Surrendering Everything in Your Life to Jesus

February 10, 2025

One of the most freeing and yet most difficult parts of following Jesus is surrender. Surrendering everything to Him means letting go of control and trusting that His ways are higher than our ways. This is not something we do once and never think of again. Surrender is a lifelong journey and also a daily choice. Every morning we are invited to lay our burdens, plans, and desires at the feet of Jesus.

Why Surrender is Difficult

Our human nature craves control. We like to make our own plans and hold tightly to them. Yet Jesus calls us to release our grip and trust Him completely.

Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us, "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." Trust requires surrender, and surrender takes faith.

How to Practice Surrender Each Day

1. Pray Honestly

Philippians 4:6-7 teaches us, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

When you feel overwhelmed, surrender begins with prayer. Tell God what you are struggling to release and ask Him for the strength to trust.

2. Submit Your Plans

James 4:15 says, "Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.'"

Surrendering means holding your plans loosely. Whether it is your career, your family schedule, or your dreams for the future, lift them up to God with the posture of "Your will be done"

3. Meditate on Scripture

Psalm 119:105 tells us, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

Reading Scripture daily aligns our hearts with God's truth and helps us surrender our own desires. The more time you spend in His Word, the easier it becomes to recognize His voice and let go of control.

4. Choose Obedience

John 14:15 records Jesus saying, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments."

Surrender is not only a feeling of trust but also a choice of obedience. When you sense God leading you in a certain direction, surrender means obeying, even if it feels uncomfortable or inconvenient.

5. Remember the Example of Jesus

In Luke 22:42, Jesus prayed, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."

Jesus Himself modeled ultimate surrender in the garden before His crucifixion. Following His example, we can learn that surrender is not weakness but strength through trust.

A Lifelong and Daily Practice

Surrender will always be something we have to practice. Some days it may feel easier, while other days we will struggle to release even the smallest things. The important thing is to come back to God daily and choose to trust Him again.

Matthew 16:24 reminds us, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." That cross is not carried once but every day.

Surrendering everything in your life to Jesus is not about losing but about gaining peace, freedom, and intimacy with God. Each time you choose surrender, you are saying, "Lord, I trust You more than I trust myself." As you practice this daily and throughout your life, you will discover the beauty of letting go and allowing Him to guide your path.