Good morning.
I Surrender All, is the title of a hymn first published in 1896. Carrie Underwood and other modern singers have included versions of it in their more recent collections. The first verse and the chorus are:
All to Jesus I surrender
All to Him I freely give
I will ever love and trust Him
In His presence daily live
I surrender all
I surrender all
All to Thee
My blessed Savior
I surrender all
To commit ourselves to the full surrender of our personal will to the will of God is a mighty promise. What would such a promise include?
Just as I am, Lord Jesus, I am all together yours.
Not my will, oh God, but your will be done.
I release to you, oh God, my fears and insecurities.
I give up, oh Lord, my desire for personal gratification and recognition.
I release to you, oh God, my desire for power and control.
I give up, oh Lord, my stubborn ways and haughty heart.
I give to you, oh Lord, the position of captain. Please, Lord, take control of my life’s vessel and be my champion who secures the victory.
I think that it was surrender that was expressed when the apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
I think that it was surrender that our Lord was speaking of in Matthew 16:24-25 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”
Please consider today a prayer of surrender. What will be your promise to God? How much courage, wisdom, and commitment will it take for you to surrender, and will those needs be a part of your prayer?
All to Jesus, I surrender, I surrender all.
Vern