{"id":2624,"date":"2023-06-24T19:09:44","date_gmt":"2023-06-25T02:09:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lightrunner.org\/wp\/?p=2624"},"modified":"2023-06-24T19:39:03","modified_gmt":"2023-06-25T02:39:03","slug":"255-surrender","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lightrunner.org\/wp\/255-surrender\/","title":{"rendered":"255 Surrender"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Teaching is a second career for me. My first career was in graphic design and web application development. Due to my background using computers, I end up helping students and staff at my school with technical support. Sometimes as I listen to their question or description of the problem, I already know what needs to be done. Other times, I\u2019m not sure. Either way, I\u2019m not able to help much until they allow me to step in, sit down, and take control of their computer. A few years ago the comedy show, Saturday Night Live, created a humorous satire of such scenarios. In the <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/25J3u3P-HHg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">skit <\/a>an office technical support guy condescendingly listens to a business employee\u2019s predicament, but short on patience or sympathy he barks at them to, \u201cMove.\u201d He jumps into their seat and within a few seconds of commandeering the keyboard and mouse he solves their problem with ease. Then he gloats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It might not be with computers, but we all struggle with something. In fact, in the most important aspects of life we need help beyond ourselves. If you want to receive God\u2019s help in healing your brokenness, his wisdom in decision-making, his intervention in circumstances, and his blessing in relationships you must surrender control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"g-lj9xadx4\">Give and You Will Receive<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The awesome paradox of giving things over to God is that you are never left empty. God is the ultimate giver. You can never outgive him. You receive greater and better than what you give up. He always supplies you with what you need to obey him. He bountifully rewards every sacrifice. He lovingly imparts more than you can imagine in order for you to thrive (James 1:17). Jesus, God the Son who became a man, lived a righteous life, died an innocent death to pay for people\u2019s wrongdoing, and rose again to give all who trust him victory over sin and death, made this clear. He preached, \u201cWhoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels\u201d (Luke 9:23-26).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A rich young ruler who came to Jesus did not accept this truth. He asked Jesus how he could inherit eternal life. Jesus told the man to sell his possessions and he will have treasure in heaven, then follow him. The man turned away in sadness because his possessions were more important to him than heavenly treasure and abundant life with Jesus. Later Jesus told his disciples, \u201cNo one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life\u201d (Luke 18:29-30). With God your loss is actually your gain. As you give of yourself, God fills with himself, which is the greatest of all blessings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"g-lj9xb959\">Surrender Is Required to Grow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can only experience victory over sin, deliverance amidst trials, and fulfillment of all that God designed for you to be by placing your faith in Jesus. Surrender could be described as faith. It\u2019s an ongoing hope, loyalty, trust, and obedience driven by a love for God because you are convinced of and humbled by his gracious, overflowing, unconditional love for you. By faith God\u2019s truth, salvation, and reality become your truth, salvation, and reality (Hebrews 11:1). Here are five short examples from the Bible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Job<\/strong> did what was right. Yet he lost his children, his wealth, and his health, even the support of his wife and friends. Amidst the suffering we see that Job didn\u2019t need to change his behavior as much as he did his heart. When he surrendered his self-righteousness he experienced God\u2019s healing and restoration (Job 38-42).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Abraham<\/strong> didn\u2019t have any children, but he was promised by God that he would become a great nation and the whole world would be blessed through him. In Abraham\u2019s old age, God gave him a son, Isaac. Later in a test of faith, God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham surrendered his will, his dreams, and his beloved son because he trusted God and was willing to obey. God prevented Abraham from sacrificing Isaac and provided a ram instead. Therefore, God gave Abraham a long life to enjoy many descendants. Later, Jesus, the savior of the world, came from Abraham\u2019s line (Genesis 12:1-4; 22:1-18).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Jonah<\/strong> experienced God\u2019s salvation when he surrendered running from God and carried out God\u2019s commission for him (Jonah 2:7-10). Then God built on Jonah\u2019s surrender to work through Jonah to mercifully convict the evil Ninevites and bring them to surrender and repentance (Jonah 3:1-10).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Peter<\/strong> disowned Jesus out of fear and an attempt to save himself from being arrested like Jesus. He did so even after boasting earlier that he would go to prison and death with Jesus if needed. When Peter denied Jesus, Jesus turned and looked at him. Peter immediately left the yard of the high priest ashamed. Alone, he wept bitterly (Luke 22:24-62). After Jesus was crucified and rose again, he sought Peter out. Peter surrendered his pride and received Jesus\u2019 forgiveness. Jesus called him to love God and to serve others by leading them to follow Jesus also (John 21:1-19).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Jesus<\/strong> is the ultimate example of surrender. Although he was fully God, he stepped down from heaven to became a man and a servant. He humbly surrendered his will and obeyed God\u2019s salvation plan even though it meant bearing the sin of the world and being forsaken by his father. From this ultimate surrender comes the greatest benefit\u2014the salvation of humankind and the redemption of creation. Because of his sacrifice, God raised Jesus from the grave, gave him the power to save anyone who trusts him, and exalted him to his rightful place in heaven (Philippians 2:6-11). Soon he will return to consummate his kingdom, reward believers, judge unbelievers, vanquish evil, establish righteousness, and restore creation (John 14:1-3; Revelation 19:11-:21:8).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jesus proved that through surrender comes victory and life. He conveyed this truth using the metaphors of a seed and a vine. Before his death and resurrection Jesus told his disciples, \u201cThe hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me\u201d (John 12:23-26). A seed contains what is needed to produce a greater plant. However, unless it dies that potential is never reached. God made you in his image, but you must surrender and die to yourself by placing your faith in Jesus in order for his spirit and likeness to come alive in you. Only through that process can you become all God designed for you to be in Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jesus put it another way, \u201cI am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful\u2026No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing\u201d (John 15:1-2, 5). Only when you continually abide in Jesus\u2014surrendering to him and drawing your life from him, can you glorify God, bear fruit, and accomplish anything of eternal significance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"g-lj9xbpph\">Search Your Heart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are full of yourself there is no room to receive God\u2019s fullness. Like king David of Israel, ask God to show you what you need to surrender to him. David prayed, \u201cSearch me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting\u201d (Psalm 139:23-24). Don\u2019t hold anything back. Give everything over to God including the negative like sin, temptations, regrets, fears, worries, doubts, unbelief, weaknesses, and inabilities, as well as, the positive like goals, dreams, strengths, and skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Surrender your thoughts, your will, and your decisions. Overcome false teaching and ungodly viewpoints by taking every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus (2 Corinthians 10:5). Seek God\u2019s wisdom and enjoy his promised peace (Isaiah 26:3).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Surrender your relationships\u2014the people you love and don\u2019t love, the people you wish loved you back, the people you want to know better or emulate, even the people who oppose and oppress you. Pray for your enemies. Intercede for those in need. Serve those who can never repay you. By God\u2019s grace and power love the unlovable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Surrender your moments. Develop a rhythm of time alone with God. Praise him for who he is and what he has done. Reflect on his faithfulness. Humbly submit to and rely on him. Release to him your past. Commit to him your future. Live in the now of his joyful presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you haven\u2019t trusted Jesus to save you from your wrongdoing you can today. Just ask him to forgive you and to show you how to live rightly. Then with his help, do what he shows you. Eventually every knee will bow in surrender and reverence to Jesus (Philippians 2:9-11). If you surrender your self-centered way to his better way today, you can benefit from knowing God and becoming like him now and into eternity. If you refuse to surrender until it is too late you will seal your fate in eternal torment because you rejected Jesus and will be forever separated from God and all that is good, right, and loving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"g-ljaha6q3\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Andre Gide wrote, \u201cWe can never discover new continents until we have the courage to lose sight of all coasts.\u201d The new terrain of growth, freedom, and happiness are not found moored to living your way, but rather in sailing the waters of letting God work his way in you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>God extends grace to the humble, but opposes the proud.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>God frees those who surrender their chains.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>God grants peace to those who surrender their troubles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>God cares for those who cast their cares on him.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>God blesses those who deny themselves.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>God fills those who empty themselves.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>God gives life to those who die to themselves.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Surrender by stepping away from your wayward brokenness, limited perspective, finite abilities, constraining circumstances, and reliance on yourself and by placing your hope, loyalty, trust, and obedience in Jesus. A surrendering faith allows you to enter into God\u2019s intimate fellowship, virtuous character, righteous purpose, and boundless blessing. By faith his reality becomes your reality, not because of what you do, but because of what Jesus has done for you. Move over and let him take control of your desktop. By denying yourself and accepting him, he opens the gateway to his loving presence and providence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Note: I encourage you to take time alone with God to prayerfully consider what you should surrender. The song, <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/Zz4dSfzOuxw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>\u201cI Surrender All\u201d<\/em><\/a><em> performed by Cain on their Honest Offering album might help focus your thoughts.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/podcasters.spotify.com\/pod\/show\/notes-from-greenelsh\/embed\/episodes\/255-Surrender-e265bqb\" height=\"102px\" width=\"400px\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you want to receive God\u2019s help in healing your brokenness, his wisdom in decision-making, his intervention in circumstances, and his blessing in relationships you must surrender control by faith.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2623,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2624","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-notes-from-greenelsh"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/lightrunner.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Surrender.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lightrunner.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2624","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lightrunner.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lightrunner.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lightrunner.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lightrunner.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2624"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lightrunner.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2624\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2627,"href":"https:\/\/lightrunner.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2624\/revisions\/2627"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lightrunner.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2623"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lightrunner.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2624"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lightrunner.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2624"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lightrunner.org\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2624"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}