Do you remember what it feels like to go through your old Facebook posts and re-read some of the things that your thirteen-year-old self wrote about? There is that mix of your stomach lurching and your face scrunching up that perfectly encapsulates what it looks like to feel ‘cringe’ inside. Well, just a couple of nights ago, I underwent an even more terrifying journey where even the bravest of the brave would have been sure to cringe in fear…

The old diaries where I had so carefully written every thought and feeling that passed through my twelve-year-old mind came out of hiding. Never had I been brave enough to brace myself for the mortifying cringeworthiness of reliving my pre-teen emotions and memories. But, after more than a decade of being ‘out of mind, out of sight’, the crisp pages of these diaries were open. And within each page detailed those heartfelt struggles with friendships, boy troubles, a deep sense of imperfection, an identity crisis and fears of being unloved.

Funnily enough, as each leaf of the journals turned, my heart broke. I didn’t feel mortified or embarrassed. Rather, my heart broke for the young girl behind the words. If there was anything I could tell the little twelve-year-old who wrote those words of fear and doubt, and obstinate words desiring to have control over her own life, it would be the art of surrendering it all to the One who actually has it all under control. Instead of trying to row to shore in the midst of torrent seas on a dinky little boat all by herself, how much safer would she have felt if she were to be firmly anchored onshore with her Creator’s unshakeable truth.

What I really loved about going back and reading through my diary entries of the shy young girl who was half my current age, was being able to see her journey unfold. The way in which her Creator had been so faithful despite the moments of self-doubt she faced, her stubborn little ways and the ridiculous amount of time she spent on so many things that was not at all part of God’s big plan.

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What Does it Mean to Surrender to God Completely?

Let’s be honest, we will never be perfect at surrendering to God’s will. Total surrender to God requires total humility. A heart that is devoid of pride and a heart that recognizes that there is nobody better at running our lives than the One whose ways are higher than our own. (Isaiah 55:8-9) To surrender yourself completely to God and let go means He shall increase while we decrease.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” — 1 Peter 5:6–7

But while we may never be perfect at surrendering to God and letting go of control, we can be made better at it. We can become transformed into His image more and more as the Holy Spirit that God sent down to be our helper teaches us all things and reminds us of everything our Father said to us. (John 14:26)

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. — 2 Corinthians 3:18

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How to Surrender to God Completely and Let Go

How to Surrender to God Completely and Let Go Tip #1: Begin Identifying Areas in Your Life You’re Struggling for Control & Confess Your Need to Surrender Control to Him

We all struggle for control over something and sometimes, this struggle can be seasonal, depending on what season of life you’re going through. For example, if you are going through a difficult time financially, perhaps this is an area in your life that you need to surrender to God in prayer…. or if you are going through a season of singleness, perhaps this is an area in your life that you need to begin surrendering to God’s will.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. — Matthew 16:24

It doesn’t matter what the area of life you are struggling for control is… begin today by confessing your need for total surrender to God. By identifying and confessing your need to surrender control to Him, you are humbling your heart and acknowledging His incomparable authority and sovereignty in all things.

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How to Surrender to God Completely and Let Go Tip #2: Surrendering Begins with Building a Personal Relationship with God

We have relationships with everyone we meet. Regardless of if it is the waitress that gives us our coffee in the morning to our most special ‘someone’, we have a relationship with each and every person we come across. But the key difference is this… we don’t always have a personal relationship with each individual we meet.

The truth is, the act of surrender requires trust. This is because we obey who we trust and we do not obey who we do not trust. We often choose to try and maintain control over our lives and refuse to let God write our story because we trust ourselves more than we trust our Heavenly Creator. So, truly learning how to surrender to God completely and let go of control begins with building a personal relationship with God.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.

— Proverbs 3:5-6

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How to Surrender to God Completely and Let Go Tip #3: Realise God is Big and People are Small

This has certainly been a lesson that has been ongoing in my life. As much as I wished that I could say that I am never shaken by conflict and never hurt from feelings of rejection, that is simply not true. But when we think that people are bigger than God, we become more concerned about looking stupid in front of others than we are about acting sinfully towards God… and our fear of people becomes a snare to us surrendering to God completely.

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. — Matthew 10:28

Jesus’ exhortation above talked specifically about the fear of physical threats, but he was saying that even the threat of death should not cause the disciples to fear other people. This is because when God is given the rightful place in our lives, we are no longer enslaved to other people, but left free to surrender to God completely.

But before you think that a fear of God means being so afraid of God that you can’t feel at peace with your salvation, let me assure you that is not what scripture says at all!

For the unbeliever, the fear of God means the fear of God’s judgement and the eternal death and separation that comes with it (Luke 12:5). For the believer, the fear of God is something much different. This fear refers to a specific reverence towards their Creator. This total awe and reverence towards our Maker is exactly what the fear of God means for Christians. And it is this reverence (aka. fear) that motivates us to surrender to our Lord and God.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire. — Hebrews 12:28-29

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How to Surrender to God Completely and Let Go Tip #4: Renew Your Mind Through Scripture

Our minds need to be constantly renewed through Scripture. Instead of being led by the wisdom of the world, allow the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to shape your heart and mind. Just like what the serpent told Eve in the Garden of Eden, the world tells us that we can and should remain in control of our own lives and the world tells us that what God promises us isn’t enough and we should desire more. However, scripture tells us that the knowledge of Christ is enough.

My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. — Colossians 2:2-3

So spend time in scripture so that the Holy Spirit and the wisdom of God will transform your heart and mind. As He transforms you into the image of Christ and makes you more and more like Him, your desires will begin to align with His desires for you… thus helping you to surrender to God completely.

For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. — 1 Corinthians 1:25

It is time to displace the wisdom of the world with wisdom from the Word.

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How to Surrender to God Completely and Let Go Tip #5: Living Life Setting Biblical Priorities in a Hectic World

Recently it has been blowing me away… the fact that we need God for literally every. little. thing. It’s actually amazing how incapable we are of doing anything by ourselves. This sense of dependency on God is no different when it comes to needing his help with setting biblical priorities in our life… even when it comes to prioritizing something as ‘small’ as good sleep so that we have the energy to spend time with God and love others!

Many people will tell you to live your life a certain way and the world will often tell you to live your life in a way that conforms with society. You will be told that life is all about ensuring tomorrow’s security and succeeding so that you don’t have to worry about tomorrow. But God has something bigger and greater at work, and you can hustle as much as you want, but if you aren’t living out the gospel life where you know that His sacrifice welcomes you to peacefully rest in Christ, then you are missing out on living that grace and peace-filled surrendered life.

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Hey I Hope You Liked This Blog Post

Drop a comment in the comment section below to share what areas in your life you need to surrender to God! I’d love to be able to pray for you!

Here are Some Other Relevant to Resources You Might Like…

If you liked this blog post on how to surrender to God completely, you might also like…

—> How to Let Go of Control and Trust God

—> 10 Signs of a Lukewarm Christian (+ what you can do about it!)

—> How to Stop Being a Lukewarm Christian

—> How to Find Your Identity in Christ (+ FREE devotional!)

—> 5 Biblical Truths for Finding God in Hard Times (+ FREE downloadable devotional!)

—> 5 Hard Truths About Walking with God

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