What a beautiful and humble question you’ve brought before us, seeking to live fully surrendered to Christ while wrestling with the natural inclinations of the flesh. Your desire to align your life with biblical truth is evidence of the Holy Spirit at work in you, and we rejoice with you in this pursuit. Surrender is not a one-time act but a daily, moment-by-moment choice to lay down our will, our plans, and our self-sufficiency at the feet of Jesus. It is the recognition that His ways are higher than ours, His strength is made perfect in our weakness, and His plans for us are far greater than anything we could conceive on our own.
The struggle you describe—the tension between trusting Jesus and the flesh’s urge to take control—is one every believer faces. The apostle Paul himself expressed this battle in Romans 7:15-25, where he laments, *"For I don’t know what I am doing. For I don’t practice what I desire to do; but what I hate, that I do... For I delight in God’s law after the inward person, but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members."* Yet, he concludes with hope: *"I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!"* This is the key—our surrender is not accomplished by our own strength but through the power of Christ in us.
So how do we practically surrender everything to Jesus? First, we must acknowledge that surrender begins with **repentance and faith**. We turn away from our self-reliance and turn toward Christ, trusting Him as Lord over every area of our lives. This is not passive resignation but an active choice to submit to His authority. Jesus Himself said in Luke 9:23-24, *"If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, the same will save it."* Surrender means dying to our own ambitions, fears, and solutions, and instead seeking His kingdom first (Matthew 6:33).
Second, surrender is nurtured through **prayer and Scripture**. In Philippians 4:6-7, we are told, *"In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus."* When we bring our struggles, plans, and desires to God in prayer, we are actively releasing them into His hands. Similarly, meditating on Scripture renews our minds (Romans 12:2) and aligns our thoughts with God’s truth, making surrender easier as we begin to see life from His perspective.
Third, surrender requires **obedience in the small things**. Often, we want to surrender the "big" areas of our lives—our careers, our futures, our relationships—but we neglect the daily, mundane choices that reflect our trust in God. Jesus said in Luke 16:10, *"He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much."* If we cannot surrender our time, our words, our finances, or our leisure to Him, how can we expect to surrender the larger aspects of our lives? True surrender is proven in the ordinary moments when we choose to honor God rather than gratify the flesh.
Fourth, surrender involves **community and accountability**. We were not meant to walk this path alone. Hebrews 10:24-25 urges us to *"consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching."* Surround yourself with believers who will encourage you, pray for you, and lovingly hold you accountable when you stray from surrender.
Lastly, surrender is deepened through **worship and gratitude**. When we fix our eyes on who God is—His holiness, His goodness, His sovereignty—our hearts naturally bend toward surrender. Psalm 95:6-7 invites us, *"Oh come, let’s worship and bow down. Let’s kneel before Yahweh, our Maker, for he is our God. We are the people of his pasture, and the sheep in his care."* Worship shifts our focus from our circumstances to our Savior, and gratitude reminds us of His faithfulness, making surrender a joy rather than a burden.
Now, let us address the role of the flesh in this battle. The flesh will always resist surrender because it is inherently self-centered and opposed to God (Galatians 5:17). But we are not powerless against it! Romans 8:13 declares, *"For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."* The Holy Spirit enables us to crucify the flesh daily. When you feel the pull to "solve things independently," pause and ask: *"Lord, am I trusting You, or am I trusting myself? What does Your Word say about this?"* Then choose obedience, even if it feels uncomfortable or illogical to your flesh.
We also want to commend you for ending your request *"in Jesus’ name."* This is vital, for it is only through Jesus that we have access to the Father (John 14:6) and it is in His name that we find the power to surrender. There is no other name by which we are saved, and no other name by which we can approach God’s throne with confidence (Acts 4:12, Hebrews 4:16). Your acknowledgment of this truth is a testament to your faith, and we encourage you to continue praying in Jesus’ name, for it is a reminder of your dependence on Him.
Let us pray for you now:
Heavenly Father, we lift up our brother/sister before You, thanking You for their heart of humility and their desire to surrender fully to You. Lord, You know the struggle between the flesh and the Spirit, and You have provided everything we need to walk in victory. We ask that You would fill them with Your Holy Spirit, giving them the strength to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Jesus without reservation.
Father, reveal to them any areas where they are holding back, where fear or pride or self-reliance has taken root. Soften their heart to surrender even those hidden places to You. Teach them to pray without ceasing, to feast on Your Word, and to walk in obedience to Your commands. Surround them with a community of believers who will spur them on toward love and good deeds.
Lord, when the flesh rises up and whispers, *"You can handle this on your own,"* silence those lies with Your truth. Remind them that apart from You, they can do nothing (John 15:5), but in You, they can do all things (Philippians 4:13). May their life be a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to You, which is their spiritual worship (Romans 12:1).
We rebuke the spirit of independence and self-sufficiency that seeks to hinder their surrender. By the blood of Jesus, we break its power and declare that they are free to walk in total dependence on You. Fill them with Your peace as they release control, and let them experience the joy of seeing You work in ways they never could have orchestrated.
Finally, Lord, deepen their love for You. Let their surrender flow not from duty but from delight in who You are. May they find their greatest satisfaction in You alone. We ask all this in the mighty and precious name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Brother/sister, we leave you with this encouragement from Proverbs 3:5-6: *"Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."* Surrender is not the end of your story but the beginning of God’s greatest work in you. Keep seeking Him, keep trusting Him, and watch as He transforms your life in ways you never imagined. He is faithful, and He will complete the good work He has begun in you (Philippians 1:6). God bless you abundantly as you walk this path of surrender.