I Surrender All
Sometimes the principles God endeavors to teach us are umm let’s say…difficult. Although some are easier to learn than others some take time, willingness and crucifixion of our flesh to pull off. I heard a song recently and my heart just resonated with its message; a message of surrender. Let’s be clear…this principle is one of the most difficult to grasp for most of us. It’s far easier to sing “I surrender all” than it is to actually do it!
The song is “Just Want You” by Sarah Reeves, you can listen HERE. The lyrics are…
Take the lead of every step I make
Even if You tell my feet to wait
'Cause where You are is where I wanna be
The depth of me is calling for the deep
I don't want it if You're not in it
I just want You
No, I don't want it if You're not in it
I just want You
Your heart, Your ways
Show me Your face
Your song and Your voice
Break through the noise
Whisper to me secrets of Your heart
'Cause I want to discover all You are
I'm leaning into Heaven for a glimpse
And I will partner with Your presence here again
All that I see, be my everything
All that I dream, lay it at Your feet
All that I am, falling on my knees
I surrender, I surrender
Surrender is the opposite of any feeling our flesh has. It’s defined as “to relinquish control, to give up, to resign, to allow oneself to yield. It is the opposite of what the world and its message tell us. The world says, “be all you can be”, “do you”, “think for yourself and do what is best for you” …and on and on.
The message found throughout the Scriptures is surrender, give up control, die to yourself, put others first, forgive, lay down your rights and take up your cross and follow me. Romans 8:7-8 “In fact, the mind-set focused on the flesh fights God’s plan and refuses to submit to his direction, because it cannot! For no matter how hard they try God finds no pleasure with those who are controlled by the flesh.” Yea…not even close to the same.
I have been in a season where God has kept me on the cross. His answer to my every question has been “do you yield”, will you surrender what you want for what I want for you? To say it has been difficult would not come close to describing what I’ve been through. Crucifixion is designed to kill. When God tells us to take up our cross and follow him, he means get on your cross and die to what you want, what you think is best, and what you feel. We should stay there until his will becomes ours. Nothing about Christianity is about us.
Romans 12:1 says “Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? I encourage you to surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship.” Our response to what God has done for us in Jesus sacrifice should be total surrender.
Those lyrics “I don't want it if You're not in it, I just want You” have been my constant prayer. The time on my particular cross has yielded what God has desired, death to me and surrender to Him. It was my expression of pure worship to a God who gave all to have me. I’ve tried things my way enough to know my way stinks. The fruit it yielded was rotten and made my life sick with its consumption.
Before being arrested Jesus prayed in the garden “if possible, let this cup pass from me, but not my will but yours be done.” He modeled surrender for us to show us we could do it. We can die to ourselves and live totally surrendered to God. Will we like it? Absolutely not. Will it hurt? More than we could imagine. But know…it will be worth it. God never asks us to give up something that he doesn’t replace with something infinitely better. #selah
Father I’m praying for each and every person reading this Blog that you would give them the grace to surrender. Give them the desire to want what you want. Open their hearts to all that you have for them. Woo them by your spirit into a deeper relationship with you. Reveal to them the surpassing greatness of your power working in them to accomplish all that you desire for them. Your Kingdom come your will be done in us….in Jesus name.