So many scriptures and Christian songs refer to surrender, and to Jesus being Lord.  But how many of us have really stopped to consider what all of that really means?  It can be easy to gloss over this concept, consciously or unconsciously, to avoid the simple truth that being a Christian means giving God control of everything.

As the old hymn says, “I surrender all.”  Not just some or even most, but all… All of our relationships, careers, plans, decisions… All of our lives.  The crux of the gospel is that we are saved from our sins when we accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and  Lord means Boss.  Therefore, surrender to God means letting Him be in charge.  In the book of Matthew we read:

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (Matthew 16:24 NKJV)

 The Bible calls it “crucifying the flesh,” which, admittedly, doesn’t come naturally.  But if we don’t surrender, and instead try to run our own lives, then we haven’t really let God be God at all.  Put another way,

It’s not your life, it’s God’s life. And you are a manager over it… Let God lead you in everything you do. (excerpt from Fellowshipping With the Holy Spirit, by Dr. Chester C. Pipkin, Jr.)

Thankfully, the command to turn control over to God is based on the reality that His plan for us is best.  When we let Him be in charge, and we are faithful “managers” over the life that He has entrusted to us, we get to experience all the good things that He wants to accomplish in our own lives and the lives of those around us.  That’s not possible when we are limited to what we can do ourselves. 

Letting God be in charge may not be easy all the time, but the good news is, God will help us all along the way!  It’s up to us to submit to His good plan, and let the Lord take the lead in everything we do.