May 14: Daily Surrender
Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. Romans 6:6
Many of us will readily admit that the old man doesn’t go down without a fight. Surrendering to Jesus Christ is something that begins anew each day. This is the goal and purpose of a love relationship with Him. Yes, we will stumble whenever we take our focus off of Him, but in a vibrant relationship, we will recognize a failure and promptly give it to Him for forgiveness. He has the power to blot it from the record and to free us from the propensity to repeat the misdeed.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Our tendency to take back control after surrendering to Jesus—and falling flat on our spiritual faces—should teach us that submission and surrender to Him must happen day by day, every day. This is why He says for us to “take up [our] cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). We are to keep ourselves before the Lord in all humility. If we truly believed that the blessings He has for us are far superior than anything we are even capable of dreaming, we would voluntarily put a stop to all debating over whether it’s “necessary” to obey Him in this matter or that matter. Do I believe that He can cleanse me from all unrighteousness? He wants to do it, but I must stop allowing hindrances that block His work in me.
Our archenemy wheedles his way into our thinking by introducing doubt about what Yahweh has said, accomplishing it through the words of others, producing incessant distractions during quiet time with the Lord, or utilizing “chinks in our armor” to whisper directly into our ears. Anything that can weaken our focus becomes a tool for him if we allow it.
Daniel’s prophecy helps us to recognize these interruptions in his description of the workings of the little horn: He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down (Daniel 8:11). Twice more in the following two verses, the word daily* is used. This is a “heads up” for us!
Beloved, let us pray for each other and ourselves that He would grant [each of us], according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in [our] hearts through faith; that [we], being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that [we] may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to His power that works in us. Ephesians 3:16-20
*The word “sacrifices” is added by translators after the word daily in all three instances.