I was committed. But how committed was I? If I was still in control then I knew I wasn’t committed. I had to be totally committed. Not just willing. I had to actually be waving the white flag.
White Flag (noun):
A flag is a piece of white cloth hoisted to signal surrender.
Flags, in their origins, were used to identify and represent people, countries, religions, nations, schools, businesses, and various associations and groups. But the white flag is used specifically to identify the surrender of one to another.
I Tried Everything I Had
Know anyone who has the “Never Say Die” attitude? Our society and culture breed this. It’s a person who will do every last thing they know to do until they have nothing left. And it is at that moment when every last effort has been exhausted, that the reality sets in. Desperation turns to despair, and they come to an end in themselves.
Surrender
For many, to surrender means to pause so you can negotiate. It is an acceptance of despair. So rather than dying, they give up and give their life to the control of another.
When it comes to our life with God, many would say they have surrendered themselves to God. I believe what many people mean is that they believe in God and what He says, but they don’t want to give up control. So they give lip service to sweet hymnals like, I Surrender All but never do surrender.
Abandoning Ourselves to God
It really shouldn’t come to a surrender. But if that is what it takes, then so be it. But the idea is one of abandoning ourselves to God. We die to ourselves. This is to say that we no longer question God because our life is His. To say to God, “Well God, what about this?” is a form of negotiating with God for a bit of the control we still want. In this, we do not yet clearly see Jesus in His fullness.
To abandon ourselves is a point we finally get to in our lives where we do not fully or even partially understand, but yet completely trust God. It is obedience at its purest level. Trust, and obey. Side note – blessings are associated with God’s way. Blessings follow obedience.
See Crushing Snakes for more on obedience.
Luke 9:23 AMP
And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross daily [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].
When we abandon ourselves to God, our hearts are prepared for Him to direct our steps. Now we shall go forth and accomplish that which He purposed, and we shall succeed in the thing for which He sent us. We are no longer in control as we have abandoned ourselves to Him. We are finally waving the white flag.
Proverbs 3:5-6 AMP
Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart
And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him,
And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].
To fully commit to God is to totally abandon yourself.
Galatians 2:20 AMP
I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Challenge of the Week
The challenge is always simple. Surrender, give in to God’s way by abandoning your way, your control. Pick that one thing you are striving to get over the top of this week but haven’t been able to do it. Give it to Him and now ask Him what the next steps are for you. Follow His steps and accomplish that which was impossible for you to do while you were in control. Now you are in a position to be a great blessing. So be it.
Additional Scripture:
Romans 12:1-2 ESV
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Mark 8:35 ESV
For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.
Psalm 32:8 ESV
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
