I Surrender - My Self

There are some words in the English language that cause me to wince, because these words create accountability. Words like exercise, budget, never, always, submit, surrender… I’m sure you can add to the list. You get my point. When we talk about exercise, we are either telling someone the “reasons” we don’t or why we do. When we discuss the budget we are explaining why we are not responsible with our money or what we gain from sticking to a budget. When we say words like never and always we usually speak in the context of a promise that must be followed through with action. When we cough out that word submit, we have to take responsibility for our issues with authority. And when we speak of surrender we, at some point, have to admit our selfishness.

Surrender at one point or another is all about Me. I know, we are told in the Christian community that it is not about me. At some point when I or you are considering surrender, Me, Myself and I am the only barrier. To surrender, I have to get over Me. To reap the blessings of surrender I have to let go of Me.

Surrender is not settling for “whatever”. Surrender is not giving up. Surrender is not giving up who I am. Surrender is much more. Surrender is: doing whatever. Surrender is: growing up. Surrender is: discovering who I am. Surrender begins with the attitude. True surrender is birthed in our heart. The process of surrender challenges our core belief system.

Abraham’s life (chronicled in Genesis) is the picture of surrender. Abraham was tested in every area and surrendered every area. He did not live a perfect life. He did not have a perfect marriage. He was not a perfect parent. He was, however, choosing to live a life of surrender. In Genesis 22, Abraham faced his greatest test. Abraham battled himself. His faith, his beliefs about God, his trust with God, his desires, hopes and dreams and his family were tested and either Abraham would not get over himself or He would surrender it all and discover something about God that could only be discovered through compete surrender.

When Abraham was told to sacrifice his only son, the battle of surrender began. He had to surrender his desires. He finally had the son that God had promised. And now, God was asking the ultimate - to let go of the one thing that meant everything. The darkest hour in the battle of surrender that is fought in the depths of our being is when we make the choice to let go of “the one thing” that means everything.

Abraham made the choice - to let go of the one thing that meant everything - believing God. It was that moment that Abraham experienced the presence of Jehovah-jireh. When you and I surrender, it is then and only then that we can experience the presence of the Almighty God. He will show Himself, otherwise unseen, when we surrender.