TOTAL SURRENDER
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." [Proverbs 3:5-6]
What does it mean to totally surrender your life to God? As fellow Christians how do we let go and let God have His way? A friend of mine texted me one morning saying “I am going through the level of surrender.” Surrendering can be scary because we equate ‘total surrendering’ as feeling weak.
I probably don’t have to tell you how difficult it is to surrender to the Will of God. We start the day telling God we give it all to Him, and then before we know it, we’re right back in the worry cycle; trying to will everything to work in our favor. Sounds about right?
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." This verse emphasizes trusting in God's wisdom and guidance rather than relying solely on our own understanding. “Submit to Him”; means surrendering our plans and desires to God's will.
Many of us have faced moments in life where the pressure to control every outcome becomes overwhelming – an untamed desire to steer our lives down a meticulously planned path. I’m a planner. I like to know when something is going to happen and what it’s going to look like. But the life of faith doesn’t work that way. God rarely gives us a map and a time. In fact, I’d venture to say, God never works that way! When we try to control outcomes, we are usually disappointed. Surrendering is not about admitting defeat, but rather about finding hope and relief in the understanding that God holds the blueprint for our lives.
So often we say we trust God, but what we really mean is that we trust Him to do what we want rather than what He knows is best for us. Yielding to His will takes practice, and it’s definitely not a one-and-done thing. It requires us to choose His will every day. And in some seasons, we must choose to surrender over and over again throughout the day.
Over the years, I’ve learned that the best way to surrender to the will of God in the hard times is to intentionally stand on scriptures and Christian affirmations. There is an old hymn that I love to sing - I Surrender All. Verse one and the chorus says: “All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give, I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live. Chorus: I surrender all; I surrender all; All to Thee my blessed Savior; I surrender all.”
When your feelings are getting the best of you; repeat those affirmations (I surrender all) until you begin to feel His presence.
Colossians 1:10-12 NLT says, “Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all His glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to His people, who live in the light.”
Surrendering is a process, one that begins with simple, intentional acts of faith, such as engaging in daily prayer, meditating on Scripture, and surrounding ourselves with a supportive faith community can serve as foundational steps toward surrendering to God’s will.
The following steps will also help us when we are learning about embracing surrender:
1. Get to know God by spending time in His Word.
2. Pray with an open heart, expressing both your fears and your desires to God.
3. Journal about the ways you've seen God's ways be better than yours in the past.
4. Memorize verses like Proverbs 3:5-6, quoted above, about God directing your path.
When we surrender to the will of God and choose to live in a way that honors Him, then the work we do for the Lord will be blessed and we’ll live a full and fruitful life.
Let us Pray:
Dear God, we recognize that you are the ultimate authority in our lives, and we choose to submit to your will. O God, we offer our lives, will, heart and soul to you. We surrender all our plans, desires, and fears, trusting in your perfect wisdom and love. Guide us, Lord, and lead us on the path you have prepared for us. We are willing to let go of what we know and embrace the unknown, knowing that you are with us every step of the way. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.
Written by Donnis Prass
What does it mean to totally surrender your life to God? As fellow Christians how do we let go and let God have His way? A friend of mine texted me one morning saying “I am going through the level of surrender.” Surrendering can be scary because we equate ‘total surrendering’ as feeling weak.
I probably don’t have to tell you how difficult it is to surrender to the Will of God. We start the day telling God we give it all to Him, and then before we know it, we’re right back in the worry cycle; trying to will everything to work in our favor. Sounds about right?
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." This verse emphasizes trusting in God's wisdom and guidance rather than relying solely on our own understanding. “Submit to Him”; means surrendering our plans and desires to God's will.
Many of us have faced moments in life where the pressure to control every outcome becomes overwhelming – an untamed desire to steer our lives down a meticulously planned path. I’m a planner. I like to know when something is going to happen and what it’s going to look like. But the life of faith doesn’t work that way. God rarely gives us a map and a time. In fact, I’d venture to say, God never works that way! When we try to control outcomes, we are usually disappointed. Surrendering is not about admitting defeat, but rather about finding hope and relief in the understanding that God holds the blueprint for our lives.
So often we say we trust God, but what we really mean is that we trust Him to do what we want rather than what He knows is best for us. Yielding to His will takes practice, and it’s definitely not a one-and-done thing. It requires us to choose His will every day. And in some seasons, we must choose to surrender over and over again throughout the day.
Over the years, I’ve learned that the best way to surrender to the will of God in the hard times is to intentionally stand on scriptures and Christian affirmations. There is an old hymn that I love to sing - I Surrender All. Verse one and the chorus says: “All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give, I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live. Chorus: I surrender all; I surrender all; All to Thee my blessed Savior; I surrender all.”
When your feelings are getting the best of you; repeat those affirmations (I surrender all) until you begin to feel His presence.
Colossians 1:10-12 NLT says, “Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all His glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to His people, who live in the light.”
Surrendering is a process, one that begins with simple, intentional acts of faith, such as engaging in daily prayer, meditating on Scripture, and surrounding ourselves with a supportive faith community can serve as foundational steps toward surrendering to God’s will.
The following steps will also help us when we are learning about embracing surrender:
1. Get to know God by spending time in His Word.
2. Pray with an open heart, expressing both your fears and your desires to God.
3. Journal about the ways you've seen God's ways be better than yours in the past.
4. Memorize verses like Proverbs 3:5-6, quoted above, about God directing your path.
When we surrender to the will of God and choose to live in a way that honors Him, then the work we do for the Lord will be blessed and we’ll live a full and fruitful life.
Let us Pray:
Dear God, we recognize that you are the ultimate authority in our lives, and we choose to submit to your will. O God, we offer our lives, will, heart and soul to you. We surrender all our plans, desires, and fears, trusting in your perfect wisdom and love. Guide us, Lord, and lead us on the path you have prepared for us. We are willing to let go of what we know and embrace the unknown, knowing that you are with us every step of the way. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.
Written by Donnis Prass
Posted in Mid-Week Devotional
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