One of the central scriptures that highlight the importance of surrender in the Bible is found in Matthew 16:24-25, where Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake
Have you ever wondered what surrender truly means? Dive into the depths of the Bible as we explore the fascinating concept of surrender and its significance in our lives. Embark on a journey of understanding, as we unravel the layers of this profound act that holds immense value and numerous benefits for every believer.
An Unveiling of the Unique Features of Surrender
Biblical surrender is not a sign of weakness or defeat, but rather a powerful act of release, trust, and submission to a higher purpose. It goes beyond mere compliance and opens the doorway to a fulfilling life in alignment with God’s will. Here are some key features that make surrender in the Bible truly extraordinary:
- Complete Reliance: Surrendering to God means acknowledging our limited understanding and relying wholly on His infinite wisdom. It is an act of entrusting our lives into His capable hands, knowing that He holds our best interests at heart.
- An Act of Worship: Surrender is a beautiful expression of our love for God. It is a way of honoring and worshiping Him by acknowledging His sovereignty and humbly yielding to His divine plan.
- Renewal of Mind and Heart: When we surrender, our minds and hearts are transformed. We let go of our own desires and align ourselves with God’s perfect will, allowing Him to shape and mold us into vessels for His glory.
- Freedom and Peace: Surrender liberates us from the burden of control and the anxieties that accompany it. In surrender, we find true freedom and experience the peace that surpasses all understanding.
The Benefits of Surrender
By embracing the concept of surrender in our lives, we open ourselves up to a multitude of blessings and benefits. Some of the remarkable advantages include:
- Divine Guidance: Surrendering allows God to lead us on the right path and make wise decisions in every aspect of our lives.
- Strength in Weakness: Surrendering to God’s power enables us to navigate challenging circumstances and find strength in Him when our own strength falters.
- Deeper Intimacy with God: Surrender draws us closer to our Creator, fostering a profound relationship built on trust, vulnerability, and love.
- Peaceful Rest: In surrender, we find rest from the striving and striving in our own strength, and experience the peace that comes from knowing God has everything under control.
Let this captivating exploration of biblical surrender awaken a new understanding and desire within you. Discover the immeasurable value it brings to your life and the abundance that awaits when you relinquish control and surrender to the One who holds the universe in His hands. Step into a journey of surrender, and watch your life transform like never before.
Surrender Bible Verses
What does the Bible say about surrender? Not only are we told in Scripture to surrender our lives in order to accept the free gift of salvation, but to pursue daily surrender of our sinful, prideful nature. As Christians, we are to submit to the will of God, that which pleases Him, and pursue truth and righteousness above all else. In this pursuit, we may also cast our distress upon God as we trust in Him in complete surrender. Discover how and why we should surrender to God from this collection of inspiring Bible verses!
Photo credit: Thinkstock
2 Timothy 1:7
7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
Galatians 2:20
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
James 1:22
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
James 4:7
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:10
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Jeremiah 10:23
23 LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.
Matthew 6:33
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 7:21
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 11:28
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 26:39
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Proverbs 23:26
26 My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways,
Psalms 9:10
10 Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Psalms 46:10
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalms 50:15
15 and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
Romans 12:1
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Romans 12:2
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
Luke 9:23-24
23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.
Mark 8:34-35
34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
35 For whoever wants to save their lifewill lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.
Mark 14:35-36
35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.
36 “Abba,Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
John 4:23-24
23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
Philippians 2:5-8
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
1 Peter 5:6-10
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
John 15:1-7
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunesso that it will be even more fruitful.
3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “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.
6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
Benefits of surrendering to God
- Your Sins Will Be Forgiven.
- Satan Will No Longer Control Your Life.
- Your Life Will Change For The Better.
- You Will Enjoy God’s Protection.
- You Will No Longer Feel Like A Victim.
- You Will No Longer Fear The Future.
- You Will Trust God More.
1. Your Sins Will Be Forgiven.
One of the major benefits of surrendering your life to God is that you will have your sins forgiven when you fully give your life to Jesus Christ by accepting Him as your personal Lord and Savior through repentance (Acts 3:19).
When you surrender all to Jesus Christ, He will take care of the rest of your life, which includes ensuring that your sins are forgiven so that you can obtain salvation and eternal life through Him.
However, if you have not surrendered your sinful life to Jesus Christ yet, your sins will not be forgiven and if you die in that sinful state of an unsurrendered life, you will not make it to heaven but you will instead end up in hell prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthews 25:41).
You have nothing to lose but everything to gain if you fully surrender your life to God and let Him take full control of your life for your own good.
2. Satan Will No Longer Control Your Life.
In this world, you are either controlled by God or by Satan whether you want to admit it or not. We are told in Ephesians 2:2 that the prince of darkness who is no other than Satan himself controls this world.
Therefore, if you fully surrender your life to Jesus Christ, Satan who just wants to lay waste and destroy your life will no longer have control of your life.
John 10:10 tells us that the thief who’s no other than Satan only comes to still, kill and destroy but Jesus Christ came into this world so that you can have an abundant life in Him.
This is why you must not refuse to fully surrender all your life’s aspects to the Jesus Christ, as there are many benefits of surrendering to God that you come in your life when you allow God to finally take charge of your life.
3. Your Life Will Change For The Better.
Your life changing for the better will also be another benefit that will come when you surrender your life to God as He only has good plans for our lives as we see in Jeremiah 29:11.
You must understand that the Lord only wants the best for your life, unlike the devil who just wants to destroy your life and make you miserable here on earth and in the world to come in eternity when you die.
When you give your life to Jesus Christ and let Him take charge of it, He will begin to change and transform your life for the better so that you can become a new creation in Him as the apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17 to all those who chose to be in Christ Jesus.
So, if your life is in shambles now due to you letting Satan have control over it, your life can change today for the better if you fully surrender it to the Lord Jesus Christ today who will change and transform it for the better.
4. You Will Enjoy God’s Protection.
When you fully surrender your life to God by allowing Him to take full control of your life, you will enjoy God’s protection from evil.
We are told in the Old Testament in Psalms 34:7 that the Lord protects those who fear Him and have fully trusted their lives to Him by sending angels to encamp around them so that they are protected from the evil schemes of Satan and evil people.
This implies that no weapon fashioned against you with the intent of ruining your life shall prosper as Isaiah 54:17 tells will prosper because of God’s hedge protection, which is upon your life. Isn’t that wonderful?
On the other hand, if you haven’t yet surrendered your life to God, this protection that is on the righteous and to those who have surrendered their lives to the Lord will not be in your life which will make you vulnerable to Satan’s attacks.
5. You Will No Longer Feel Like A Victim.
When we surrender to God by faith and fully trust our lives to Him, we let go of our ego and begin to appreciate that there is always a reason for what happens in our lives that work for our own good in the end (Romans 8:28).
Even if it seems unfair, this reason could be to help us learn a lesson. By releasing the need to control everything, we can accept things as they are, giving us more peace of mind and less resentment towards others.
But if you have not fully surrendered your life to God, you will always feel like a victim when bad things happen in your life due to the compulsive need to control every detail or anything that happens in your life you have not given up yet to the Lord.
Surrendering your life to God will free you from the need to control everything in your life and will help you stop feeling like a victim when things don’t go your way in your life as you know that the Lord is in control of your life.
6. You Will No Longer Fear The Future.
The other benefit that comes when you fully yield and surrender your life to the Lord Jesus Christ is that you will no longer have to worry or fear about your future as your future is in His hand.
Only then, after fully surrendering your life and future to the Lord will you not worry about it or take no thought about it as Christ tells us in Mathews 6:34 in the New Testament.
Many are the times we worry and fear about the future and what’s in store there. This worry and fear about the future are because of our insecurity, and fear of what could go wrong clearly showing that we have not given our lives to Him.
But, when you stop worrying about your future by casting all your worries and cares about your future to Him as He cares for us as 1 Peter 5:7 tells us, the fear that people of the world without Christ have about the future will no longer be in your life and you will live worry-free.
7. You Will Trust God More.
Finally, yet importantly, another benefit that comes when you fully surrender your life to God’s will and plan for your life is that you will learn to trust Him even further as you witness His goodness and faithfulness in your life.
The bible tells us in Proverbs 3:5, 6 that we must learn to trust the Lord with all our hearts by not leaning on to our own understanding that can fail and disappoint us sometimes.
Moreover, you will only learn to trust the Lord when you fully yield your life to Him knowing that all will be well with your soul and your expectation won’t be cut short (Proverbs 23:18) when your trust and confidence is in the Lord.
One of the major reasons why most people find it hard to trust the Lord in their lives is that they haven’t fully surrendered their lives to Him which requires faith even when nothing seems certain as learning to trust God is all about walking by faith and not by sight as the heathens do.