In Total Surrender
Updated: Jun 13, 2021
Is surrender a sign of defeat? Or victory? The answer lies in WHO we are surrendering to. In the hands of the enemy, it is a sign of defeat. In the hands of our Almighty God, it is the first step towards victory.
Let us examine the meaning of “surrender” –
when we yield to the power, control or possession of another upon compulsion or demand – we are surrendering to the enemy
when we give up completely the possession of something especially into the power of another – we are surrendering to God
Surrendering to the enemy is scary because we do not know what the enemy is going to do to us.
Surrendering to God, on the other hand, will lead us to a life of victory and liberty. We need to surrender whole-heartedly. This is by no means effortless, as Jesus illustrates in Mark 10:25 how it is not easy for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Therefore, it is a personal, life-long commitment!
By nature, we are inclined to desire certain control over our lives; wanting to do things as we please, according to our ways, measured by our own values. Yet the Bible says in Isaiah 55:8-9
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts”.
We may be familiar with this verse but do we fully comprehend? We need to read it in context – the whole chapter in Isaiah 55 is God’s invitation to an abundant life (New Living Translation reads "Invitation to the Lord’s Salvation"). God desires to give us an abundant life, and He, being our Maker knows us best. If we want to live an abundant life according to God’s will, then we need to live a life surrendered to Him, because His ways and His thoughts are higher than ours! He has called us to Himself and to be attentive to His words, and He will make an everlasting covenant with us. When a wicked and unrighteous person forsakes his ways and turn to the Lord, He will have mercy on him and abundantly pardons him. Wow! What a wholesome invitation it is!
How then do we accept this invitation and live a life totally surrendered to God?
1. Surrendering our THOUGHTS
Let us always take some time to reflect what kind of thoughts do we think? Proverbs 23:7 says “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he”.
What we think about God, about others, about ourselves are very important.
God – who God is to us; are His promises true; what is His nature like?
Others – do we choose to see the good in others, think the best of them, give them the benefit of the doubt?
Ourselves – what defines our identity, our worth, our values, our purpose?
The Bible teaches us not to do things through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let us esteem others better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3). This means we ought to think or regard others above ourselves.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.
Why is it so important to meditate on these? If we do not fill our mind with the Word of God, it is easy to be swept away by the things of this world. The devil is always attacking our mind. He waits on every opportunity to attack – the Bible warns us to be alert and sober minded because our enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).
Negative and condemning thoughts pose an open door for the enemy to attack our mind with accusations and lies. This I can testify during the years of grieving the loss of my parents. Very naturally one thought leads to another, until one day God whispered "The enemy is working harder than you think". I began to make conscious effort to snap out of it. This is why it is easy for one to spiral down in depression. If we put on the mind of Christ, the lies of the enemy have no hold on us and are quickly exposed. We need to counter these accusations with the Word of God, for the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit. Know that our mind is in a constant spiritual war. We cannot afford to let your guard down.
Make our thoughts be subject to the obedience of Christ – 2 Corinthians 10 tells us about the spiritual war. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 says:
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
2. Surrendering our HEART
Interestingly, we read earlier in Proverbs 23:7 that “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he”. How do we think in our heart? Could it be that what we think affects what we feel, i.e. our emotions? They are both linked. What we think of someone (something) affects how we feel about that person (issue).
Remember earlier on in Philippians 2:3 we are called to esteem others better than ourselves? When we think well of someone, our emotions towards that person are always on a positive side. On the contrary, when we dislike someone, we may harbor ill feelings towards that person because we think the worst in him (her).
Therefore, the Bible says in Proverbs 4:23:
Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
How do we keep our hearts with all diligence?
(a) Examine the condition of our hearts
Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139 is a psalm of David on God’s perfect knowledge of man. Ask the Holy Spirit to do a "heart check" in us and reveal to us what needs to be changed or corrected.
(b) Be open and transparent to God with our feelings and intentions for He sees our heart
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
What seems good to men may not be so; only God can tell because He looks beyond the outward and what is visible.
(c) Spring clean our heart with the Word of God
Bitterness, envy, jealousy, hatred, unforgiveness harden our hearts. When all these take root, our heart becomes hard soil and the seed, i.e. the Word of God, cannot be planted.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
In the Sermon of the Mount, Jesus said the pure in heart shall see God (Matthew 5:8)
3. Surrendering our WILL
To surrender our will does not mean we lose our freedom to choose. In fact, Jesus Christ has come to set us free and we have full liberty in Christ!
Surrendering our will is a choice and decision, built on trust in our Heavenly Father.
Surrendering our will requires constant seeking of the Lord. Seek Him in big and small decisions until it becomes a lifestyle. He is our Great Counsellor.
Jesus sets the greatest example for us – in agony, He prayed saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42)
We are given free will to choose, but we need to choose wisely. When we surrender our will to God, we no longer live as we please but we obey God’s commandments. Obedience pleases Him more than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). This means we choose to live in Christlikeness instead of giving in to our own selfish ambitions and sinful desires. It also means that we want to fulfill His purpose and calling for our lives. Ultimately, we live a life dying to self, taking up our cross and follow Jesus.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
A testimony which is so apt in illustrating Matthew 16:24-26 is through the transformed life of Teddy Hung, a former triad leader and drug lord in Hong Kong. He was living in his self-built empire, notorious and powerful, yet did not find peace – until God slowly convicted him. His encounters with the Lord were nothing short of divine and life-changing. It was not an easy journey for him to say the least, but he finally understood what it means to deny himself and take up his cross to follow Jesus. Personally, I love listening to Teddy Hung's testimony on his journey with God. He shared from his heart openly and unreservedly. Despite having listened to it many times, I still find myself tearing at some point, touched by the miracle-working love of God in his life. Truly, is there anything to hard for God?
Watch his testimony and story here:
Testimony (Cantonese):
Story (Cantonese with English subtitles):
Reflect
Are we living a life of constant struggle? God wants to give us an abundant life. An abundant life does not mean a comfortable life, but it is a life filled with the peace of God and the joy of the Lord in our hearts, no matter how challenging life can be. We may have our challenges but we are not completely weighed down nor defeated.
We are meant to thrive, not merely to survive. In order to thrive, we need to live according to the will of God, that is to surrender ourselves to our Maker – our thoughts, our heart and our will. It is a life-long journey, but rest assured it will be a fulfilling one. Our surrendering to Him is the first step to our victories!
The question is – Are we ready to deny ourselves and take up our cross to follow Him?
Prayer Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for Your invitation to an abundant life. I accept Your invitation today with an open heart. Show me Your thoughts and Your ways because they are higher than mine. I want to abide by them all the days of my life. Today, I make a decision to surrender to Your purpose for my life, by surrendering my thoughts, my heart and my will to You. Mold me and change me to be more and more like You. Not my will, Lord, but Yours be done.
In Jesus' most precious name I ask and pray, Amen.
By 枝页 (October 18, 2020)
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