Let’s establish some common ground to kick things off. Surrendering is NOT easy; it’s hard. Can we all agree? Phew, now that we have that out of the way, Lately, I’ve found myself in what feels like a season of surrender, learning to let go in parenting, surrendering my desires, plans, and visions to God, even surrendering my fear to the relaunch of Life in God. Through this surrender, I’ve been learning how to speak with authenticity rather than the shifting opinions of the world. I’ve been intentionally responding to the Lord’s invitation—seeking His insight to align my perspective.
The Lord has been gently teaching me what true surrender looks like in my life, laying down my emotions, self-control, and selfishness. It’s my heart’s desire to live from a place of true surrender, anchored in His presence, where His guidance shapes how I feel, think, and move. While it’s not that I get it right every time, I can celebrate the gift of being aware of the Lord’s presence and His drawing when it comes to surrender. So, it’s okay if you don’t get it right every time, but you can be conscious of surrender and strive to relinquish each day.
It’s my prayer that this blog encourages you to walk in surrender to God’s presence.
Walking Death Row Daily
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” – Matthew 16:24
What if walking death row is the key to true freedom? The verse above is basically inviting us to “walk down death row daily and follow Jesus.”
Let’s take a step back and unpack the scripture. What does it truly mean, and how does it guide our modern-day lives?
To take up the cross and deny oneself is equal and expresses the same thing. First, deny self is not the same as self-denial. When we practice self-denial, we do so with intentions for a good purpose or cause, or occasionally I’ll give up things or activities. Whether that’s lent, fasting, or abstaining until someone good comes along. When we practice denying self, we surrender to Christ and decide to obey His Will regardless of the situation or feelings.
By nature, we want to indulge ourselves, not deny ourselves. We want to overeat, sleep an additional 20 minutes, we want to drink as much as we can, and party until we can’t any longer. I remember this quote, “too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.” This statement communicates that even something good can become problematic if you have too much of it.
Let’s be real, ‘dying to self’ hits different when the world is all about “live your best life.” Now, it’s tough to focus on surrendering when self-care and personal happiness are trending.
In scripture, to take up your cross meant one thing: you were going to a certain death, and your only hope was in the resurrection power. This isn’t a story of sadness but one of discovering life, hope, and encouragement.
This Life Brings Hope and Renewal
“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” – Matthew 16:25-26 NIV
When we willingly give up, surrender our lives, and relinquish our control, it’s in that place that we find the essence of true life. So, what is this life we are living right now?
Life outside of Christ is marked by spiritual death, one of slavery to sin, and influenced by the ways of this world (see Ephesians 2:1-2, John 8:34, Luke 15:4).
You will never live until you first walk the path of surrender with Jesus. You cannot gain resurrection life without dying?
What Resurrection Life Offers:
- Power
- Life/Eternal Life
- Royalty
- Blessings
- Peace
- Joy
- Adoption
- Authority
- A new future
- New Hope
Those are just a few, but even the enemy tempted even Jesus. There was an opportunity revealed in scripture where Satan offered Jesus the whole world if He would bow and worship Him. But Jesus found life and victory in obedience. Nothing the enemy offers you is better than what Jesus has for you. t may look appealing, just as the fruit in the garden did—it wasn’t unattractive, but don’t be deceived. Avoiding the walk of death with Jesus means that we may gain the whole world and end up losing our souls.
The Becoming
When you plant a seed, you don’t lose it; though it seems dead and buried, you set it free to be what it was always intended to be. Likewise, when you surrender and bury shame, the past, and who you thought you were and allow God to be the Lord of your life, you set yourself free to become who you were created to be. Who you were destined to be.
“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 NLT
“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.”Ephesians 1:4 NLT
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
Who did God intend for you to be? He created you to live in relationship with Him so that your life would bring glory to Him. You are designed to flourish, be blessed, and excel in Him. With the power of Jesus, there are no limits to what you can accomplish, achieve, or obtain.
How Do You Actually Surrender?
Prayerfully, we have communicated why surrendering is essential and its benefits, but how do you do that as a modern person? How do you surrender today?
#1 Trust through Relationship
A life of surrender requires trust, which is cultivated in the context of a relationship. Through relationships, you understand and learn a person’s character and nature. While this is not always easy, especially if you struggle with trust or have been disappointed, you must believe that He is good and that He is who He says He is.
#2 Spend Time with God
As we discussed in a recent blog, Inviting God into Your Life, the key to getting to know God better is spending time with Him, and it doesn’t have to look a certain way.
#3 Feed Your Spirit
Feeding your spirit daily is something I’ve found to come more naturally. It’s all about filling yourself with truth and teachings through the many resources available to us, whether that’s a podcast, sermon, or conversation on YouTube or TikTok Reel that’s speaking life or finding faith-filled books, Christian fiction, and nonfiction.
#4 Find Your Tribe (Community)
Finding Christlike friends and a local community to fellowship with regularly. Community is essential to your growth with God. In a community, you create a safe space to be open and share your struggles, find strength in others’ support, and uphold each other through life’s ups and downs. God created you for connection and calls us to do life together, not alone.
The way to live an abundant life is to be fully surrendered to God and follow His ways.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”Isaiah 55:9 NIV
Check Your Surrender Thermometer
Are you sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s convictions, or have you grown numb?
Can you still discern something isn’t right, whether spoken or done, or does everything seem acceptable?
Do you delay obedience or search for an escape route?
Do you find yourself constantly building a case to present to the Lord to delay or avoid doing what He calls you to do?
Are you pursuing godly character or just trying to avoid sin?
It’s never a matter of just avoiding bad things; it must also be pursuing good things. Surrender is directly connected to your moment-by-moment decisions to embody Christlikeness in every area of your life.
Commit to Surrender All
No matter what season of life we’re in, there are always things we need to surrender before God. Whether that’s your plans, ambition, hurts, the future, the past, self-esteem, fear, people pleasing, lust, anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, ego, sin, etc. Identify the areas you need to surrender. Surrendering your life and those areas doesn’t mean losing vision and goals; instead, the Lord puts new, fresh desires in your heart that align with His plan for you.
As we close, ponder this quote: “Maturity is being able to respond immediately to the convictions of the Holy Spirit especially when it goes against the cravings of the flesh.” – Jada Edwards
Ready to Go Deeper?
Our new ebook, Surrender in God’s Presence, is your guide to yielding fully and living daily from His presence.
Subscribe today and get 33% off — only $9.99 (reg. $14.99)!
You’ll also receive uplifting content and early access to future releases.
👉 [Subscribe & Save Now]
Thank You
We hope you loved exploring this topic with us. We pray it blessed you to surrender, dwell, and abide in God’s Presence. Now, it’s your turn— try implementing one of these tips this week. Leave us a comment below, and let’s keep the conversation going!
Stay Connected: Subscribe today and join the newsletter sent every first Monday of each month. Don’t miss a blog, which is released every Tuesday.
Other Posts You May Like
6 Proven Principles To Embrace Peace And Renewal—Guaranteed To Transform Your Life
How To Begin Withdrawing To Pray For A Healthier, Happier You
Ashes To Awe: The Powerful Secret To Life-Changing Transformation
