closely”. During School of Worship we were instructed to write a song about our testimony. Surrender was the last thing I wanted to write my song about; it was still so raw after all the questioning God had put me through, and did I want anyone to know. I tried and tried to write everything else but it all came to nothing; God had told me to write it this way and that was all He was giving me. As soon as I began to write it His way I had nearly a whole song within a matter of minutes.
I will finish up with sharing it today. Think about the words and maybe even replace them with the things that are important to you.
Will you follow me?
Follow my voice when I call?
Will you give up your friends,
Give up your comfort for me?
Will you give up your family?
Will you give up your dreams for me?
Will you follow me?
Will you give me your heart,
And give your love to me?
Will you follow me?
You are my warrior
Take your stand!
You are my bride
Take my hand!
You are my joy
A treasure in the sand!
Will you follow me?
Follow my voice when I call?
Will you give up your pride?
Will you give up your fears for me?
Will you trust me to lead you,
And lead you through the desert for me?
Will you follow me?
Will you give up your life,
And pick up your cross for me?
You are my warrior
Take your stand!
You are my bride
Take my hand!
You are my joy
A treasure in the sand!
Will you follow me?
Thank you for breaking
All my chains!
Thank you for freedom
You gave to me!
Thank you for washing
All my sins away!
Will you follow me?
Yes, I will follow you
Will you follow me?
Yes, I will follow you
Yes, I will follow you
What has God been asking you to give up? Why do you thing it is so hard for you to let go? Maybe God is trying to reveal something in your life that you have not seen or are ignoring. I challenge you today to search your heart. Are you fully surrendered to the Lord in all areas? Talk to Him. Get His perspective. Surrender. Share with us in the comments how God has revealed these things to you; what have you had to give up in the past?
