Romans 12:1-2
Introduction
Trapeze artists understand the art of surrender. A profound trust exists between the flyer and the catcher. The flyer must let go of the trapeze, hang perfectly still in the air and wait to be caught. The flyer must completely trust that the catcher will do his job and catch him. Many people struggle with the concept of surrender because they love to be in control—control of their choices, their character and their circumstances. But human beings are not in control—God is. Surrender is an acknowledgment of this truth. It involves letting go of our illusion of control and holding onto God instead. Total surrender is the key to experiencing intimacy with God and the means to having a purposeful life.
Surrender is a calling, and it comes at a cost. Not only is surrender our spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1), but it is the appropriate response to God’s mercy and how we show our gratitude. If we do not yield our hearts to God, we will not experience the joy of growing closer to Him. God wants our complete and total dedication to Him. As followers of Christ, we need to be all in when it comes to our relationship with God. Being a Christian is not a part-time job, hobby or something we participate in casually on weekends. It requires our full commitment. Surrendering to God also changes our perspective. The world tries to pressure us to accept its value system, but we must reject and resist that. Believing in God and digging deeply into His Word will transform our minds, causing us to think and act differently than the world around us. The world may hate us, but it hated Jesus first, and that is how we know God’s love is in us (John 15:18; 1 John 2:15).
We experience the goodness of God’s will when we surrender. Many of us may be searching endlessly for God’s will, trying to find it on our own when we should be giving everything over to God. It is then that God’s will can find us. Living a surrendered life will result in joy despite difficult circumstances and fulfillment despite our sense of incompleteness and weakness. God will accomplish everything He wants to do in us when we allow Him to be in charge. This is the essence of how to live wisely (Ephesians 5:15-17). We can get out of the driver’s seat and off the throne of our lives. Through surrender, we can finally take the pressure off ourselves and discover the purpose we have been missing.
Getting Started
- Why do people often love to be in control? Why do people fear not being in control?
- When can being in control be a bad thing? When could not being in control be a good thing?
Let’s Get Personal
- What causes you to resist surrendering to God? What areas of your life are the most difficult to surrender to God?
- How do you view God’s will for your life? Do you struggle to find it? Do you fear what it might be and therefore avoid it, or does it come easily
- What new truths did you learn from this message about surrender and God’s will?
Take the Next Step
- How can you be all-in this week in your relationship with God? What areas of your life or decisions do you need to surrender to God right away?
- Who in your family or community needs to surrender their life to God? How can you pray for them and encourage them to take that important next step?
- What is God’s will for your life personally? Read Scripture and seek wise counsel this week to find answers to questions about God’s purpose for you and how you can begin fulfilling that purpose now.
- Want to go deeper? Take time to look at the following passages: Romans 12:1-2; 1 John 2:15-17; John 15:18-19; James 4:4; Galatians 1:4; Galatians 6:14; Ephesians 5:13-17.
Renew Your Mind
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:1-2
