Since my enrollment in the school of surrender, here’s what I’ve learnt …
Surrender leads to MORE. The “math” seems off, but it is intriguingly and assuredly true. John 12:25 MSG Luke 6:38 MSG James 4:6
“The price for all of God is all of me” – SeLaH
Surrender requires humility – letting go of my self–consciousness (my self-orientation). Giving up my sense of self (aspects of my self that I exalt i.e. my reputation, ego, intellect, preferences … fears, weaknesses, insecurities, including my attempts to overcome them). Dying to self.
Surrender is a genuine expression of worship (Romans 12:1 TPT).
The first step can be scary … BUT no matter, it is the HolySpirit who enables the first step of surrender and all other/subsequent ones. Zechariah 4:6, Philippians 2:13
These steps are not to be taken on my own (Jeremiah 2:13, Proverbs 3:5) … the truth is, I can’t take any of the steps – not without the Holy Spirit (John 15:5).
I found it fascinating and (more so) endearing that …
God’s call to surrender is Him asking me to give up something He Himself gave up for me.
“Let Christ Jesus be your example in humility – He, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God, did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or asserted …
… BUT He emptied Himself out – stripped Himself of all privileges and rightful dignity, gave up everything, took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man. Furthermore, He abased and humbled Himself in obedience to God and unto death – death on the cross!” Philippians 2:5-8
God’s call to surrender is Him asking me to give up something He first gave to me.
“Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being. Genesis 2:7, Ezekiel 37:1-14
God promised Abraham a son (Genesis 17:15-19) —–> God gave Abraham a son – Isaac (Genesis 21:1-3) —–> God asked Abraham to give up Isaac (Genesis 22:1-19).
God said, take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I will tell you.
Genesis 22:2
RE: Call to Surrender – Abba, on the authority of Your Word and on the basis of who You are, I come (Hebrews 4:16 AMPC), I look to You for grace to surrender – to let go of all of me. Thank You HolySpirit for performing this for me (Psalm 57:2). I give my self and my life over to (and in exchange for) You – You are the life I choose.
“… I live yet not I, but Christ lives in me. The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loves me so very much that He gave Himself for me and dispenses His life into mine.” Galatians 2:20
… okay, off I go – back to class! 😊
Rivers in the Desert 