Embracing Surrender: Trusting God with Our Lives

Devotional

Day 1: Handing Over to God, Not Giving Up

When we feel overwhelmed and ready to give up, it's crucial to surrender those feelings to God. He wants to walk with us through our struggles and provide the strength we lack. This act of surrender allows us to experience His promises and presence in our lives. Surrendering is not about giving up in despair but about handing over our burdens to God, allowing Him to walk with us and fight our battles. This means recognizing that we are not alone and that God is always with us, ready to help us carry our burdens and give us the strength we need to persevere. [30:04]

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Reflection: Think of a current struggle or burden you are facing. How can you actively hand this over to God today and trust Him to walk with you through it?

Day 2: Releasing Control to Trust God

We often try to control our families, careers, and personal goals, believing that our efforts will ensure their success. However, true surrender means trusting God with these aspects, recognizing that He is ultimately in control and will guide us through. Releasing control means trusting God with the outcomes, even when it feels counterintuitive. It involves acknowledging our limitations and His sovereignty, understanding that His plans are greater than ours. By releasing control, we allow God to work in our lives in ways we could never achieve on our own. [47:16]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: Identify an area of your life where you are trying to maintain control. What steps can you take today to release that control and trust God with the outcome?

Day 3: Reprioritizing with God at the Center

Placing God above all else is essential for a balanced and fulfilling life. When we prioritize our relationship with Him, everything else falls into place. This means loving God more than our families, careers, and personal ambitions. Reprioritizing involves placing God at the center of our lives and filtering everything else through our relationship with Him. It requires a daily commitment to seek Him first and trust that He will provide for our needs and guide us in all aspects of our lives. [48:25]

Matthew 6:33 (ESV): "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Reflection: Reflect on your daily routine and priorities. How can you make God the center of your life today, ensuring that everything else is filtered through your relationship with Him?

Day 4: Relinquishing Ownership of Our Blessings

Our families and other blessings are entrusted to us by God, and we must daily submit them back to Him. This act of relinquishing ownership acknowledges that we are stewards, not owners, and allows God to work through us for His purposes. Relinquishing ownership means recognizing that our families, careers, and personal goals ultimately belong to God. It involves a daily practice of submitting these aspects of our lives back to Him, trusting that He will guide us and use us for His purposes. [52:47]

1 Corinthians 4:2 (ESV): "Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful."

Reflection: Consider the blessings in your life that you hold dear. How can you practice relinquishing ownership of these blessings to God today, acknowledging that you are a steward and not the owner?

Day 5: Finding Joy and Peace in Surrender

When we surrender our deepest concerns and desires to God, we find the greatest joy and peace. This is a daily practice that requires trust and faith in God's sovereignty and goodness. By surrendering, we allow God to work in our lives in ways we could never achieve on our own. Surrendering brings a sense of peace and joy that comes from knowing that God is in control and that He is working all things for our good. It is a daily act of faith, trusting that God's plans are greater than our own and that He will provide for our needs. [37:09]

Psalm 55:22 (ESV): "Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved."

Reflection: Think about a deep concern or desire you have been holding onto. How can you surrender this to God today and trust Him to bring you joy and peace in the process?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we embarked on a journey of understanding what it means to truly surrender to God. We began by reflecting on moments when we felt like giving up, whether due to financial struggles, family issues, or personal dreams that seemed out of reach. The essence of surrender is not about giving up in despair but about handing over our burdens to God, allowing Him to walk with us and fight our battles.

We often hold tightly to things we cherish, like our families, careers, and personal goals, believing that we must control them to ensure their success. However, true surrender involves recognizing that these blessings are not ours to control but are entrusted to us by God. This means daily submitting these aspects of our lives back to Him, acknowledging our limitations and His sovereignty.

We explored three key ways to surrender our families to God: releasing control, reprioritizing our lives with God at the center, and relinquishing our claim of ownership. Releasing control means trusting God with the outcomes, even when it feels counterintuitive. Reprioritizing involves placing God above all else, understanding that everything else must be filtered through our relationship with Him. Relinquishing ownership is about recognizing that our families and everything we hold dear ultimately belong to God.

Through personal anecdotes and scriptural references, we delved into the struggles and rewards of surrender. We learned that when we surrender our families and other aspects of our lives to God, we find the greatest joy and peace. This act of surrender is not a one-time event but a daily practice of trusting God with our deepest concerns and desires.

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Key Takeaways

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2. True surrender involves releasing control: We often try to control our families, careers, and personal goals, believing that our efforts will ensure their success. However, true surrender means trusting God with these aspects, recognizing that He is ultimately in control and will guide us through.

3. Reprioritizing our lives with God at the center: Placing God above all else is essential for a balanced and fulfilling life. When we prioritize our relationship with Him, everything else falls into place. This means loving God more than our families, careers, and personal ambitions.

4. Relinquishing ownership of our blessings: Our families and other blessings are entrusted to us by God, and we must daily submit them back to Him. This act of relinquishing ownership acknowledges that we are stewards, not owners, and allows God to work through us for His purposes.

5. Finding joy and peace in surrender: When we surrender our deepest concerns and desires to God, we find the greatest joy and peace. This is a daily practice that requires trust and faith in God's sovereignty and goodness. By surrendering, we allow God to work in our lives in ways we could never achieve on our own.

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Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[27:09] - Introduction and Gratitude
[28:22] - Starting the Series on Surrender
[29:10] - Reflecting on Moments of Giving Up
[30:43] - Handing Over Burdens to God
[31:19] - Holding Tightly to Cherished Things
[32:42] - Changing Our Mindset
[34:35] - Compartmentalizing Our Lives
[36:00] - Surrendering All Aspects to God
[37:09] - Finding Joy in Surrender
[38:04] - Three Ways to Surrender Our Family
[39:11] - Releasing Control
[47:16] - Reprioritizing with God at the Center
[52:47] - Relinquishing Ownership
[56:26] - The Promise of Blessing
[57:18] - Personal Testimony of Surrender
[60:15] - Seeking God's Guidance
[63:08] - The Importance of Hope
[66:08] - Beginning the Path of Surrender
[69:04] - Prayer and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Genesis 3:16 suggest about the dynamics between husband and wife after the fall? How does this relate to the concept of control discussed in the sermon? [39:11]
In Luke 14:26, what does Jesus mean by saying we must "hate" our family members to be His disciples? How does this align with the idea of reprioritizing our lives with God at the center? [47:59]
According to Psalm 24:1, who does everything in the world belong to? How does this verse support the sermon’s message about relinquishing ownership of our blessings? [52:47]

Interpretation Questions

How does the curse described in Genesis 3:16 affect the way we try to control our relationships and families today? [39:11]
What does it mean to "hate" our family in the context of Luke 14:26? How can this be understood in terms of prioritizing our relationship with God above all else? [47:59]
Psalm 24:1 states that everything belongs to the Lord. How does this understanding help us in the daily practice of surrendering our lives and blessings to God? [52:47]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed and ready to give up. How did you handle it, and how might surrendering those feelings to God change your approach in the future? [30:04]
What are some specific areas in your life where you struggle to release control? How can you start trusting God with these aspects today? [31:19]
How can you practically reprioritize your life to place God at the center? What steps can you take this week to ensure that your relationship with God is your top priority? [48:25]
Think about the blessings in your life, such as your family, career, or personal goals. How can you daily submit these back to God, acknowledging that they ultimately belong to Him? [52:47]
When have you experienced joy and peace from surrendering a difficult situation to God? How can you make surrender a daily practice in your life? [37:09]
Identify one area of your life where you are holding on too tightly. What is one practical step you can take this week to relinquish control and trust God more fully? [36:52]
How can you support a friend or family member who is struggling with the concept of surrender? What encouragement or advice can you offer based on your own experiences? [44:23]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "In those seasons I hope that you find a way to not give up and surrender those feelings. Surrender those aspects to the Lord and allow him to be everything that he has promised to be in your life." [30:04] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The truth is if we and when we can surrender our family to God, we actually find the greatest joy. And this is true. And as much as I would tell you that I'm still in the middle of it, I know that it's true." [36:32] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "When we surrender our family to God, we actually find the greatest joy because we look in hindsight and say, 'Man God, it had to be you. God, you had to get into that situation. God, you made a way where there was no way.'" [37:28] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "His desire, his love, his mercy, his peace is running after you and he wants to overwhelm you with his love. He wants to show you how no matter what, he is with you and he wants to walk with you through all of these things." [44:23] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We have to prioritize our lives in a way that puts God at the forefront. And if I'm honest with you, I don't know what that priority system looks like... Maybe the easiest thing to do is just say I only have one priority and it's God." [50:47] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "I think what the Lord is asking us to do is hand over and surrender those things because he wants to walk with you through those things. He wants to fight with you in all of the things. Not necessarily against, but do those things together." [30:43] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "I feel like the Lord is asking us to just change the way that we, just change the way, switch the way that our minds work, the way that we think, the way that we believe, the way that we act. And I'm not saying that it's easy." [32:42] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "When we can surrender our family to God, we actually find the greatest joy because we know that he is faithful and he will get into those situations if we and when we trust them to him." [37:09] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "If we can submit everything to the Lord and realize that it's all his, that's the beginning of what we're called to do. And if we can surrender your family and all the other things that we're about to talk about in the weeks to come, it's a path beginning to surrender." [01:06:31] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "So this morning, my hope and my prayer for all of you is no matter where you are on this path, that you would just walk with him down the path. Begin. Begin the path of surrender. Just begin. He's not calling you to be perfect. He's not calling you to be everything yet." [01:07:20] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?