How to Live a Life of Surrender
OPENING PRAYER:
“Jesus, thank you for coming to earth and living a perfect life in my place. Thank you for being the example to follow, I open my heart and invite you to help me know your ways more. Amen.”
READ:
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:5-7)
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:24-25)
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:21-24)
REFLECT:
For a plant to grow, there must be one key ingredient in the process, good soil. Good soil is vital to the growth of the plant as the condition of the soil will determine the life the plant will have.
In the same way, the soil we have in our lives determines the life we will have. Except for us, the soil is our heart of surrender. Jesus came not just to save, but to model for us what it’s like to be good soil. For us, it looks like denying our flesh, wants and desires to be shaped into who Jesus wants us to be. Jesus transforms our thinking, habits, and actions when we surrender to him. The more of our life we give to Jesus, the more we’ll see his qualities become our qualities: self-control, forgiveness, love, joy, peace, and patience.
APPLY:
Transformation begins at the act of surrender. Only when we give control to Jesus, will we see real transformation happen. Yielding to Jesus’ careful hand by allowing him to shape us more like him is a daily choice. What area of your life have you not surrendered to Jesus?
CLOSING PRAYER:
“Jesus, I yield to you today, transform me in every way and make me like you. I give my wants, desires, thoughts, and actions over to you today Lord. Have your way in me. I surrender to you today. Amen.”