Holy Moments - Moments of Surrender

Devotional

Day 1: Surrender is courageous trust, not quiet defeat

We often think surrender looks like waving a white flag, but biblical surrender is a brave release of control into God’s hands. When control slips through your fingers, anxiety rushes in; when you open your hands to God, peace begins to take root. This kind of surrender isn’t passive—it takes strength, boldness, and faith. You let go, and you let God lead. And it’s not a single decision; it’s a series of choices, again and again, in real time, right where you live [07:42]

Luke 1:38 — Mary answered, “I belong to the Lord. Let everything you’ve said unfold in me,” and with that consent she welcomed God’s plan.

Reflection: Where do you feel control slipping this week, and what is one specific way you can hand that situation to God today rather than managing the outcome yourself?

Day 2: God delights to use the overlooked and ordinary

Nazareth was a tiny, forgettable town, the kind of place people dismissed with a shrug, yet God chose it as the starting point for the world’s salvation story. Mary was young, unknown, and situated far from the centers of power, but the Lord called her “favored” and drew near. Your hometown, résumé, or reputation do not limit the purposes of God. He sees you, knows you, and can plant holy assignments in quiet places. Say yes where you are, and watch how God writes beauty into hidden corners [11:58]

Luke 1:26–29 — In Elizabeth’s sixth month, God sent Gabriel to a village in Galilee called Nazareth, to a young woman engaged to Joseph from David’s line. The messenger greeted her, “You who are graced—God is with you.” Mary, unsettled and puzzled, wondered what such a greeting could mean.

Reflection: In what specific way have you been telling yourself, “God could never use me because of ______,” and what would it look like to offer that very place to Him for His purposes?

Day 3: Holy confirmations often arrive in ordinary moments

Sometimes God meets us with a quiet sign that steadies our hearts—like a simple prayer on a lake turning chaos into wonder, or a conversation that lands at just the right moment. Mary hurried to visit Elizabeth and found confirmation she couldn’t manufacture: a visible pregnancy, a Spirit-filled greeting, and a baby leaping with joy. God cares about the details; He knows what reassurance you need. Ask simply, look attentively, and receive humbly. Let small, surprising mercies become holy moments that anchor your faith [18:05]

Luke 1:39–45 — Soon after, Mary traveled to the hill country to see Elizabeth. When Mary spoke, the child in Elizabeth moved with joy, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, exclaimed, “You are deeply blessed, and so is the child you carry! Why am I so honored that the mother of my Lord visits me? You are blessed because you trusted that God would do what He said.”

Reflection: Where are you seeking confirmation right now, and what simple, childlike prayer could you offer today as you watch for God’s gentle reassurance?

Day 4: Surrender again and again through every season

Mary’s “yes” in Nazareth became a lifetime of yeses—saying yes to a census and a rough journey, yes to a manger when doors were closed, yes when a twelve-year-old lingered in the temple, yes as a grown Son wandered without a home, and yes beneath a cross. Simeon warned that a sword would pierce her soul, and still she entrusted her heart to God. Surrender doesn’t shield us from pain; it grounds us in purpose and presence. The God who asked for your yes yesterday will sustain your yes today. Keep entrusting what you love to the One who loves you more [24:32]

Luke 2:34–35 — Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, “This child is set for the rise and fall of many, revealing what hearts are truly made of—and a sword will pierce your own soul as well.”

Reflection: What concern have you had to lay down repeatedly—family, health, or a specific decision—and what daily rhythm (a prayer at lunch, a short evening examen, a weekly fast) could help you release it to God consistently?

Day 5: Your first and next step in a life of surrender

Surrender begins with a first yes to Jesus and continues with many daily yeses that reshape desires, priorities, and habits. If you’ve tried life on your own terms, come as you are: confess freely, receive grace, and follow the risen King. And if you’ve walked with Him for years, ask where He’s inviting a fresh release—of a relationship, a job trajectory, your finances, or a hidden pattern of sin. You won’t be perfect, but you will be held; mercy and forgiveness meet you at every step. Today can be both your starting line and your next faithful mile [29:11]

Luke 9:23–24 — Jesus said, “If anyone wants to come with Me, deny yourself, take up your cross each day, and follow. If you clutch your life, you lose it; if you let it go for My sake, you will truly live.”

Reflection: What is one concrete “yes” you can give Jesus today—naming the area, the action you’ll take, and when you’ll take it—to move from good intentions to surrendered practice?

Sermon Summary

Today we continued our Holy Moments series by turning from Joseph’s obedience to Mary’s surrender. I asked us to sit with a simple, searching question: what do you need to surrender this Christmas? For some, it might be a relationship, a job offer that would fatten the bank account but thin out your spiritual and family life, or a well-crafted future plan that needs to be placed back in God’s hands. For others, surrender might touch your finances—either turning from debt-fueled habits or opening a closed fist to generous living—or it may be a long-hidden pattern of sin that needs to come into the light. Surrender isn’t weakness; it’s strength, courage, and faith. And it isn’t a one-time event—it’s a way of life. It’s not just a moment in time, but moments all the time.

I shared a fishing story—an ordinary mishap turned into a holy interruption—where a simple, childlike prayer led to an improbable recovery of a lost reel. That small surprise framed what we saw in Luke 1: God steps into overlooked places and ordinary days. Nazareth was tiny and forgettable, yet heaven sent Gabriel there. A teenage girl with no résumé beyond humility was greeted as “favored.” The ancient Scriptures came alive: the virgin would conceive; the Son would reign on David’s throne. Mary asked an honest question, the angel gave an honest answer—the Holy Spirit would overshadow her—and then came Mary’s surrender: “I am the Lord’s servant.”

Mary hurried to Elizabeth and received Spirit-given confirmation, the baby leaping in the womb. That confirmation was like hooking the reel—God’s gentle “Yes, this is real.” From there, surrender became the rhythm of Mary’s life: a census forcing travel while nine months pregnant, a birth among animals, a twelve-year-old lingering in the temple, a Son with no fixed address, and finally a cross that pierced her own soul. Surrender cost her, again and again, yet it kept opening her life to the God who keeps His word.

So what is your next surrender? Control over a child? Your career trajectory? Your secret sin? For some, perhaps today is the first surrender—yielding your life to King Jesus for forgiveness and a new start. Either way, may this be a holy moment that begins a life of surrender, one faithful yes at a time.

Key Takeaways

1. Surrender is moments, not a moment. We don’t hand God the keys once and drive off alone; we keep handing them back every time control creeps in. Christian maturity looks like a practiced reflex of releasing outcomes to Him in real time. This is how anxiety loosens and trust deepens—by a thousand small yesses, not one grand gesture. [30:48]
2. God delights in Nazareth places. He chooses the overlooked soil to plant His most surprising seeds. Don’t wait for a bigger platform, better credentials, or a cleaner story before you offer yourself. The kingdom keeps arriving in small towns, quiet kitchens, and ordinary workdays where availability trumps impressiveness. [37:13]
3. Mary’s yes was costly and continual. Her surrender invited misunderstanding, inconvenience, and a sword through her own soul, yet it also led to deeper intimacy with God’s purposes. Expect faithful obedience to cost you something—your reputation, comfort, or preferred timeline. Paradoxically, this costly yes is where joy becomes sturdy and hope grows up. [52:21]
4. Seek Spirit-led confirmation, release control. Mary didn’t grasp for guarantees; she moved toward Elizabeth and received a confirming witness from the Spirit and community. God often strengthens faith through Scripture, wise voices, and unmistakable grace notes along the way. Control demands certainty before moving; faith walks with the light given and keeps listening. [49:00]
5. Pray over the ordinary; expect interruptions. A lost reel, a simple prayer, and a quiet cove became an altar of wonder. When we bring daily frustrations to God, we begin to notice His nearness in the mundane. Holy moments often arrive disguised as inconveniences; prayer trains our eyes to see them. [32:40]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[27:23] - What do you need to surrender?
[28:03] - Relationships, jobs, money, and sin
[30:48] - Surrender is moments, not a moment
[32:40] - The fishing pole prayer
[37:13] - Nazareth: God uses the overlooked
[39:05] - Engagement in that culture
[40:20] - Angel’s greeting and Mary’s confusion
[41:42] - Prophecies fulfilled: Isaiah and David
[44:08] - The Holy Spirit will overshadow you
[45:50] - Mary’s response: I am the Lord’s servant
[47:40] - Elizabeth’s Spirit-led confirmation
[50:31] - A lifetime of costly surrender
[54:13] - First surrender: trust Jesus as Lord
[61:01] - Closing and announcements

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
- Luke 1:26-45

Observation questions
- In Luke 1:26-27, where does God send Gabriel, and to whom? What stands out to you about God choosing Nazareth and a teenage girl?
- What exact promises are spoken about the child in verses 31-33? List the titles, the throne, and the scope of His reign.
- How does Mary respond to the angel’s message? What is her honest question (v.34), and what is God’s honest answer (v.35)?
- What immediate step does Mary take after the angel leaves (vv.39-45), and how does God confirm His word to her through Elizabeth? How is this like God giving a “gentle yes” in community ([49:00])?

Interpretation questions
- God sends Gabriel to “little, nothing, nowhere” Nazareth. What does this reveal about God’s heart for overlooked places and ordinary people ([37:13])?
- Mary says, “I am the Lord’s servant” (v.38). How does that posture help define surrender as a way of life and not just a one-time event ([30:48])?
- Why might God give Mary confirmation through Elizabeth rather than a full blueprint up front (vv.39-45)? How does this shape how faith moves forward with “the light given” ([49:00])?
- Mary’s “yes” invited misunderstanding and cost (Luke 2 hints; Luke 2:35). Why does costly obedience so often become the place where joy strengthens and hope matures ([52:21])?

Application questions
- “What is it that you need to surrender?” Name one specific thing this Christmas—relationship, plan, habit, or fear. Why that one, and what would surrender look like this week ([27:23])?
- Consider common areas named: a relationship, a job opportunity, your future plans, a child you’re trying to control, your money habits, or a hidden sin. Which one is active in your life right now? What is one clear next step of surrender you can take in the next 7 days ([28:03])?
- “Surrender is not just a moment in time; it’s moments all the time.” Identify two daily moments where control creeps in (email, bedtime, calendar, screen time, spending). How will you “hand the keys back” to the Lord in those exact moments ([30:48])?
- Pray over the ordinary; expect interruptions. Share a recent “lost reel” kind of inconvenience. How could you invite God into those small hassles this week with a simple, childlike prayer—and watch for His nearness ([32:40])?
- Seek Spirit-led confirmation; release control. Who is an “Elizabeth” for you—someone wise and Spirit-full—who can help you test and confirm what God may be saying? What will you share with them, and when will you reach out ([47:40])?
- Count the cost of a faithful yes. Where might obedience cost you right now—reputation, comfort, timeline? What cost are you willing to accept this week as an act of trust ([52:21])?
- If today needs to be a first surrender to Jesus, what holds you back? What questions do you need to ask, or what prayer do you want to pray, to start following Him now ([54:13])?

Sermon Clips

But for others of us I think that maybe this might hit home a little bit more Maybe it's a sin That we've just been carrying around for a long time Maybe it's a bad habit Maybe it's a bad thought pattern Or maybe you're just doing some things That you really shouldn't be doing And you know itAnd I know it And everybody around you would say You shouldn't be doing it But it's your secret And you haven't surrendered that And maybe this Christmas season It's time to surrender that to the Lord What is it that you need to surrender to Him This Christmas season? [00:29:19] (34 seconds) #SurrenderYourSecret

One in 13,000.0077% Chance that that Would happen And of course You know The boys are going Crazy and high Fiving each other And they just think It's the greatest Thing in the world Dad you gotta believe You gotta believe God cares about Everything And he just Shakes his Shakes his head And that crazy Moment became A holy moment [00:34:46] (23 seconds) #UnexpectedHolyMoment

So Understand This Like You Might Be Here This Morning And Think God Could Never Use Me I'm Not Important In The Kingdom Of Heaven IDon't Have The Background The Education The Right Job I Don't Have The Right Things How Could God Ever Use Somebody Like Me When You Think That You Think About Nazareth Because He Chose To Send His Son To Be Born Of The Virgin Mary Who Lived In Little Tiny Nowhere Nothing Nazareth And If He Can Use Someone From That Town I Promise You He Can Absolutely Use You [00:38:25] (36 seconds) #GodCanUseYou

So Here We Are It Has Been 400 Years Since Anybody Has Heard From God No Prophets No MessiahIsrael Feels Like They Have Been ForgottenAnd You Would Think If A Prophet Or Somebody Important Showed Up Where Would They Show Up AtJerusalem Right And Here An Angel Shows Up In Nazareth To A Woman Who's 14 15 Years Old Who Has No Idea What's Going On And She Is Confused Wondering Why In The World Would An Angel Show Up To Me Just Side Note If An Angel Ever Shows Up To You Buckle Your Seat Belt Things Are About To Get Real [00:40:08] (45 seconds) #GodShowsUpUnexpectedly

And Then Of Course The Ultimate Moment Of Surrender WhenJesus Would Be ArrestedAnd He Would Be Put On Trial A Mockery Of A Trial A Fake Trial If You Will And Then He Would Be Condemned And He Would Be Put On That Cross And In Those Moments Before His Death She Would Gaze On Him And A Final Moment Of SurrenderMary Surrendered A Lot And I Highly Doubt That God Would Ask You Or I To Surrender Nearly As Much As Mary Had To [00:52:17] (32 seconds) #MarysSurrender

ForSome Here This Morning You You Never Surrendered To GodAnd You You're Here Today Because Maybe You're Curious Or You're Checking Out What It Means To Follow Jesus And I'll Just Tell You Plainly It's Not All That Maybe It's Cracked Up To Be Sometimes It's A Life Of Surrender It's Not Just A One Time Deal And I Think Sometimes We Can Get Caught Up In That Trap That Oh I Surrendered My Life To Christ One Time And You Back When I Was Eight Years Old And I Said A Prayer And I Got Baptized And Your Life Hadn't Looked Anything Like A Christian Life Since Then [00:53:30] (31 seconds) #NotOneTime

See It's Not A Moment Of Surrender It's Moments All The Time Where We Have To Surrender So Maybe Today Would Be The First Time You SurrenderAnd You're Checking Out This God Thing You Know Checking Out Who Jesus Is And Maybe The Lord Is Saying There's Something Here And You Can Sense That Something Is Different He's Stirring In Your HeartAnd Maybe It's Time For You To Surrender And Say OkayI've Been Doing It My Way My Whole Life It's Not Exactly Got Me Where I Want To Be Maybe Not Where I Need To Be And So I Want To Surrender To King Jesus [00:54:02] (39 seconds) #SurrenderEveryday

All Of Surrender All The Time A Life Of Surrender But It Starts With That Very First One Where You Confess That He Is Lord And You're Not Going To Be Lord And King Of Your Heart Anymore But You're Going To Allow Him To Be Lord And Allow Him To King And Follow Him The Best You CanNot Going To Be PerfectWe All Mess It Up Say Things We Shouldn't Say Do Things We Shouldn't DoLack The Character And Integrity That We Ought To HaveBut That's Why There's Forgiveness And That's Why There's Grace And That's Why There's Mercy And That's Why There's Love [00:55:30] (42 seconds) #LifeOfSurrender

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