Romans 6:16Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey: whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” To yield is to surrender. When I surrender to the Lord, I sacrifice my own will and come under His authority. He enables me to go the “second mile”, “turn the other cheek” with gladness.

Jesus declared, John 5:30 “…..I seek not my own will but the will of the Father who has sent me.” Jesus was in constant communion with his Father. He only said and did the things that pleased His Father. He made a choice in Heaven to obey His Father and come to planet earth to fulfill His Father’s plan of redemption to save mankind, but as He walked this earth, He daily chose His Father’s will above His own, living a surrendered life. Surrender is always in “the now.” As it was for Jesus, our Pattern Man, so it is for us.

It is vital that I keep Jesus central in all my thoughts, relationships and choices. Only then do I see God’s perspective on my circumstances. Common sense is necessary to daily life, but I must not make choices based only on my own understanding. I must seek the Lord’s guidance for direction. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6.

Experience is a wonderful thing, learn from it but do not put your trust in it. Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Faith is a gift of the Son of God. Romans 10:17 “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” When I exercise faith by putting it into the word of God, I learn to trust the Lord on a deeper level and thus our relationship deepens as He draws me closer to Him. In surrender I refuse to let my circumstances dictate to me, but choose to let God have the last word about the things that concern me. Only what He says is true!

When I keep Jesus central in my life, His peace that passes my understanding of life’s circumstances, gives my soul rest from anxiety and fear. As I surrender to Him it is a choice to learn to trust Him more, a choice to surrender my understanding of circumstances, to access His peace and accept the Lord’s view that He has everything in my life under His control, and I am held, safe and secure in the hollow of His hand.

As I surrender to the Lord, His authority takes over as I relinquish my rule for His. His authority says, “I can take you to places you are unable to take yourself, let the weak say, “I am strong”, through the life of Another, the risen Christ.” I find I do not have to hang on to the Cross because Jesus holds on to me and keeps me.

YIELDING DESTROYS THE IMPETUS OF COMPULSION.

Yielding to the Lord brings the peace and fragrance of the risen, indwelling Christ forth in me. Life becomes so sweet in His sweetness. Why should I want the Lord’s compulsion when the right choice of mine brings the incomparable joy of His presence to my day.

1 John 4:17 “…..as he is, so are we in this world.”

Colossians 2:10 “You are complete in him.”

1 Corinthians 1:28-31 “…..God has chosen the things which are not, to bring to nought things that are; That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption: That according as it is written, he that glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

As you journey with the Master this week, may your standing be in Christ alone, as you savour afresh the sweetness of surrender.