Nothing aligns my heart with God’s like praying the Scriptures.
The acts of inhaling His words and exhaling them back to Him remind me that He is worthy of my all.
Everything I am, everything I have, every blessing I lay claim to…
is His.
Every single, last bit of it.
It’s one of those absolutes that’s true whether I realize it or not.
Whether I acknowledge it or not.
And whether I like it or not.
I never really understood what “surrender” was (spiritually speaking) until just a couple of years ago, during a season of trial in my life.
My husband received the dreaded cancer diagnosis.
And then he lost his job.
As I look back, it’s fascinating to me that God taught me so much about surrender during a time when I actually hadn’t surrendered anything.
We sure didn’t give up my husband’s health voluntarily.
And we didn’t choose to give up my husband’s job.
Both were taken from us.
But the really amazing thing is that when we accepted this truth, bowing our knee to Him as our Master and choosing to live like He’s in charge, He poured out even greater blessings.
I’m learning that surrender isn’t a once-and-for-all kind of proposition. It’s not a one-time deal.
At least it hasn’t been for me.
I have to keep on surrendering. Keep on bowing the knee. And keep on choosing to live like He’s in charge.
Because He really is.
If you realize the truth of what I’m sharing, and you see in your heart the need to yield anew, will you join me in lifting a prayer of surrender to our Lord?
Prayer of Surrender
Ask God for His mercy to enable you to present your body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship (Romans 12:1).
Confess to the Lord that you don’t have the understanding or the authority to direct your own steps (Jeremiah 10:23). Pray that He would help you look to Him as your Master.
Pray for God’s daily grace to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus. Acknowledge to Him that whoever wants to save her life at all costs will lose it, but whoever loses her life for Jesus’ sake will save it (Luke 9:23-24). Share with Jesus that you won’t withhold anything – including your very life – from Him.
Echo Jesus’ own prayer before His crucifixion: “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.” (Mark 14:34-35). Consider what aspects of God’s will you’ve been resisting, what “cup” you’ve been refusing.
Share with God your desire to humble yourself under His mighty hand, trusting that when the time is right, He will exalt you (I Peter 5:6).
Acknowledge to Jesus that He is the true vine, and His Father is the vinedresser. Tell Him that He has the right to take away every branch in Him that does not bear fruit, and to prune every branch that does bear fruit, that it may bear more fruit. Pray that God would teach you to abide in Christ, and Christ in you. Confess that as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Jesus. Claim the promise that whoever abides in Jesus and Jesus in him will bear much fruit, for apart from Him you can do nothing (John 15:1-7).
Ponder the truth that you are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Share with God your desire to glorify Him in your body, as it belongs to Him (I Corinthians 6:20).
Confess to the Lord that all of your material and non-material blessings are gifts meant to be stewarded well, with the intention of multiplying them for the Master. Ask that the Lord would mold you into a faithful servant, and not a worthless one (Matthew 25:14-30).
Praise the Lord that the earth is His, along with everything in it, the world and all who dwell here (Psalm 24:1). Ask Him to impress this truth on your heart, and to help you live accordingly.
Contemplate God’s promise to bless Abraham so that he would be a blessing (Genesis 12:2). Pray that God would show you how He wants to apply this in your own life.
Dear Heavenly Father, Creator of the heavens and the earth, the skies and the seas, and everything in them, You are worthy of all glory, honor, dominion, and strength. You have every right to call the shots in my life, and in the world. I thank You for the peace that comes with accepting that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men. I know unequivocally that I can trust Your infinite goodness, wisdom, and holiness. Please help me to hold my blessings with open hands, not hoarding them for myself, but willing to give them back, to share them, and to use them on behalf of Your glory, as You so lead. It’s in the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, that I pray. Amen.
A Resource for Surrender
Is there a particular area in which God is calling you to surrender? Do you find yourself struggling to implement the changes He is calling you to make? That might just be because you’re missing an important aspect of true surrender. This resource will teach you what you’re missing, step-by-step:
Moira says
I have been following loving your Prayers for … Series. How beautiful this one is! Thank you for giving me the words to say and reminding me of the need to say them. 🙂
Jennifer Clarke says
Thank you, my friend. This particular post has a special place in my heart, too.
Stacy says
Hi Jennifer! Are you still blessing others with your ministry?
Jennifer Clarke says
I hope so, Stacy! 🙂 That’s certainly my prayer.
Ana (@ANAWINSblog) says
I couldn’t even imagine going through a cancer crisis. That would definitely teach you how to surrender. It is amazing that even in the valley’s God has such big lessons for us to learn.
Jennifer Clarke says
He is so good to bring good things from our seasons of trial. Thank you for stopping by, Ana, and for taking the time to share with me here.
Helene says
This is the second of these prayer series I have read and I love them both! Will keep my eyes open for more!
Jennifer Clarke says
I’m so glad you were blessed, Helene! Thank you for letting me know that you were encouraged here. These posts came from a 30-day series this month entitled Prayers for All Seasons.
Atunaisa says
Thank you very much Jennifer.
May God continue to richly bless your ministry.
Jennifer Clarke says
Thank you so much, Atunaisa. May our Lord bless you, as well!
Joyce says
This post truly blessed me and confirmed so many things for me. I’m grateful for your sharing.
Jennifer Clarke says
Hello, Joyce, and welcome! I’m so glad you were blessed here. Thank you for sharing that with me.
Carol says
Thank for this. I think this is an area I need to pay more attention to. Thank you again, and I pray that God continues to bless your ministry. I am learning.
Jennifer Clarke says
Thank you so much for stopping by, Carol! I’m glad this post blessed you.
Angie says
Thank you for sharing. I know you will continue to be blessed. Very inspiring. Hallelujah! ! Glory be to God in the highest.
Jennifer Clarke says
Thank you for this encouragement, Angie. May we be faithful to surrender always and only to the Lam that was slain.
So'Ji says
Amen!! thanks! 🙂
Jennifer Clarke says
You’re quite welcome!
Serah garza says
My mom might have cancer she is my best friend and my daughter has a genetic disorder that is causing her to have breathing problems and ear problems she will be going under general anesthesia soon . my mom needs the cancer to be removed also and will also be going under general anesthesia. My mom’s lungs are horrible from copd and they said it’s a very risky surgery and my daughter’s airways are narrow and floppy so it’s risky for her also. I just need prayer and this is a great little article so anyone out there that reads this please please pray for my daughter Kayla and my mother Fran …
Lauryn says
I will definitely pray Serah. Health issues are no fun. My family’s had our share of them.
Lord, help Serah’s mother and daughter. I pray that you will make her daughter’s airways firm and heal her mother’s lungs. I pray that you guide the doctors’ hands and help them perform the surgery that all ends well, and I ask that you strengthen the family at this time and carry them through. Amen.
Jennifer Clarke says
Amen!
Jennifer Clarke says
Serah, thank you for sharing your heart here. I am praying for you, for Kayla, and for your mom. They are very blessed to have you in their lives!
Hyacinth Carpio says
Hi im hyacinth from the Philippines, when I read your prayer it strucked my heart, and.never knew I will be at ease with His grace during teouble times. Thank you for being a blessing .
Jennifer Clarke says
Hello, Hyacinth, and welcome! I’m so glad this post blessed you. May God’s grace be lavished upon you in every season.
Susan says
This came at exactly the right hour for me. Thank you so much for posting it,
Jennifer Clarke says
Then I praise God for allowing our paths to cross at just the right time, Susan. Thank you for letting me know. May the Lord bless your surrender.
Angela says
I came across your site and it touched my heart deeply. I need prayers in a mighty way to find my way back to God almighty….. without him in my heart every second of everyday I am lost and alone . I lost my best friend “my mother” almost 2 yrs ago and have left my church and stuck my head in the sand. God knows my heart and I have stopped living….. prayers and God are all that can fix my broken heart.
Jennifer Clarke says
Hi, Angela, and thank you so much for sharing your heart here. I’m so sorry for the loss of your best friend and “mother.” I’m honored to pray that God would comfort your heart and that He would draw you back to Himself, restoring your soul and refreshing your spirit as you look to Him.