Surrendering to God may seem easy, but it is one of the challenging things that many Christians struggle with. This topic is worth discussing since many wonder what surrendering to God means. Read on to find out how to surrender to God.
Surrendering is a common term used on a battlefield to mean to give up and stop fighting. Surrendering to God works similarly since it involves giving up control and letting God lead one’s life. It is trusting God with your soul.
What does it mean to surrender to God? Is it hard to surrender to God? How can a Christian surrender to God? These are some of the questions that this article will answer. By the end, one can also discover the Bible verses about surrendering to God.
What does it mean to surrender to God?
Surrendering to God is having complete faith in him and his promises. It is trusting God for everything, including our salvation, desires, and our daily needs. God has a plan for us. Unlike our plans that may lead to destruction, as recorded in Proverb 14:12. God’s plan is in our best interest, as explained in Jeremiah 29:11.
When one surrenders to God, they must let go of their beliefs and adopt what God says is true, as depicted in Galatians 2:20. Surrendering to God can help us have a good relationship with God. It can help one know God more and serve him more effectively. The Holy Spirit can fill and guide us when we surrender to God.
The more areas of our lives we surrender to God, the more room we create for the Holy Spirit to fill. When believers surrender to God and are filled with the Holy Spirit, they begin showing traits of God’s character. Therefore, surrendering to God can help one become a better person.
Is it hard to surrender to God?
Many people find it hard to surrender to God truly. With all the challenges people face, they find it hard to let go of the need to control everything and leave it to God. Humans are created to protect themselves, and when they are in control, they feel better.
Some also struggle with surrendering to God since they fear He may not help in times of need. Sometimes, God allows bad things to happen to Christians to teach them specific lessons.
Other people find it hard to surrender to God due to the mistakes they have made in life. However, God invites everyone to follow him and surrender to his will no matter how messed up one’s life is.
Since he is a merciful God, he accepts people as they are and transforms them as long as they are willing to surrender everything to Him. Also, some people find it hard to surrender to God since they are not ready to abandon certain aspects of their lives.
As recorded in Matthew 4:18, the Bible suggests that the disciples surrendered when they decided to leave everything behind and follow Jesus. Though they had dreams, families, and plans, they had to sacrifice everything to follow the Son of God. Some people find it hard to surrender to God since they are not ready to make such sacrifices.
How can a Christian surrender to God: Things to let go of
The first stage of surrendering to God is getting saved. One must confess that they have been living in sin and decide to follow God completely and change their life, as mentioned in Ephesians 2:8.
After becoming a Christian, one must surrender to God by Trusting him. Proverbs 3:5-6 says Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him, and He will make your paths straight. This verse not only teaches Christians how to surrender to God but also the benefit that comes with doing so.
A Christian can also surrender to God by submitting entirely to Him. Submitting to God means not giving any part of yourself to sin. The book of James 4:7 emphasizes the importance of submitting to God.
One can also surrender to God by praising him, as explained in Hebrews 13:15. Offering God, the sacrifice of praise, pleases him. One of the things that Christians should let go of as they surrender to God is control. Since God is in control, Christians should let go of this and recognize his authority.
A Christian should also let go of worry. Philippians 4:6 tells us not to worry about anything but instead pray about everything while thanking Him for what he has done. This verse teaches us that a Christian should surrender to God through prayer and let go of worry. During prayer, one should turn in their anxiety and fears. The same verse also teaches us to surrender to God by remembering his faithfulness.
Christians can also surrender to God by humbling themself and letting God lead them. One must let go of pride, as explained in the book of Proverbs 16:5. It says everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord. Though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
As one learns how to surrender to God, one should also let go of the future. Dwelling on the future, which is unknown, can rob one of the joys of today. The book of Matthew 6:34 tells us not to worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Surrendering to God also means that Christians should let go of their plans. We should let God have his way in different aspects of our lives. In Matthew 6:10, Jesus taught the disciples to pray ‘Your will be done.’
What Bible verses talk about surrendering to God?
James 4:10 says Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. In this verse, James addresses Jewish Christians around the world. Humbling oneself before the Lord is one of the ways you can show complete surrender to God.
Before this verse, another verse talks about surrender in James 4:7. It says submit yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. This verse reveals another way of surrendering to God and a benefit that can come from resisting the devil.
The book of Mark Chapter 14 also talks about surrendering to God. Mark 14:36 says, And he said, Abba Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet Not what I will but what you will. This verse shows that Jesus was also keen on surrendering to God even when he was about to face death.
Paul the Apostle also talked about surrendering to God in Galatians 2:20. This verse says, I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life I know in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.
According to this verse, when someone is convicted of sin and decides to submit to God, his old self is crucified with Christ.
Paul the Apostle also emphasized the importance of surrendering to God in Romans 12:1. This verse says, I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. This verse shows that we can surrender to God by submitting our bodies to God in worship.
References
- What does it mean to surrender to God
- Surrender and Responsibility
- Surrender
- Andrew Murray: Absolute Surrender
- Giving up your life
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
