Waving the white flag of surrender today…
I want to give up all of my past, my hopes, my plans, my dreams, my future… everything! I want to lay it all down and surrender.
Before they ever landed in a prison for their faith they made a decision to surrender to Jesus Christ. Maybe that’s one reason why they could sing praises in the midst of their situation. They had already surrendered to Jesus long before they surrendered to those who imprisoned them.
Surrender. “To give (oneself) up into the power of another especially as a prisoner.” Surrender doesn’t come too easy for me. I seem to want to continue to fight on my own terms. I pray a pretty good game. But if my prayer life is just a game then what good is it? At times, my prayer-life seems to be lacking surrender… total commitment. When I pray for myself and/or for others I seem to interject my own selfish twist.
An example we have to follow is found in Matthew 26:39-42 is of Jesus praying with total surrender.
39Going a little ahead, he fell on his face, praying, “My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this. But please, not what I want. You, what do you want?”
40-41When he came back to his disciples, he found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, “Can’t you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert; be in prayer so you don’t wander into temptation without even knowing you’re in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there’s another part that’s as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire.”
42He then left them a second time. Again he prayed, “My Father, if there is no other way than this, drinking this cup to the dregs, I’m ready. Do it your way.” (The Message).
I typically pray, “If there is any way, get me out of this…” Then find myself asleep like the disciples.
It’s not just in prayer but throughout life we are faced with decisions and choices we must make. Our choice: To live a life surrendered to the will of God or to live for ourselves.
Oh, the city’s afire
A passionate flame
It knows me by name
Oh, the city’s desire
To take me for more and more
It’s in the street, getting under my feet
It’s in the air, it’s everywhere
I look for you
It’s in the things I do and say
If I wanna live I gotta
Die to myself someday (“Surrender” lyrics by U2)
