Surrender
by Suzanne Benner
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“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me??? (Galatians 2:20).
What does it mean to be crucified with Christ and live by faith?
It is all about surrender.
As believers, we desire to live for Jesus. Yet experience teaches that no matter how hard we try, we continually fall short of the life to which God calls us.
You see, living a life of faith is not dependent on how much we do but rather on how much we allow Christ to do in and through us. Therefore, the essential ingredient in a life lived for Jesus is surrender.
I think of surrender as a deliberate relinquishment of control to God. It is the laying down of my own agenda and choosing to let Him rule my life.
Problems arise when, forgetting my yielding of control over to God, I try to run my own life again.
Thus, I am convinced that surrendering to God needs to be a daily discipline.
Each morning, my day needs to be given to Almighty God.
Moment by moment, my thoughts and emotions need to be submitted to the Holy One.
Every evening, the cares and worries of the day need to be relinquished to the Maker of the universe.
Then, day by day, little by little, I will begin to truly understand what it means to surrender to God.
~God, Most High, help me, show me, teach me, how to surrender my life to You, that You may transform it.
About the Author: This devotional was written by Suzanne Benner. Learn more about Suzanne: http://www.talk.thelife.com/authors/suzanne-benner/
Check out the related article, “It is not about commitment; it is about surrender” http://www.christianwomentoday.com/growth/surrender.html
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18 Responses to “Surrender”
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Each day , every moment , we die a thousand deaths to self so Jesus can live , breathe , work in and thru us.It is never late to give an inch of dying to self to the Lord and letting Him rule and reign within the most inner members of our self.God’s grace is sufficient for us to behold the life of of complete surrender. It is and will be an exciting day when we learn to unlearn taking control of our lives and learn to live a surrender life even our speech, our reactions to circumstances , how we look and care for others will begin a remarkable change.Let the I decrease and He increase and the transformation can begin as we desire to read and rely in our obedience to His word. We cannot add to what He has done on the cross we only have to give to Him everything for Him to use with the alignment of His word for glory of God and His name be lifted up.
i just want to know how it feels again to surrender to God. at 23 it’s been so long only prayer and fasting can break this cycle. i know it’s late but thank you for the devotional.
Wow, it is amazing to me what today’s devotional spoke about. Thank you Suzanne for writing it. Thank you EVERYONE for all your messages. I had just finished praying in depth about surrender because of what I did yesterday, and then I went to my computer to find exactly what I needed to hear!
It is SO hard. I have been a Christian for about a month, and I am really struggling with my life and with surrender. It’s so hard to know how to go on with the daily stuff of life while surrendering at the same time. I pray a lot. My life is really, really messed up. Temptations are everywhere, constantly testing my strength to trust in Jesus, to let my Savior SAVE me. I don’t know how most of the time. I am so hungry to learn because without Jesus Christ I don’t have anything. But I forget all the time. Besides that, I don’t trust He will bring me through this place of hell I live in most of the time. But I have seen hope and I have felt God’s love, and God has answered my prayers. It truly amazes me. GOD IS SO AWESOME!! God has been there, waiting for me to turn to Him and ask for help. To surrender and LET HIM figure it out.
With God there is so much hope, and I will testify to that to anyone anytime, no matter how horrible I feel or how miserable my life is. God loves us so much, and I have learned that surrendering to Jesus will take me through places I could NEVER GO ALONE. But what I KNOW, and what my WILL wants to do, are two different things, so I pray a lot. A LOT!! But when I turn my face from God, I screw it up, just like I did last night. And it’s because I didn’t listen, I didn’t surrender. I kept saying, “no, I want to do this, what’s wrong with that?, so I’m going to do it!” Did I pray about it first? No. Did I read God’s Word? No. Because I didn’t want to, I wanted my own way. I wouldn’t pray because I just knew God would tell me to do it differently than what I wanted. And so, guess what? The whole scenario played out just like it always used to do, going from bad to worse, to really painful. All by myself in this world, I am very sick.
…Two months ago I began to pray to the God I did NOT like too much. I didn’t expect much. All I knew was that if God couldn’t or wouldn’t help me, there was no hope for me. I had given up. In small steps, God taught me about Himself, in a way I could understand. He taught me of His incredible love for me, and he gave me a little tiny bit of hope and faith. And with that hope, although it wasn’t much, gradually He gave me more. Since I didn’t ASK for much, He gave me exactly what I asked for, what I could handle. God is so smart! At the time I didn’t know what that “more” was that He gave me, only that I wanted whatever it was. I turned my face away from God for many years, but still, He heard my prayers! Because I SURRENDERED to Him. I let God have my life, I LET GOD HELP ME.
So then what happened is that God began to teach me about Jesus Christ. PRAISE GOD! I’m 51 years old, and believe it or not, I did not know that you had to DO anything to be a Christian, except basically just believe there was somebody called Jesus who used to live on earth. I kept praying, and God was working on me. It wasn’t long before I gave my life to Christ. And it’s all because I surrendered my will to God.
Everything is so different now! Not too much has changed yet actually in my life, but now I have so much HOPE. I can’t believe how much God loves me! Never in my life have I felt so loved. It blows my mind! My faith has grown a lot, but it’s still small sometimes, well, a lot of times, actually. I surrender my life to the best of my ability EVERY SINGLE DAY, and it’s really, really hard to do. God is teaching me so much. When I surrender, everything works much better. The times I have been tempted and failed to allow God to take care of me have always brought more pain in the end.
All my life I’ve done everything my way, always been the head of household, made all the decisions ALL THE TIME, even as a child because of how I was raised. Nobody got in my way. But I did a lot of damage to my life with that attitude. With God in charge, I have a lot of work to do that I now believe is possible. I’m seeing that it won’t be easy. I’m also learning that God does stuff a lot differently than I do – way better! Things have been happening that I’d like to call “amazing.” I feel blessed, and so very loved, even though my life is still extremely messed up. There is so much hope in Jesus, which you can’t really have unless you allow it through surrender.
Surrender to God saved my life. Every day I ask God not to let me forget that, and to teach me how to surrender when the hard times come. God will do anything if you ask Him, even if your faith is very small. He will build up in you what you need. He will teach you. He is patient and gentle. He is very forgiving. I thank God every day that I CAN surrender if I choose to, that nobody can take that away from me, NOBODY. I pray that no matter how hard it is, God will still be there, ALWAYS, waiting for me to let Him love me like He already does, waiting for me to trust in His love by letting Him be my God.
I found out this past week what surrender truly means. I was sent an eviction notice that was totally a surprise. I have been living in my house for 12 years and I have no where to go. My son is also devastated because he has never lived any where else. We are both praying to God every day that our landlord will reconsider her decision by allowing us to stay. After taking my son to school on Thursday I came to my room and broke down. I looked up to the ceiling and said, “Dear God, you are in total control of this situation and I know father that you will bring me through this”. Suddenly I remembered Proverbs 3:3-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths. Please, whoever reads this blog entry, pray for me and my son that we will be able to continue living here at our “home”.
Jo
I just finish pray for you at 4 pm:.
God Love’s you so much Jo, he wont let you alone, he will give his peace from his Home in Heaven, and this home is your home too. One day whe he will send his Angel FOR YOU AND ME TO MEET HIM FOREVER IN HEAVEN.
Amen ….
Lise
I read this devotional late today, and it contains the exact words that I needed God to whisper to me – at exactly the right time of day. Amazing, how God has perfect timing, perfect advice, perfect everything – if we just let Him have control of our lives. Our lives can be stress free if we just give up our worries at the end of the day, and ask God each morning to go before us – and lead us. It is strange to think that our lives could ever be so simple, but IT IS POSSIBLE. It doesn’t mean that we will never run in to obstacles, hardships, disappointments, or heartache – but it does mean that God will forever be right beside of us to guide us to the answers, the peace, the healing, and the place where we are safe – all in His loving grace! Amazing Grace.
It is the wonderful feeling to live with God present in your life. To all that might read this – give up your troubles to God – give it all up – He will take your burden if you only BELIEVE!
I Lise, want to to ask God all the woman and man who put their need on the Surrender at Devotional line be Bless by Our Father in Heaven, and all your desire be answerd by God.
I will pray for all the Names on this list.
– Gen Teresa Rhoda Evelyn Julee Pam -
– Nancy Marcie Dee Lise Linda Bernadette –
May God keep you and your family in his Powerful Hand’s.
– Amen… May God be Glorify –
Keep the faith brother’s and Sister’s in the Lord.
Lise
I life of full surrender to the control of our maker is indeed a life breathing Him into your whole being moment by moment.This is really my life verse that made me turn back to the grip of darkness of occultism which I was exposed and really intertwined within our family lifestyle and even in the business of my father . I have been crucified in Christ and it is no longer I who live but I put my faith in Jesus , He who lives in me . Only by grace can we surrender all of ourselves in Jesus . We can’t do it in our own strength . When we realize how precious is the death of Jesus and the ultimate sacrifice He has done for us then it is the only time we learn to unlearn , slowly realize and choose to follow Him closely . restore us all in the fullness of Him in us . He is the most patient God who continually guides us and holds us every moment of our lives , when we fall , he lifts us up , when we try to break loose from Him and go on our stubborn way , He waits for us to come back and when we repent He is there for us in open arms and forgives us , when we are blinded with all the material things the world offers , He always finds ways for us to remind us that His grace is sufficient . HE WILL NEVER GIVE UP ON US . Heed His call upon our lives . Let our mind , heart , feelings ,will and priorities always be full of Him throught the daily meditation of His word and learn to trust and obey . Go forward , for He has gone before you . Bless you all who dare to be decrease and He increase through full surrendering!!!!
Julee, I want you to know that I have prayed for you just now. Many years ago I got married & my husband went to church with me for a couple of years & then stopped. I went alone anyway. I didn’t like it but I did. I plead with “PLEASE” don’t wait. Go tomorrow. Jesus WILL go with you. Over the years the Lord has given me many wonderful christian women friends by going anyway even when I didn’t want to go alone. When we had our beautiful litte boy a few years later I determend to start going to Sunday school too. I would do it for my son, as an example. I would raise him up in church. I always prayed that God would bring my husband back to Him. I tooked 19 yrs. before he joined us. If I had waited until my husband came with us our son may not have ever darkened the door of a church. Our son was saved at the age of 7. At the age of 21yrs. our son unexpected went home to be with the Lord. If it had not been for Jesus Christ & a wonderful church family we could not have gone on. My love & prayers in Christ, Linda
Pam, I’m a mother of 61 year old, and my daughter of 36 is sick with Agarophobie since her teenage years, at the present time she can’t stay along in her own apt. cant come to see me at home, afraid of having a severe panic attack. Why I say this to you is I been praying since then, nothing happen yet, but God say’s pray pray, ther is a raison for everything. I dont know when the Miracle will happen by i stay in the faith and wait.
Please Pam do like me and together will pray, cause God always answerd our prayer in is time, whe dont understand. Keep praying ok.
I am praying for you wright now. God Love’s you so much Pam.
A mother Lise
I feel all of your pain this morning,,i too have “struggled” with letting God handle it all.I try to do everything myself,,have realized over and over that things go awry ,,,help us all Jesus! To Julee and Teresa, there is no “right” church,,just pray that God would lead you to a body of believers,,don’t be concerned about going “by yourself”,Jesus will go with you.Read Psalm 20.My prayers are with you and be blessed.
dee
This is something that i have been trying to work on for quite sometime. I want so much to surrender my life to Christ,and at times I feel really good about it and then other times satan tells me lies about myself. I do realize that if satan is after me then I must be doing something as Christ would want me to do. I pray daily for Gods guidance, I have 4 teenagers and I am at a loss as how to keep them from giving into pressures of their everyday life. I need God to lead me so that I can be the parent God wants me to be.
I have learned that surrender is the key to experiencing God’s prescence daily, and to have that peace knowing He is in control. Julee and Teresa: I have lifted you both up to our heavenly Father who loves you so much, and longs to give you the desires of your heart. You are doing good by coming to this devotion. Talk to God and ask him to send you a good friend and to direct you to a good bible believing church,and HE will do it! Pray daily on your knees for this and see what happens. Ask other Christians to pray for you also, as I have done today. Keep us posted. GOD BLESS YOU BOTH!! Psalms 37:4,Proverbs 3:5,6,Math 21:22
i now know that i do have to give my whole life to God and it is hard, because i really do not know anyone to turn to. i feel alot like julee. how do i find the right church?
I’m a “take charge” person, and when things are not going well, I feel like a failure. It is because I try to go it alone. I know I need to once again turn it all over to the Lord and let him be in charge of my life. I need to relinguish my control to God, I cannot do it on my own. ~ Lord God of heaven and earth. I am out of control, I give you charge of my life again. Transform me into your likeness. There is a song that I learned as a child (you may all know it), it is a prayer of surrender. ” All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In His pressence daily live. chorus ” I surrender all – I surrender all, All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.” I will be singing that today!
Surrender is so hard for me to grasp. It seems for years I have been a half hearted christian. I am afraid to fully surrender to God, but I don’t know why. I know now more than ever I need to surrender my life to God, because I cannot do it alone. But, how do I have a true relationship with him. Do I need to rededicate my life to him, do I need to be baptized? I know I need to go to church, and it is hard to go to church by myself. I wish I had a wonderful friend who go with me on a weekly basis.
I actually read Gal. 2:1-20 during my devotions this morning and I was really blessed by God’s word. I had alot of bills to pay like; electricity, rent and school fees for my postgraduate and I sometimes I get so overwhelmed.
But on getting to the office this morning and reading about surrendering all to Jesus, and also seeing the same scripture (Gal. 2:20), I become convinced that I had to let Go and let GOD.
I will also like to use this opportunity to solicit for prayers especially concerning my finances. I need a breakthrough this week.
God Bless
Rhoda
My life is not mine, it is yours. How many times over the years, dearest Father have you been reminding me of this fact. In what I thougth was strength, and with great resolution, I yanked and pulled my way. I see now that every weakness is your gentle prodding to let go and allow your strength. I no longer live, but it is Christ who lives in me. Today let the world see my Lord’s love in all I do and say. May the world experience your sweetness and touch in all the areas where I have surrendered to your touch. Today is yours, do with it as you please. Amen