The
world rejects the idea of surrendering. They equate surrender with giving up,
and with loss and defeat. However, when we surrender to the Lordship of Jesus
Christ we release all the stress and striving in our life.
In
return, we gain the fruit of His Spirit, which defy all human logic (Galatians
5:22-23). Surrender means to trust God, and to stop struggling to live on our
own in this hostile environment we call “life”.
Surrender
results in our absolute submission to God’s leading for each moment of our day.
In return, we receive His deepest presence in our life along with a multitude
of blessings (Job 22:21). The easiest way to walk in surrender is to start
obeying the Spirit’s direction in small increments.
For
instance, we prefer our mate’s needs to our own. We put money in the offering
basket that we intended to use for some luxury. We take food to a sick friend
when we prefer to stay home and watch TV. We give our bicycle to a family
without transportation.
We
also relinquish our right, as Jesus did, to prove that we are innocent. We do
not assume the attitude of a martyr; but we obey the Spirit’s promptings with
joy, knowing that God provides us with an abundance of every good thing
(Hebrews 12:2).
In
our old life we surrendered to sin, but now we have a new Master and He truly
sets us free (Romans 6:16-18). Dying to our self is not detestable when we know
it results not only in future treasures in Heaven for eternity, but also in joy
and peace now.
This
eternal perspective allows us to pass through the less agreeable moments of
surrender more easily. When God calls us to submission to His greater will, we
offer our life to Him. We relinquish our personal freedom.
Then,
God replaces earthly autonomy with spiritual freedom, which is deeper and reaps
lasting blessings in our spirit, body and soul – our thoughts, choices and
emotions. There is no lasting liberty outside of a complete surrender to Christ
(Luke 14:33).
We
yield our life to Christ each new day, giving to Him the issues that weigh us
down, seeking His guidance for each moment, and giving Him the glory for
everything that we accomplish (Galatians 3:1-3).
The
areas of our life, which we refuse to submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ,
are the venues that imprison us. They are idols that we cherish more than our
relationship with our living Lord. If we walk through life in obedience to the
Holy Spirit, we reap blessings that never end.
We
learn to view our life from His vantage point, and we see the people in it as our
mission field. A life of half-hearted commitment may lose its tranquility and
happiness, but a surrendered life provides overwhelming peace and joy.
Prayer:
Father
God, teach us to see our family, neighbors, friends, workmates, associates, and
even the check-out people at the retail store, or those waiting on us at the
restaurant, as hand-chosen by You for us to influence for Your Kingdom. When we
live in Christ and allow Him to live in and through us, we surrender our old
life and live as Your new creation for Your glory (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Help
us to follow You by denying our desires and dying to our selfishness. If we try
to preserve our life, we will ultimately lose it. Then, we will realize that
gaining the world does not satisfy, because we will lose our own soul (Mark 8:
36). But following You gives us unending peace and joy (Matthew 16:24-26). Teach
us that we not only commit our life to Christ, but also we surrender our actions,
talents and accomplishments to His Lordship and direction.
Thought
for the Day:
The
moments we live in surrender to God are more richly experienced and completely
fulfilling than any others, and if we surrender our life to God for His sake,
and give up our plans, goals and ambitions for Him, then we will gain a more
fulfilling and joy-filled life.
-
Matthew 16:25; Philippians 3:8
