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What does it mean to surrender?
According the the dictionary (*), surrender is an elementary-level word that means :
- cease resistance to an enemy or opponent and submit to their authority.
- to give oneself up, as into the power of another; submit or yield.
- to yield (something) to the possession or power of another; deliver up possession of on demand or under duress
- to give up completely or agree to forgo especially in favor of another (**)
We easily identify with this word with actual war or battles, the military or police. If we stick to the sole meaning of the word, then it doesn't mean we've "lost, failed, or have been defeated.". But Bea, these are synonyms of surrender too!
Well, these things only happen if we literally exhaust ourselves into war. MOBA players would know this! (Hello, VainGlory / Mobile Legends / League of Legends / Pokemon Unite players!) There are only two outcomes in every casual, ranked, or quick battle : Victory, or Defeat. But there is a very important option in between that determines a how TIME & EFFORT, two very valuable in-game commodities, will be spent...and that option is to "SURRENDER". In actual wars of the past though, it involved the LIVES of PEOPLE, as well as weaponries, good and treasures of the land, and territories.
No team coordination? surrender. Important players (attacker / defender) got disconnected? surrender. Imbalanced character skillsets / stats of teammates and/or opponents? surrender.
Oh, if only life could have unlimited opportunities to restart battles! or just start from scratch - create a new account and rank up again, because this time you know better!
The good news? 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us that "Therefore, if anyone is IN CHRIST, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come!" This gives all of us hope, because being IN Christ is the only way will be made new. He is THE Way, Truth, and Life after all, yes?
If you're wondering how to know more about the Lord,
If you've just started taking your walk with Him seriously,
If you've been abiding in Him and continuing in His Word for quite some time now,
If you've been struggling to keep that fire burning,
praise God you're here!
We can walk together pursuing a heart of wonder : fully surrendered to Jesus!
So what does it really mean to surrender - now that we are in Christ?
Disclaimer : these revelations are from today's quiet time / meditation on 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Ephesians chapter 2. I am literally typing this at 2:07am (see time.is below) because I couldn't sleep and was convicted to write this even if I am still in the season of surrender. I'm actually still in #2 :)
1. CEASE resistance and control.
Even the dictionary doesn't say 'stop' because to stop means it can also resume or start again. The meaning of surrender explicitly uses the word CEASE. Because cease means an end to, or an end of, something. In war, it's hands raised, white flags waived, weapons dropped. In this spiritual warfare, it's allowing the Lord to consume us with the same power of His resurrection. And it will only happen if we surrender. . .
What are the things we're finding hard to surrender? Is it a hobby that turned into an idol or object of obsession? is it a relationship? is it a difficult person in your household? Is it something that's not aligned with His Word?
You may have been fighting this battle in your mind, heart, and spirit for too long. You can certainly choose to keep fighting, or you can totally cease fire - in surrender. It takes true humility to accept that He is sovereign and mighty, it takes faith to believe in who He says He is, and it takes a willful act of obedience to CEASE fire.
2. SUBMIT to who He is
One of our challenges as humans of this world is understanding "His Will". Sometimes we even jump to wanting to know His will, and confine its parameters to "YES or NO", with very limited use cases. What if His will says GROW? GO? (glow? hihihi I meant, glow because of His word!) or WAIT? LEARN? KEEP GOING?
The thing is, if His will is revealed at the onset, are we even ready to TRUST Him? Will we trust Him?
Now the deal breaker question is : how can we trust someone we don't know? (oh, dear. if these words are like arrows to our hearts, phew phew! but hey, HIS Word is even better : it's sharper than a DOUBLE EDGED SWORD! aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. >,<)
That's why knowing WHO HE IS, makes a huge difference.
Pray with me?
Jesus, search my heart - and reveal the areas in my life I haven't fully surrendered yet. I fervently ask you to remove these desires that are not from you, and align my heart with yours. Renew my mind as I seek You in Your Word, and quench my soul that desires more of you in my life. I submit to your will that is good, pleasing, and perfect. I submit to your ways that are higher than mine. And in this season of surrender, I will trust who you say you are : way-maker, promise-keeper, miracle-worker, sovereign, and almighty! And because I trust you, I will wait patiently for you to reveal the WHY's and HOW's behind the purpose you have called me for. To you be all the honor, glory, and praise. Amen.
3. FORGO (or LET GO) of the Desire
FOR-GOD, LET-GOD
** work in progress **
4. YIELD to the Holy Spirit and the promise of His fruits
** work in progress **
When you surrender, you are not defeated because in Christ, you are victorious.
When you surrender, you won't be held as captive because in Christ, you are TRULY FREE.
When you surrender, you won't lose anything because in Christ, you have everything HEAVENLY to GAIN.
This post will be continued as I voyage through this season of surrender. Pray for me please?
Love and wonder,
thewonderhuman
PS : and oh, through this post - I'm learning to surrender this desire of 'perfection'. Afterall, our meditation doesn't have to be perfect. It only has to be PLEASING IN HIS SIGHT. :') I hope this encourages you to do all things for Jesus, and pray Psalms 14:19.
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Links :
(*1) Meaning of "surrender" | dictionary.com
(**2) Meaning of "surrender" | merriam-webster.com
Social accountability of time (hihihi)
