Surrender

Luke 9:23-25 (NLT) —

‘Then he said to the crowd, 'If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?'

'Surrender is the wilful acceptance and yielding to a dominating force and their will.' That is a rather intimidating dictionary definition of the word 'surrender'!

For me, to surrender is to love, to put away self, your natural implications, desires, preferred methods and plans for the sake of another. I always wondered why Jesus said: 'Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. (John 14:23)'

What is it about obedience that God loves so much?

Well, an obedient heart is a surrendered heart. Its posture has its face on the floor flat down at the feet of Jesus. The Lord said ‘Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks’ (Matthew 12:34). Let’s unfold this scripture: if all scripture is influenced by the Father and it was spoken by him through the Spirit, then the Word is flowing directly from his heart. So when we obey his Word we connect to his heart. It's a straight heart-to-heart connection, his Word is who He is. When we walk according to the Word, we are walking with God himself. 

This is the highest level of intimacy, daily surrender, and submission. Knowing Christ, walking with him and being present in his presence. If God has a love language, I will throw in my guess and say that it is obedience. It requires humility, trust, and faith. When we obey God, we are dependent on him, leaning on him; he becomes our firm foundation and source of strength. We become a habitation for the presence of our Father. 

What is God asking me to surrender in this season? Is it my heart?

Prayer - Father, teach me the joy of a surrendered heart.