True Worship: Surrendering to Christ's Transformative Power

Devotional

Day 1: Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart

True faith means surrendering every part of your life to God, not just the areas that are comfortable or convenient. Trusting God with all your heart requires letting go of your own understanding and acknowledging Him in every aspect of your life, even those you’d rather keep to yourself. This kind of trust is not a one-time event but a continual process of growth, where you learn to rely on God more deeply each day. As you mature in faith, you move from partial trust to wholehearted surrender, allowing God to direct your paths in ways you could never imagine on your own. [32:02]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are still relying on your own understanding instead of fully trusting God? What would it look like to surrender that area to Him today?

Day 2: Move from “Help Me” Faith to “Have Me” Faith

It’s natural to begin your relationship with God by asking for help in times of need, but God desires a deeper relationship where you offer yourself to be used for His purposes. As you grow, your prayers shift from “Help me, God” to “Have me, God—use me however You will.” This transition marks spiritual maturity, where you not only seek God’s assistance but also make yourself available as His hands and feet, ready to serve others and participate in His work, even when it stretches your comfort zone. [39:31]

Romans 12:1 (ESV)
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.

Reflection: In what specific way can you offer yourself to God’s service this week, moving beyond asking for help to saying, “Have me, Lord”?

Day 3: Surrender Breaks Down the Barriers to God’s Work

We all have invisible lines we draw, areas we hesitate to let God touch, but true surrender means continually inviting God to reveal and move those boundaries. When you give up your right to argue and let God steer your life, you open yourself to experiences and growth you could never orchestrate on your own. Surrender is not a one-time act but a daily choice to let Christ live through you, trusting that His plans are better than your own and that He can use even your mess for His glory. [43:23]

Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Reflection: What is one “line” or area of resistance you sense in your heart today? Will you ask God to help you surrender it and trust Him with it?

Day 4: Maturing in Faith Means Growing Beyond Spiritual Childhood

Just as children are expected to grow and mature, so are believers called to move beyond spiritual infancy. God delights when we come to Him for help, but He also desires that we mature—learning to trust Him more, serve others, and become more like Christ. Spiritual growth is a lifelong journey, marked by small steps of deeper trust, greater surrender, and willingness to be used by God in ways both big and small. [55:44]

Ephesians 4:15 (ESV)
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.

Reflection: What is one way you can intentionally pursue spiritual growth this week, moving beyond where you were yesterday in your walk with Christ?

Day 5: God Uses Ordinary Acts of Obedience for Extraordinary Impact

You don’t have to go to the ends of the earth to be used by God; sometimes the most pivotal moments come from simple acts of obedience, like sending a card or offering a word of encouragement. When you surrender your life to God, He will guide you to serve in ways that may seem small but can have a profound impact on others. The key is to be available and responsive to God’s prompting, trusting that He can use your willingness for His kingdom purposes. [56:19]

1 Peter 4:10 (ESV)
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.

Reflection: Who is one person God is putting on your heart today to encourage or serve in a practical way? Will you take a step to reach out to them this week?

Sermon Summary

This morning, the invitation is to move beyond simply attending church or singing hymns, and to enter into true worship by turning our eyes fully upon Jesus. Worship is not about the songs we sing or the rituals we perform, but about fixing our faith and attention on Christ, allowing Him to transform us from the inside out. Even when we are distracted or burdened, God is present, ministering to us in ways we may not see or understand. The challenge is to set aside our preferences, worries, and routines, and to focus our hearts on Christ alone.

Drawing from Proverbs 3:5-6, the call is not just to trust God, but to trust Him with all our heart. This is a deeper, more complete surrender than we often realize. Many of us trust God to a certain degree, especially when we need help, but God desires that our faith matures beyond a “help me” faith into a “have me” faith. Just as children grow from needing constant help to desiring relationship and partnership with their parents, so too are we called to grow in our relationship with God. He delights in helping us, but He also longs for us to surrender every part of our lives to Him, to be available for His purposes, and to be used as His hands and feet in the world.

This journey of surrender is not a one-time event, but a continual process. There are always areas of our lives where we hold back, drawing lines we don’t want God to cross. Yet, as we recognize these boundaries, we are invited to ask for God’s help in moving them, giving Him more of ourselves each day. Sometimes, God will call us to bold acts of faith, and other times, to simple acts of obedience—like sending a card or offering a word of encouragement. The important thing is not the size of the task, but the willingness to say, “Lord, have me. Use me as You will.”

Ultimately, the call is to move from striving and self-reliance to surrender and consecration. As we decrease, Christ increases in us, and His glory is revealed through our lives. Whether our acts of faith are seen or unseen, grand or humble, God is at work, and He invites us to join Him in what He is doing. Today, the invitation is to trust Him more deeply, surrender more fully, and respond to His call with open hands and willing hearts.

Key Takeaways

1. True worship is about fixing our eyes on Jesus, not on our preferences, routines, or even the act of singing itself. When we set aside distractions and focus on Christ, we become more aware of His presence and the spiritual realities at work around us—even if we do not see them with our physical eyes. This kind of worship opens us to transformation and healing that only God can bring. [13:24]
2. Trusting God is not a matter of degree, but of totality. Proverbs 3:5-6 calls us to trust the Lord with all our heart, not just in the areas we are comfortable with. This means surrendering our own understanding, acknowledging God in every aspect of our lives, and being willing to let Him direct our paths—even when it challenges our preferences or control. [32:02]
3. Faith matures from a “help me” posture to a “have me” posture. While God delights in helping us and wants us to bring our needs to Him, He also desires that we grow into a relationship where we are available for His purposes. Just as children grow from dependence to partnership with their parents, so we are called to move from simply asking for help to offering ourselves for God’s use. [37:29]
4. Surrender is a continual process, not a one-time event. We all have areas where we hold back from God, often without realizing it. The journey of faith involves regularly examining our hearts, recognizing where we have drawn boundaries, and inviting God to help us move those lines so that we can give Him more of ourselves each day. [41:51]
5. God’s call to service is unique for each person and may be simpler than we expect. While some are called to bold acts of faith, like mission work or praying for miracles, others are called to small, faithful acts—like sending a card or offering encouragement. What matters is not the scale of the act, but the willingness to say, “Lord, have me,” and to trust that God will use our surrender for His glory. [56:19]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[08:52] - Announcements and Prayer Requests
[11:13] - Opening Prayer and Call to Worship
[13:24] - The Heart of Worship: Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
[14:38] - Fanny Crosby’s Vision and Spiritual Sight
[16:04] - Focusing on Christ Amid Distractions
[23:27] - Worship Through Giving
[26:22] - Scripture Reading: Proverbs 3:5-6
[30:58] - Context and Depth of Trust
[32:02] - Trusting God With All Your Heart
[33:27] - The Continuum of Faith and Growth
[35:58] - Maturing Faith: From “Help Me” to “Have Me”
[39:31] - The Danger of Self-Sufficiency
[43:23] - Personal Testimony of Surrender
[47:12] - Learning to Listen and Respond to God
[48:20] - Mission Story: Faith in Action
[52:27] - The Cost and Joy of Surrender
[54:20] - The Call to All Believers
[56:19] - Everyday Acts of Service
[57:32] - Invitation to Deeper Surrender
[58:29] - Closing Hymn and Prayer
[64:08] - Final Blessing and Dismissal

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

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.

Observation Questions

According to Proverbs 3:5-6, what does it mean to trust in the Lord “with all your heart”? What is the difference between trusting God and trusting Him with all your heart? ([32:02])
In the sermon, what examples were given of people focusing on their own preferences or routines instead of truly worshiping Jesus? ([16:04])
The pastor described two types of faith: “help me” faith and “have me” faith. What are the characteristics of each, and how did he illustrate the difference? ([37:29])
What are some of the “lines” or boundaries the pastor mentioned that we might draw in our lives, keeping God out of certain areas? ([41:51])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Proverbs 3:5-6 emphasizes trusting God with all your heart, rather than just trusting Him in general? What does this reveal about the kind of relationship God desires with us? ([32:02])
The sermon suggests that worship is not just about singing or attending church, but about focusing on Jesus. How does this understanding of worship challenge or affirm your previous ideas about what it means to worship? ([13:24])
The pastor shared a story about someone who moved from a “help me” faith to a “have me” faith. What does this shift look like in real life, and why is it important for spiritual growth? ([39:31])
The sermon says surrender is a continual process, not a one-time event. Why might it be difficult for people to recognize the areas they are holding back from God? ([41:51])

Application Questions

The pastor encouraged the church to set aside distractions and focus on Christ during worship. What is one specific distraction that tends to pull your attention away from Jesus, either on Sundays or during the week? What practical step could you take to minimize that distraction this week? ([16:04])
Proverbs 3:5-6 calls us to trust God with all our heart. Is there an area of your life where you find it hard to trust God fully? What would it look like to surrender that area to Him? ([32:02])
The sermon talked about moving from a “help me” faith to a “have me” faith. In your own prayer life, do you find yourself mostly asking God for help, or do you also ask Him to use you for His purposes? How could you begin to pray, “Lord, have me,” this week? ([39:31])
The pastor mentioned that God’s call to service can be as simple as sending a card or offering encouragement. Can you think of a small, specific act of service God might be prompting you to do for someone this week? What is stopping you from doing it? ([56:19])
The sermon described how we often draw boundaries, telling God, “You can have this much, but not that.” What is one “line” you recognize in your own life? How can you invite God to help you move that line? ([41:51])
The pastor shared that as we surrender more, Christ increases in us. What is one way you can “decrease” this week so that Christ can “increase” in your life? ([57:32])
The journey of surrender is ongoing. Looking back over the past year, can you identify an area where you have grown in surrender or trust? What helped you take that step, and how can you build on it moving forward? ([55:44])

Sermon Clips

Worship is turning our eyes upon Jesus and fixing our faith on Jesus. And I don't know about you, but I talk too much. Can I get an amen back there? Yep. So, I talk too much for me to really be able to listen to God sometimes. Anybody else have that problem? Luckily, God is gracious. And so, when I go to sleep, He talks to me when I'm sleeping sometimes. [00:13:14]

Because sometimes when we get our physical sights out of the way, we're able to see more clearly spiritually. And what she is seeing is in the spiritual. And I share this because I have seen something similar before. I don't see it every Sunday. I'm too busy. I'm too busy in my own head and thinking of my own stuff. But when I get out of my way and I make it my story to be worshiping God all the day long, to be praising my Savior, then I start to see what he's doing at work. [00:14:51]

And I've seen angels come up behind them and hug them, comfort them, whisper in their ear echoes of mercy and whispers of love. And heal them while no one else surrounds them even knows anything's broken. That's what goes on in our time of worship. That will be happening this morning. Will we see it? Will we know it? Whether we see it or know it makes no difference in whether or not God does it. He is here in our midst. [00:15:33]

If this is something you want to see, then let's start right now and start focusing our eyes on Christ. Not on our preferred way of doing things. Not on the songs that we like best. Not on the ways that we want to do things. Not on what we have coming after service. And whether or not we're going to this place or that place. Or what we're going to eat. And all the decisions that fill our head. But instead, to block out all that and turn our eyes upon Christ as we worship His holy name. [00:16:21]

Our giving is an act of worship. It is an act of putting our trust in God and recognizing His commandment. Giving obedience to it even in the face of what doesn't seem to make sense sometimes. [00:23:58]

The question is, do we do it? Do you put your trust in the Lord? Now, most of you, if you're here today, you're going to say, yes, we put our trust in the Lord. Do you? Are you sure you do? Because here's the thing. The scripture doesn't actually tell you to put your trust in the Lord. It doesn't say trust in the Lord, does it? Am I wrong? Did you keep your Bibles open so you can check me? Does it say that? Let me look to make sure. No, it doesn't say that. It says trust in the Lord with all your heart. [00:31:30]

If we're going to trust in the Lord with all our heart. If we're going to trust in the Lord, if we are going to trust in the Lord with all our heart. And that also implies that we've got to stop leaning on our own understandings and instead acknowledge that he's God and I'm not in all our affairs, in every way, shape, or form. That includes things that we didn't want God to touch, like our finances or how we should raise our kids or all kinds of things, and decide, no, he's God and we're not. [00:32:31]

Now here's the good news. These are not two choices. These are not either you do this or you do that. They're more a continuum. That I would say all Christians fall somewhere on that continuum throughout their life. In the beginning, we put our trust in God, but oh, so a little bit. And then we're meant to change, right? We're meant to grow. And as we grow, we are meant to mature in the way that we trust God and to the level in which we trust God and what we trust God with. [00:33:25]

When we come to the Lord, we come and we recognize that God is our ever -present help in time of need, right? We recognize that we can boldly approach the throne of grace and receive that help. We recognize that God is there to help us. God will help you. Now, there's a problem with that, though. The problem with that is if we get too comfortable with that, we develop a faith that says, help me God, help me God, help me God. Now, that in and of itself is not bad. It's actually perfect when you're a new Christian. [00:34:52]

If you have kids, you may recognize how your relationship with your kids are. When they were first born, the only thing they cried out to you for was help. Help me, I'm not comfortable. Help me, I'm hungry. Help me, I need change. Help me, whatever it might be. And they cry out and they cry out. When they cry out and want you to come and hug them, it's not because they have a deep love for you and know that there'll be this mutual moment together. It's because they feel better and they want what is for them. [00:35:45]

In the same way, when we ask our Father in heaven for help, he is happy to help us. He loves us and wants to be able to help us. Do not misconstrue what I am saying in any way and think that I mean to stop asking God for help. No. The Bible tells us very clearly over and over and over to go to God for help. [00:37:42]

But God wants more of you than just to help you. You know why? Because when we think of God as only our helper, when we need help, then we start saying things like my least favorite phrase in all this world is when things get bad and people will say, Gosh, I guess the only thing we can do now is pray. Well, I'm sorry, guys. That was the only thing you could do in the beginning. [00:38:07]

But as needful as that attitude is, help me God. I believe God wants us to grow to a place beyond that to where we don't just trust in the Lord. Lord, help me God, but we trust in the Lord with all our heart and our cry instead of help me God becomes happy God. I believe, sir, what would you have me do? How would you use me in this situation? [00:39:48]

When we live a life of have -be -gone, it will put us in unusual circumstances. It will put us in places that we would not have gone on our own. Trust me. I couldn't have found Lake City on a map a couple years ago, and yet here we are. It will lead to a life where you get to see God working instead of yourself. [00:44:17]

We do it all when we run into a problem. We call on God to help us. We get arrested and developed. We get stuck in that place where we are consumed by the constant cares and concerns of our broken lives, this broken world that surrounds us. We do our best striving to be committed to living in this old way of work, work, work, perform, produce, all while calling on the resources of heaven, the new kingdom, to help us out while we live in the old kingdom. When we do that, our faith can become weary. We get worn out. It can even become stale. [00:45:04]

When we ask God to have us, to lead us and guide us and direct us in all our ways, we recognize that he is God and we're not, then our faith starts to change. We start to see that healing has multiple meanings. And we know that for all that are in Christ, God is healing me. [00:47:41]

We've got to learn to listen to our Father's voice and to have conversations with God that allow for speaking on both ends. And then we start to see faith in a different way. [00:48:20]

As I read through this scripture today, one of my favorite scriptures, probably one of yours as well. I hope it might be even more impactful for you now. I hear it as a call that if I put my trust in the Lord, have I done it with my whole heart? Have I given him myself? Have I surrendered my life to be used for the kingdom of God? [00:54:10]

God calls all of us to surrender our lives to him. And luckily for us, he is filled with grace and he is patient. And he doesn't require everything of us for an entrance exam. Instead, if we but just say we want him in our lives, he's gracious enough to come. But then he wants us to grow. He wants us to change. [00:54:56]

You are not meant to be the Christian you were on the day in which you asked Jesus to come into your life. Even if that was only yesterday, you've got a whole 24 hours worth of growth you could have had. He's asking us to invite him into our lives knowing that he can help us, to always rely on him for help, but to little by little give our lives and surrender to him as well. [00:56:12]

Using our lives in service to God may be easier than you think. He may not ask you to go to Mozambique and do something most people will never believe. Some of the most pivotal moments in my life can be marked with a card that I have saved in my desk because some saint of God a couple hundred miles away from me heard God's heart and said, Do I have you? And they said, Yes, Lord. And they said, Well, send Tim a card. Write this in. And I get it on just the right day. It completely melts me and transforms my life. Can you send a card? How do you know that ain't what he's asking you? [00:56:48]

If you're willing to give your life to him, if you're willing to give your life to Christ today, I pray that you would let him know that this morning. You may have said, Well, I've already put my trust in God. Yes, that's right. Now, this morning, I'm calling you to put a little bit more in it, put a little bit more trust in God, and a little bit more surrender. [00:57:44]

John the Baptist said, I must decrease so that he may increase. In order for God's glory to be shown through my life, in order for that to increase in the way that you see God working through my life, means I've got to stay and step back. And I've got to surrender more and more. [00:58:09]

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