Galatians 2:20, I have been crucified with Christ.’ It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Are you tired of struggling to make life work, trying to make ends meet, or striving for that next promotion, building a ministry, or starting your own business? Perhaps your struggle lies in working on becoming a better version of yourself or trying to mend or repair a relationship. Whatever the stress of life may be, I know you desire peace. The peace that sustains and comforts you through the turbulence of storms that come with living life. Beloved, God has called you to live a life of peace and rest. (John 14:27, Matthew 11:28-30). He doesn’t want you to live in anxious fear, fretting about your life or anything concerning you.
God wants us to live in His peace; it is His gift to us. When we surrender our cares and concerns to God and choose to trust His love, presence, and wisdom, we will experience an inner calm that cannot be comprehended, even while in the midst of chaotic problems and situations. His peace will guard your heart and mind, and you will find yourself at the start of learning to surrender your life to Abba. By casting your cares on Him, you invite and invoke Jesus’ Lordship, and He will honor your faith by responding in love and grace as He meets you at your point of need. As you yield to the Lord and allow Him to navigate your paths, He will guide you towards His perfect will for your life.
I would like to discuss a surrendered life to God further, but I first need to define the term ‘surrender.’
Vocabulary.com Surrender, according to the dictionary
To relinquish possession or control over
To give up, agree to stop fighting or resisting
The act of surrendering ( usually under agreed conditions)
Let’s look at Surrender, according to the Bible:
Matthew 16:24, Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ( Surrender is a relinquishing of your old self-life, which includes your will in choosing your own plans over God’s plans. It is an exchanged life, He lives His life and perfect will through you ) .
1 Corinthians 15:3, I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. (Surrender is not a one-time, one-and-done event; it is an everyday, moment-by-moment series of making choices- hence, “ a process”).
2 Corinthians 12:9, And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (Surrender to God is not weakness, but it is His strength through our weaknesses that empowers us to live a victorious life that reflects Christ and His glory ).
As children of God, we’ve not understood our position in Christ Jesus. For some, we’ve fallen short, and for others, we have missed the mark, knowing how live a surrendered life in the Kingdom of God. Many have chosen Jesus to be their Savior, but not allowed Him to be Lord over their lives. When we confessed Jesus the day we received salvation, we exchanged our lives for His life. Jesus became “The Lord” over our lives. According to Strong’s Greek Lexicon, the word “Lord” is Kyrios and means “Master” or “Owner”; it signifies Supreme Authority or control. He is Adonai, He is Lord, and we must cultivate a healthy Fear of God and reverence Him by honoring His Lordship and leadership over and through our lives. Until we surrender our lives back to God, we will live in a state of constant tug-of-war, forfeiting the peace that flows out of oneness and union with God. Galatians 2:20 is a good example of our position as belonging to God and surrendered to His Lordship: ‘I have been crucified with Christ.’ It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Using the scenarios below, you can evaluate your life to determine whether Jesus is your Savior only or if He is your Lord and Savior. Is your life surrendered to God?
- I find it challenging to let go of my fears and entrust circumstances and situations to God. I always try to control the outcome.
- A surrendered life lets go of control, releases challenges to God, and allows Him to lead – even when things aren’t clear. It’s all about trusting God. Prov 3:4-5
- I identify with and rely on my own abilities, (acquired knowledge), education, degrees, status, titles, and positions to succeed in life. Am I overly concerned about whether I have plenty or if I’m lacking in any area of life?
- A surrendered life will rely on identity and worth that derive from God through the life of Jesus, allowing Him to be the source of life. He looks to God and glorifies Him for providing all the resources necessary for living life. God gives us everything pertaining to life and Godliness in Christ Jesus. 2 Pet 1:3
- I rationalize why I should or should not follow or obey God’s instructions or commands. I am okay with obeying as long as it doesn’t cost me anything; I negotiate my obedience with God.
- A surrendered life says “yes” even when circumstances are unfavorable and downright challenging, like Jesus before His crucifixion, I believe, experienced distress and anguish, but ultimately submitted to the cup of suffering, the cross, and crucifixion, because it was God’s plan for His life and ours. We should do likewise, in the face of trials and tribulations, joy or pain, we must remain in the heart posture of surrender. Not my will but Thy will be done, Lord!
Let’s relinquish control and self-efforts of trying to live in the Kingdom of God and allow the King to live and express His life through us. Allow Him to unfold His perfect will and plan for you and the life you’ve been blessed to steward and manage on earth.
A Key Takeaway: Full Surrender is less about perfection but more about a heart posture. The fruit of it will be peace, joy, and freedom. Surrendering to God is not about giving up control, but about gaining freedom from the burdens of life. It’s about finding joy in His plan and peace in His presence.
Love & Grace,
~Tracy