Embracing Change: Surrender for God's Fullness

Summary

How bad do you want the fullness of God’s blessings in your life? Imagine buckets overflowing with everything your heart longs for—peace, joy, freedom, healing, purpose—sitting right in front of you, waiting for you to take hold. Yet so often, we walk away empty-handed, not because God is withholding, but because our hands are already full of lesser things. Sometimes, it’s not even bad things—just things that keep us from grabbing hold of what’s better. The challenge is to lay down what’s in our hands, to surrender our pride, our plans, our fears, and our excuses, so we can receive all that God has for us.

Job’s story reminds us that even in the darkest moments, when life feels hopeless and we’re desperate for change, God is still working. Job didn’t give up; he waited for his change to come, trusting that God would bring renewal. But real change doesn’t start with our circumstances—it starts in our hearts. We often want God to fix everything around us, but He wants to transform us from the inside out. That means letting go of the things that weigh us down, the habits, relationships, and sins that entangle us, so we can run freely after Him.

Change is never easy. Most of us resist it, clinging to comfort zones and old routines. But just like a tree’s fruit depends on its roots, the fruit of our lives—our joy, peace, and relationships—depend on what we’re rooted in. Healthy roots produce healthy fruit. If we want the fruit of the Spirit, we must be willing to crucify our flesh, to let God uproot what doesn’t belong, and to plant ourselves in His truth and presence.

This isn’t a passive process. It’s a revolution—a transfer of power from self to Christ. It’s not enough to acknowledge what needs to change; we must act, dragging our sins and struggles into the light, confessing them, and allowing God to break the enemy’s grip. The door to God’s blessings is already open, but we must be willing to lay down what’s in our hands to walk through it. Today is the day to stop talking about change and start living it, trusting that as we surrender, God will bring the transformation and freedom we long for.

Key Takeaways

- Surrender Precedes Blessing
To receive the fullness of what God has for us, we must first empty our hands of what we’re clinging to—whether it’s pride, fear, control, or even good things that have become distractions. True surrender isn’t about losing, but about making room for something greater. The blessings of God are not withheld; they’re waiting for us to let go and take hold. [02:06]

- Change Begins in the Heart, Not Circumstances
We often pray for God to change our situations, but He’s most interested in changing us. Transformation starts on the inside, as we allow God to renew our minds and shift our desires. When our hearts are surrendered, outward change follows naturally, and we become able to receive and steward God’s best. [07:39]

- Healthy Fruit Comes from Healthy Roots
The quality of our lives is determined by what we’re rooted in. If we want the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience—we must be planted in God’s presence and truth, not in toxic relationships or worldly patterns. Guarding our soil means being intentional about our influences, habits, and community, knowing that roots always determine fruit. [21:45]

- Repentance is a Revolution, Not a Ritual
Real repentance is more than saying “I’m sorry”; it’s a radical turning away from sin and self, and a transfer of power to Christ. When we drag our sins into the light and confess them, we break the enemy’s hold and invite God’s healing and freedom. This revolution is ongoing—a daily surrender that dethrones self and enthrones Jesus as Lord. [23:29]

- Freedom and Transformation Require Daily Surrender
The journey doesn’t end at the altar; every day, we must choose to lay down our worries, anxieties, and old patterns. The enemy will always try to hand us back what we’ve surrendered, but we must refuse to pick it up again. True freedom is found in persistent, daily surrender, trusting that God is faithful to complete the work He’s begun in us. [39:51]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:06] - How Bad Do You Want It?
[02:56] - Letting Go to Take Hold
[04:12] - Prayer of Surrender
[05:50] - Job’s Story: Waiting for Change
[07:39] - Change Starts in the Heart
[08:30] - The Walmart Bag Illustration
[11:10] - Kicking on Heaven’s Door
[12:17] - The Ball is in Your Court
[15:14] - Throwing Off Every Weight
[16:17] - The Necessity of Change
[17:23] - Cheesecake Factory and Comfort Zones
[18:56] - Forced Change and Unexpected Blessings
[21:45] - Healthy Roots, Healthy Fruit
[23:29] - The Cost of Change and True Repentance
[28:16] - Spiritual Warfare and Your Destiny
[29:11] - God Wants to Transform Your Life
[30:12] - Waiting with Expectation
[34:58] - Call to the Altar: Surrender and Action
[36:38] - Leaving It at the Altar
[39:02] - Pickup, Not Delivery: Daily Surrender
[41:07] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: "How Bad Do You Want It?"

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### Bible Reading

Job 14:13-14 (ESV)
> "Oh that you would hide me in Sheol, that you would conceal me until your wrath be past, that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my service I would wait, till my renewal should come."

Hebrews 12:1 (ESV)
> "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,"

Luke 9:23 (ESV)
> "And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'"

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### Observation Questions

1. In Job 14:13-14, what is Job asking God for, and what does he say he will do while he waits?
2. According to Hebrews 12:1, what are we told to lay aside, and why?
3. In the sermon, what are some examples the pastor gives of things we might be holding onto that keep us from receiving God’s blessings? [[02:56]]
4. What does Jesus say is required of anyone who wants to follow Him in Luke 9:23?

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Job was able to keep waiting for his “renewal” or “change” even when his circumstances were so bad? What does this say about his trust in God? [[05:50]]
2. The pastor says, “You can’t pick up these buckets unless your hands are empty.” What does this mean in the context of our spiritual lives? [[02:56]]
3. Why is it so hard for people to let go of things—even good things—that might be keeping them from God’s best? [[16:17]]
4. The sermon talks about repentance as a “revolution, not a ritual.” What’s the difference between the two, and why does it matter? [[23:29]]

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### Application Questions

1. The pastor asked, “How bad do you want it?” when it comes to God’s blessings. What is one thing you know you need to lay down in order to receive more of what God has for you? [[02:06]]
2. Is there a “weight” or sin that you keep picking back up, even after you’ve tried to surrender it to God? What practical step can you take this week to leave it at the altar and not pick it up again? [[39:51]]
3. The sermon says, “Healthy fruit comes from healthy roots.” What are you currently rooted in—God’s truth, or something else? How can you be more intentional about your spiritual “soil” this week? [[21:45]]
4. The pastor shared about comfort zones and how change is uncomfortable but necessary. What is one comfort zone God might be asking you to step out of right now? [[16:17]]
5. Repentance was described as dragging your sins into the light and breaking the enemy’s grip. Is there something you need to confess to God or to a trusted friend for accountability? What’s holding you back? [[23:29]]
6. The sermon mentioned that the enemy will try to hand you back what you’ve surrendered. What’s your plan for when old habits or worries try to creep back in? [[39:51]]
7. The pastor said, “Let’s stop talking about change and start living it.” What is one specific action you will take this week to move from talking about change to actually doing it? [[30:12]]

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite group members to pray for courage to surrender, for healthy roots, and for the strength to walk in daily freedom and transformation. Encourage anyone who wants to share a specific area of surrender to do so for prayer and support.

Devotional

Day 1: Letting Go to Take Hold of God’s Best
To receive all that God has for you, you must be willing to lay down the things—good or bad—that fill your hands and heart, making room for His blessings, freedom, and joy. Sometimes, what keeps you from God’s best isn’t necessarily sinful, but it can still be a weight that slows you down or distracts you from pursuing Him wholeheartedly. The act of surrender is not about losing, but about exchanging lesser things for the greater things God wants to give. Are you willing to empty your hands and let go of your comfort, plans, or pride so you can take hold of everything God has prepared for you? [02:56]

Psalm 34:8 (ESV)
“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”

Reflection: What is one thing—big or small—that you know you need to lay down today in order to make room for more of God’s presence and blessing in your life?


Day 2: Change Starts in the Heart
We often want God to change our circumstances, but true transformation begins within us. God desires to start His work in your heart, shifting your desires, thoughts, and priorities so that you can experience lasting change from the inside out. It’s not about God giving you more of Himself—He’s already given you everything in Christ—but about you making space by letting go of what crowds Him out. When you allow God to change your heart, it overflows into every area of your life, bringing renewal, freedom, and a greater capacity for His goodness. [07:39]

Romans 12:2 (ESV)
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Reflection: In what area of your life do you sense God prompting you to allow Him to change your heart, rather than just your circumstances?


Day 3: Healthy Roots, Healthy Fruit
The fruit you see in your life—joy, peace, patience, or even struggle—flows from the roots you’ve established. If you want to see the fruit of the Spirit, you must be rooted in Christ, in healthy relationships, and in godly habits. You can’t expect to reap spiritual fruit if you’re planted in toxic soil or surrounded by influences that pull you away from God. Guard your roots, because healthy fruit is a natural byproduct of a healthy foundation. What you plant yourself in today determines the harvest you’ll see tomorrow. [21:45]

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Reflection: Who or what are you most closely connected to right now, and how is that shaping the fruit you see in your life?


Day 4: Surrender and Daily Dying to Self
You cannot cling to your own way and God’s way at the same time. Jesus calls you to deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow Him—not just occasionally, but every day. Surrender is not a one-time event but a daily choice to lay down your plans, your pride, and your secret sins so that Christ can reign in your life. When you drag your struggles into the light and let go of what’s holding you back, you break the enemy’s grip and make room for God’s transforming power. [23:29]

Luke 9:23 (ESV)
“And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’”

Reflection: What is one area where you need to practice daily surrender, and what would it look like to take a concrete step in that direction today?


Day 5: Hold On Until Your Change Comes
Even when life feels stuck or hopeless, God is working for your good and promises to bring renewal and transformation. Waiting on God is not passive—it’s an active trust that He will fulfill His promises in His timing. Like Job, you may feel weary or broken, but your story isn’t over. If you keep tending to the roots of your faith and refuse to give up, God will bring about the change you long for. Stay faithful, keep surrendering, and trust that your breakthrough is coming. [30:12]

Job 14:14 (ESV)
“If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my service I would wait, till my renewal should come.”

Reflection: Where in your life do you need to renew your hope and choose to trust God’s timing, even if you don’t see the change yet?

Quotes

Because, see, here's the thing is a lot of times, we as Christians, we want the blessings of God without the lordship of God. We want to maintain control. We just want to have all the benefits. He's not a God with benefits and you get to maintain control. Because you can't have resurrection power without first crucifying your flesh. [00:05:15] (21 seconds)  #LordshipOverBenefits Edit Clip

But we want all the changes to be out here. But God says the changes have to start first in here. See, we're willing, God, change my circumstances, change my finances, change my money situation, change my freedom issues. And we want all of this stuff to change out here in the fleshly world. And God says, but I want to start here in your heart right now. That's where the changes have got to start. Because we can't have God's best while we're still clinging to the things that are the worst. [00:07:54] (33 seconds)  #ChangeStartsWithin Edit Clip

We don't have the capacity to take hold of the goodness that God has for us until we first lay down the things that are robbing us of what he has for us. Hebrews 12, 1 says, throw off every weight and the sin that so easily entangles us. Many of us are tripping over things that we refuse to lay down. So my challenge is, is what do you need to drop today to have everything that he has for you? And to get these things, something's got to change. Change is not optional. It's inevitable. [00:15:24] (36 seconds)  #DropWeightsGainBlessings Edit Clip

But you can't be neutral. You can't stand still. In life, you're either moving forward or you're going backwards. There is no standing still in life. And if you've really met Jesus, then your life is changing. If you're here today and you tell me that you're a Christian and that you're a believer and that your life didn't change, then I would challenge the fact that did you really meet Jesus? Because you can't meet a Savior as good as Jesus and not change. [00:16:43] (28 seconds)  #NoStandingStillInFaith Edit Clip

You can't door dash the blessings and the anointing of God. Do you realize as a society, we've gotten so lazy that we won't even go pick up our own fast food? We want someone to deliver it to us. And so here's the thing. It's like, God, I want everything that you have for me. Just bring it to me. I need the pastor to bring it to me. I need my connect group leader to bring it to me. And God says, you know what? This is pickup, not delivery. You got to come down and seek the Lord. And he'll give you everything that your heart desires, but he'll change the things that your heart desires. [00:39:16] (34 seconds)  #PickupNotDelivery Edit Clip