“I surrender.” Not words that we are inclined to say. It means that we have decided to give up all that we have to the conqueror. We tend to fight, fight, fight. We don’t want to be called “quitters.”

So how do you react when you read Jesus’ words from Matthew 16:24-26 (NIV)? “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” Jesus is asking for you to give Him full authority over your life. Jesus is asking you to surrender to Him.

I believe there are different levels of surrender to Jesus. The initial acceptance of Jesus as your Savior would have been one level of surrender. As your relationship with Jesus grew, you surrendered a little more. As the maturity of your faith deepened, you’ve surrender yet more and more. Before you realize, it becomes easier to surrender behaviors, attitudes, and control over to Jesus.

Of course there will be difficult things to surrender to Jesus. Just take some of the lyrics from today’s chosen piece for instance. Are you willing to give up your pride? To sacrifice regardless of the cost? And to do so joyfully?

We can’t do this on our own. And we don’t have to. Jesus sent the gift of God’s Spirit to us when He left. The Holy Spirit leads and guides us to a greater understanding of what it means to daily walk with Jesus. The Holy Spirit shows up in our lives as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Little by little, we are able to repeat the words of the Apostle Paul. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 – NIV) Jesus surrendered all for us. We should at least be willing to try for Him.

Today, take a look at these words to “Lay Me Down.” See if there isn’t just one more area of your life that you could surrender to Jesus. Next week, offer yet another sacrifice. As the Holy Spirit points out sin in your life, surrender those actions or thoughts to Jesus. Step by step your relationship with Jesus will grow and Jesus will shine through you.

“Lay Me Down”

With this heart open wide
From the depths, from the heights
I will bring a sacrifice
With these hands lifted high
Hear my song hear my cry
I will bring a sacrifice
I will bring a sacrifice

Chorus:
I lay me down I’m not my own
I belong to you alone
Lay me down
Lay me down
Hand on my heart this much is true
There’s no life apart from you
Lay me down
Lay me down
 

Letting go of my pride
Giving up all my rights
Take this life and let it shine
Take this life and let it shine

(Chorus)

It will be my joy to say
Your will, Your way
It will be my joy to say
Your will, Your way
It will be my joy to say
Your will, Your way always[i]

Click here to listen to Chris Tomlin sing his version of “Lay Me Down.”

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna

[i] “Lay Me Down,” Words and Music by Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Jonas Myrin, and Jason Ingram, WorshipTogether.comsongs, Six Steps Music, Vamos Publishing, Said and Done Music, Shout! Publishing, Thank You Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, West Main Music and Windsor Hill Music, 2012.