What does it mean to surrender all? Why does God ask us to surrender all? And why do we struggle surrendering?
In pursuing a relationship with God, Scripture gives evidence that in order to live a life pleasing to God and to get closer to God we need to surrender all.
Exemplar Scriptures
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
Matthew 16:24 (ESV)
“In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.“
Luke 14:33(NIV)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)
Surrendering all means to submit to God. Wilfully, yielding everything that I am responsible for, to God.
Now this may sound overwhelming and challenging. The word surrender is shrouded with so much negative connotations. It’s as though, surrendering will result in a net loss; being manipulated and taken advantage of, controlled and ultimately left feeling, unheard, void and unfulfilled.
In the world there are many accounts of someone in an authoritative position who have abused their position of authority, whether intentionally or not and have made decisions that affected one for the worse.
And so naturally, to surrender all sounds risky, and evokes feelings of fear.
Yet God still requires us as followers of Him to do so.
From a logical standpoint, this is indeed right. Everything that we are, that we have ultimately is God’s. He created all things, everything belongs to him, nothing is truly of man’s own creation because everything that we see, hear, touch, smell, taste has its source from God.
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
Colossians 1:16 (ESV)
For in him we live and move and have our being
Acts 17:28 (NIV)
So if everything belongs to God, all should be surrendered to him.
But why does God asks for all.? Why isn’t given parts enough to follow God?
We live in a fallen world where there is so much deception, sin abounds.Surrendering all ensures that you are in God’s perfect will, in all aspects of life. Surrendering all ensures that we fulfil everything God designed for us which is perfect. And no doubt about it, the devil will try to use whatever aspects of our lives to separate you from God’s best.
But primarily the reason we are to surrender all to God is God is not like man. He loves us truthfully and knows all things and will always deliver the best for us. Even when we think we know the best. Surrendering all does require absolute faith and complete trust in God. But there is no reason to doubt the Almighty, God, its when we let fear creep in that we lose sight of this.
God is concerned about your whole life and wants the best for every aspect of our lives, but its a choice of surrendering all. Will you choose to surrender all?
I will end with some passages to reflect on how faithful God almighty is. Worthy to surrender all.
“Everything belongs to the LORD your God. The heavens, even the highest heavens, belong to him. The earth and everything on it belong to him. The LORD loved your ancestors very much. He loved them so much that he chose you, their descendants, to be his people. He chose you instead of any other nation, and you are still his chosen people today. “Stop being stubborn. Give your hearts to God. The LORD is your God. He is the God of gods and the Lord of lords. He is the great God. He is the amazing and powerful fighter. To him everyone is the same. He does not accept money to change his mind.
Deuteronomy 10:14-17 (ERV)
– Although this was being addressed to the children of Israel in the OT through trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ as our saviour this promise applies to us today.
This is what the Lord says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. 6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. 7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. 8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” 9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 10 “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”
Jeremiah 17:5-10 (NIV)
Signing off
Faith With Petra 