298 – By Surrendering You Win

#faithbites #faithjourney surrendering

You probably read the title of this faithbite and thought, how can you win by surrendering? It goes against all of our logic. In most cases, we have to try harder, be better, fight more, give more, do all of these things to win. It’s as if the very act of fighting is tied into our concept of success. If we didn’t “overcome all odds” or “fight with all our might” we have failed.

I’ve talked on several occasions about surrendering as well as the many changes in my life. It is hard to let go of things. Today as I was cooking and reading work email, I saw tasks being done by others that I thought I should do. I thought if I was louder, more present, more something then that task would either still be mine of fall to me. Then I realized something, that if I let the other person do it, it isn’t surrendering, but freeing me up to do other tasks.

I guess it’s human nature to try to hold onto our routine or familiar. We know how to do these things, we do them well, and know we will get praise for them. At the same time though, we are limiting ourselves for future growth. Give those other people a chance to learn and succeed, as we learn and succeed at something new.

Scripture on Surrendering

• I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. – Romans 12:1
• Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. – James 4:7
• He must increase, but I must decrease – John 3:30

Reflection

When I think about surrendering, I think about the scene in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, where Aslan is killed. He surrenders, dies, and is brought back. He says “when a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor’s stead […] Death itself would start working backwards”. 

When we surrender to Christ, we aren’t doing that because we committed a sin. We also aren’t doing it because we haven’t tried ourselves. When we truly surrender to Christ, we trust in him, allowing him to increase his presence, and give away any pretense that we are God and can do things on our own.

The devil is ever present as is sin. The sin that we do have is believing that if we fight harder and try harder to hold on, that we will win this contest for our souls. The truth is, we can’t do it alone. Through prayer and surrender, we are asking God to fight on our behaves. For him to influence our lives for something better.

I know change is hard. I’m struggling right now, but I believe if I give it all to him through true surrender, the Lord will provide.

Charge

What does surrender look like to you? Are you in a period of change in your life? Maybe you are struggling and grasping at straws to hang out. Try something new: let go. Surrender fully to the might of God. It is not a sign of weakness but of ultimate strength.

Lord, hear my prayers. Allow me to get out of my own way and surrender to you. Let me know that you will be there, the devil will flee, and your path will be revealed to me.