Surrender is an interesting word and carries with it the imagery of a battlefield because it implies a giving up of rights to a conqueror. When an opposing army surrenders they lay down their arms, and the winner takes control.
Surrender to God is similar in the sense that Jesus has conquered every evil force, but instead of coming to plunder our lives like a conquering army does, He comes to set the oppressed free; to deliver us from the slavery of sin and death, and to silence and destroy the works of what was once the world’s evil dictator – the devil.
The bible says, “The Son of God appeared to destroy the devil’s work.” (1 John 3:8)
“For He (Jesus) rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.” (Colossians 1:13)
When He (Jesus) had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. (Colossians 2:15)
For those of us who have chosen to follow Jesus and His way of living, surrender is an integral part of our lives as we choose to turn away from those things that don’t please Him. All we are doing in surrendering is choosing which side we are on – the darkness or the light! When we surrender to God we reap all the benefits of the conqueror, and are set free from the grip of the devil who still tries to deceive the world that He is undefeated as he looks for those he may devour. When we refuse to surrender to God we essentially surrender to the control of evil, and the devils lying tactics to wrap us up in chains of bondage once more. (1 Peter 5:8)
We must realise that to relinquish control of our lives to the one who loves us is not a hardship when we fully realise just how good God is, and how very much He loves each one of us. Surrender causes an intimacy and connection to Him that nothing else will.
Everyday we have a choice to make; do we continue following our own will and desires, and essentially listen to the devil’s lies, or do we surrender to God’s will? For He has an amazing plan for our lives, and surrendering to Him means we set aside our own plans, knowing that His plan for us is always with our very best in mind, unlike our own plans which can often end badly or leave us feeling unfilled. God wants us to surrender to Him, so He can then protect and guide us away from evil, and bless and position us to receive the abundant, meaningful, joy-filled life He desires for us, and then for us to share that joy with all those around us.
The more areas of our lives we fully surrender to God the more we will discover the freedom and power of living that way. Where we were once weak, we suddenly become strong; where broken, we are healed; where confused we gain clarity; where fearful we become bold, where there was only ashes and destruction, we discover in surrender those ashes springing forth into something amazing and brand new.
Today, don’t waste another day fighting God, and believing the devils lies that God is trying to spoil your fun. Choose what could be called the “beautiful surrender”, for that is what He will do in you when you choose light rather than darkness, and God’s way rather than your own – He will cause something amazing and beautiful to happen in your life.
Have a listen to this song called “Beautiful Surrender” by Jonathan David & Melissa Helser to encourage you today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2zOSRYKFtg&list=PLuAB3LiVQvwf4VtAHUbV0sVWWxj5YmMGx
Prayer: Lord please forgive me where I have been wilful and chosen my way over yours. Help me Lord to understand just how much you love me, and that there is no fear in surrender to you, because you will never cause me harm, or ask me to give anything up that you won’t then replace with something so much better. I choose to walk in surrender to you today. In Jesus Name Amen.
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