Just Lay It Down

When my friend, Kathy, contacted me and asked me if I would write a blog,

I said, “Sure.” Then, she texted me what the topic was. I had to laugh; God is so funny. Anytime I have ever had to write a blog, or a Bible study, or something of that nature, it’s always on something I am having a problem with. Well, maybe not a problem, but something I could use a bunch more practice with. So, join me for a little more practice in trusting and surrendering to the Lord. 

God is good, God is faithful, God is all-knowing. God makes our paths straight, God is with us and in us, He will strengthen us, God works for our good. God gives us peace and joy and has infinite mercy. He is our refuge and fortress. God never changes his plans, God is dependable, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

We can go to God for all our needs. We never have to worry about the well drying up. He is a never-ending well of goodness, peace, joy, mercy, and grace.  So, what exactly is the problem? Why can’t we just release our burdens to him? Why can’t we just lay it down and surrender?

Daily surrender involves committing each day and each moment to God’s leading, letting go of control, and trusting His plan. There is no limit to the number of times one can rededicate or re-surrender, as the journey of faith involves ongoing growth and reliance on God.

We must come into surrender. If only we understood what surrender holds. Oh, how God waits on us. You have been searching, longing, yearning for something more. You have searched for peace, joy. You have done all that you know how to do, but something is missing.

If you would yield to Him today, if you would choose to surrender everything: your doubts, your fears, your failures. You would find; His desire is to be known by you. If only you could grasp this truth. I’m still trying to grasp it myself. The very life of God Himself is within reach for those who will yield to Him.

The very presence of God Himself is waiting to take control. He longs for you! He is not distant. He is not reserved for a select few. He is available to all who will open their hearts to Him, to all who will surrender.

Surrender changes everything. It is no longer about struggling to be holy, to be righteous, to be pleasing to God. It’s His power working within you, transforming you from the inside out. It’s the supernatural work of God in the life of a surrendered believer. There are those who resist Him, who hold back, who are afraid of fully yielding. They fear losing control, fear what others might think, fear the unknown, but my friends, let me tell you, there is no safer place to be than in the hands of the Holy Spirit. There is no greater joy, no greater peace, no greater power than in surrendering completely to Him. He will never lead you where you should not go. If only you trust Him, if only you let go and allow Him to have His way in your life.

Surrender. Oh, what a word. If we truly understood what it means to surrender, how different our lives would be, how different our churches would be, how different our world would be. So many of us hold back, me included. I resisted, afraid of losing control, afraid of what others might think, and yet, it is in surrender that I found the greatest power.  It is in surrender that we step into the fullness of all that God has for us. 

The Holy Spirit waits for us. He waits for the time we finally come to the end of ourselves, when we finally stop striving, stop struggling, stop trying to do the things in our own strength. He waits for the moment we lift our hands in surrender and say: Lord, I can’t do it on my own, I need You.

2 Corinthians 12:9  Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

We want to thank Julie Duke for sharing this post.