10. Learning to Surrender

Please remember to pray before reading!

Yesterday we learned that we must give our ourselves completely to God in order to live the Christian life successfully. We can’t hold back in any area if we want God to have His way with us.

Jeremiah 29:13 — When you seek with all your heart, you will find Him.

Ephesians 2:1 — God gives us new life, even though we have sinned greatly.

Isaiah 1:5, 6 — When we are rebellious against God, we are in bad shape.

2 Timothy 2:26 — Jesus brings deliverance from the snares of Satan.

Isaiah 1:18 — God appeals to our reason, so that we willingly accept His offer.

Luke 14:33 — We must forsake all in order to be Christ’s disciple.

Isaiah 53:12 — Christ gave up everything, pouring out His soul unto death.

Proverbs 23:26 — Jesus wants us to give Him our whole heart.

God wants to set us free from sin, and He can only do that if we give Him permission to totally change us. With this thought in mind, answer these questions with an honest heart:

1. Am I willing to engage in the biggest battle ever, the battle against my old selfish nature, so that self dies?
2. Am I willing to make the deliberate choice to serve God, without feeling forced or manipulated?
3. Am I willing to turn away from anything that would hinder my relationship with God, and allow Him to change my interests, attitudes, goals and desires?
4. Do I really know what it means to depend on Jesus, relying on His strength for obedience?
5. Is my heart filled with love for Jesus, so that I enjoying praying and thinking about Him?
6. Do I long to please Him more than anything else in this world, and am I willing to make any sacrifice for Him?
7. Am I willing to give up my corrupt and polluted heart so Jesus can make it clean and fill it with His love?
8. Do I truly believe that God love me, and does not deprive me of anything that would be for my good, for my ultimate happiness and eternal salvation?
9. Am I willing to accept the change of heart that will adjust my motives and bring me true happiness?

10. Am I willing to lay down my own efforts for goodness, and accept God’s power to work in my heart, and let Him have complete control?