What Do You Need to Surrender Today?

by Gabriela Banks · Published October 18, 2016 · Updated January 20, 2023

Surrendering is counter-intuitive because it goes against everything we’ve ever been taught about white flags. Most people perceive surrender an act of weakness, like we’re quitting, losing, or giving up control. Nobody wants to feel like a loser. Here’s Webster’s definition.

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Flipping the Definition on It’s Head

But what about surrendering to God? Is that an act of weakness? Nope. No way! The definition changes drastically when we add God to the equation and trust Him with our problems. Here’s my revised definition:
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Surrendering to God is recognizing your need for God and allowing Him to step in and save the day. Surrendering to God puts us in a position of great strength and authority because when we surrender to Him, He becomes our helper and influences our thoughts and actions. Even Jesus submitted to God the Father in heaven. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, the Son of God can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (John 5: 19)

God is in Control, But not Controlling

Did you notice that I didn’t add “allow God to control you” to the last line of the definition? That’s because our God is not a controlling God. Yes, He is in control.

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”
(Proverbs 19:21)

However, He gives us free will to do as we choose. God will never control us or make us do anything against that free will because that would be enslaving us, and He’s always been about setting us free. That’s why He sent Jesus. The first time in Scripture that we hear Jesus teaching in a synagogue, listen to what he says,

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…
He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free…
(Luke 4:18)

Jesus is announcing one of the reasons He came: to set us free.

Just like learning about Jesus is a life-long process, so is surrendering to Him. There are so many parts of our hearts and our lives that we want to control. I believe the more we trust God, the more parts we can surrender to Him. And the more we surrender to Him, the more freedom we have and the more Christ-like we become.

For Your Prayer Time Today: What Do You Need to Surrender?

In your quiet time today, ask Jesus these questions and take some time to listen for an answer:

1. Jesus, what part of my life (or what problem) are you asking me to surrender to You today?
2. Can you please help me give it completely to You so I can be free?
3. Lord, please show me what I need to do to (a) release it to You, and (b) to think of this issue from Your perspective. How do You see it?
4. Is there a lie I’m believing about this part of my life/problem? If so, what is the truth about it?