To surrender to the Lord means we give up what we think, want, or feel. When a person surrenders something, then they no longer have full authority over that something. In other words, you put your trust in the Lord and surrender all of your rights to Him.
Proverbs 3:5-7 is an example that shows us what happens when we choose to surrender to the Lord.
- Think: We trust in the Lord with our whole heart, and we do not lean on our own understanding.
- Want: In all your ways acknowledge the Lord. Then the Lord will make your paths straight.
- Feel: We are not to be wise in our own eyes. We are to turn away from evil and fear the Lord.
Purpose of the Armor of God and Why We Need It: This bible study also talks about Proverbs 3.
When we surrender to God, we are relying on His wisdom, even when things don’t make sense. How do we live this out in our everyday walk with Christ? Let’s take a closer look at what this means and how to practically apply this to our lives.
How Do You Surrender To The Lord (Jesus Christ)?
To surrender to the Lord (Jesus Christ) is us yielding to the power of God and God working in and through us. That is, we give up ourselves to the power of God. We cannot surrender to Christ (God) on our own.
Our surrender to Jesus Christ begins through the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Then, in God’s perfect timing, He calls us to His son. Jesus says we are to repent and believe. This is made possible by the gifts of God’s grace and faith. Giving ourselves over to God and submitting to His authority and power is what it means to surrender.
Ephesians 2:10 BSB; 8 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.
What Happens When You Surrender To God?
When you surrender to God, what happens is you will no longer seek what you want in life. Instead, you choose to seek what honors God. Because you no longer see Christ as human but as the Son of God. As a result, you allow God’s love to guide and control your life through the Holy Spirit. This fills your heart with love for Jesus and others.
He begins His work in your life by correcting, instructing and teaching you how to live right. This means He begins to renew your mind through the word of God by the Holy Spirit. As a result, we no longer live for ourselves, but for Christ. This all takes place because you have been recreated in Christ to be a new creation. The old way of thinking is gone, and now we have a new way of thinking.
1 Corinthians 5:14-17 BSB; 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died. 15 And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again. 16 So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!
How Do You Surrender Something To God?
You surrender something to God when you humble yourself before Him. Humility is thinking less of yourself and more of God. This means we are to have the mind of Christ (Christ-like mindset), Philippians 2:5, 1 Corinthians 2:16. Something that displeases God is what we are to surrender to him.
Because He cares for us and is interested in us. As we surrender ourselves to His powerful hand, He lifts us up and gives us hope. We understand that God will do this in His perfect timing. Therefore, we are to continue to pray, read His word, and seek Him. This draws us near to God, and God draws near to us.
James 4:7-10 BSB; 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.
How do you know if you’ve surrendered to God?
You have surrendered to God when you love God above all else and love others. Your life is to exemplify Christ. Which looks like this;
- We are to take up our cross daily, Luke 9:23.
- If you love me, you will obey my laws, John 14:15.
- The word of God is a lamp unto your feet, Psalm 119:105.
- You will love the word of God, Psalm 119:97-105.
- It is no longer us who live, but Christ living in us, Galatians 2:20.
There are many more for you to read.
1 John 4:16 BSB; And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
We hope you read our “What Does Your Life Exemplify Bible Studies Part 1, 2, 3 and 4.”