What Does It Mean to Surrender?

Surrendering means to cease opposition and submit to another authority.

We love to stay in the driver’s seat in our lives, but God is a better driver than we’ll ever be.

Many passages of Scripture guide us toward the idea of God ultimately shaping our lives the way He wants.

Proverbs 16:9 “A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.”

Psalm 37:23 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.”

Psalm 25:12 “Who is the man that fears the LORD? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.”

Sometimes, the way we want to go isn’t the best for us—leading to the destruction of our lives, emotions, and eternal rewards.

We can make plans all we want, but we should include our King in all our decisions.

Remember, we don’t know what tomorrow holds, or the painful processes that might follow us along a dangerous path.

Not that we don’t have our desires, but if we delight ourselves in Yahweh, He will give us those desires, if they are within His will.

Keep these thoughts in the front of your mind the next time you pray.

God’s the captain, not us.

If our goals are within His will, He will allow us to move forward and open the right doors.

If a path isn’t the right one, it will turn into shambles.

If that path is not right yet, it will open when it opens.

I’ve had my share of shattered dreams and disappointments.

But those disappointments led to me discovering my gift.

When you understand surrender, you’ll realize that if you’re short, then professional basketball probably isn’t the right way to go.

Myopic or hyperopic? Then wear glasses or contacts and learn to accept you need those to help you live your life unobstructed. Surrender to it. Do what needs to be done to see correctly, and that’s a great metaphor for how we should see our lives as well.

Wear the Almighty’s lenses in everything you put your hand to.

But having a disability doesn’t mean you can’t do things. It means you work harder to make the things you want to do a reality.

As a writer, if I had no hands, I would find a way through dictation (something I use in my writing when I need to be faster).

If our relationships are in His will, He will let them flourish, not self-destruct. It won’t be in five minutes most of the time, but keeping God as a threefold cord with your spouse or the person you’re seeing is important.

God leads us in the direction we must go. If someone doesn’t share our values, it’s not from God. God won’t match you with someone who isn’t correct in the heart, honest, and heartfelt about serving Him.

Surrender means forgiving our enemies, too. If gossips say horrible things about you, dislike you for whatever reason, or you’ve had a falling out with someone, forgive them. Most of the time, they don’t know what they’re doing. And if they do, there are quality people that won’t do those things.

If someone is lying about you, forgive them.

You might not know the reason, but I trust God is more concerned with how we conduct ourselves with others than seeking revenge or worrying about what people think. You will not make everyone happy, and that’s fine.

Do what you’re called to do and leave the hate or doubt out of your thoughts.

That’s what it means to surrender. To trust your life is in God’s hands, your reputation is in His hands, and your responsibility in how you behave is in your surrender to Him.

If you’ve upset someone, then make sure you do everything you can to rectify it. That’s also surrender. Think of Jacob and Esau. They hadn’t seen each other in decades, yet they still fixed their relationship.

You may have offended someone unintentionally, and that’s okay. We can’t control how others react to the things we say, especially online.

Surrender to God’s will and stay kind. Be intentional.

Watch the tongue and surrender it to being pure in speech.

If a curse word slips out sometimes, that’s all right.

But don’t go cursing anyone else with your mouth.

Stay grounded in Jesus Christ and surrender your life fully to Him.

He knows how to discipline us in ways to mold us to be more like He is.

Give up control. Pour out less of yourself so more of Him shines through.

Surrender to Him so that the man or woman you’re supposed to be becomes a reality.

Remember, God is beyond time, and surrendering to Him will speed up your transformation into the person He envisions.

Give your life to Him.

Surrender your ego, ways, and selfishness for His ways.

Because it’s in the surrender that He loves to move on our behalf, even if it takes a bit longer.