I Surrender to His Power by Sue Schreiner
Day 1:
What Does Surrender to God's Power Look Like?
Our focus for the next 4 weeks will be “surrender”. How would you define this word?
The dictionary defines surrender as: cease resistance to an enemy or opponent. Submit to authority, control or possession of another. Relinquish control. I don’t know about you, but this sounds to me like something I naturally avoid!
The results of a search for the Biblical definition, seems equally challenging but much more rewarding. To whole heartedly relinquish one’s will, desires and life to God’s authority and plan. A courageous act of faith, obedience and humility trusting God’s wisdom which opens the door to the power of His work in your life.
Do any of those definitions match the one that came to mind for you? We live in a
society that is all about maintaining control of your environment, situations, and
circumstances. The thought of surrendering any control is foreign to many people
If you’re like me, there are areas of your life which you strongly desire to maintain control.
In the gospel of Mark we find the account of two people who surrendered to Jesus with a dire need for healing.
READ Mark 5:21-43 slowly. Notice as many details as possible. Imagine yourself in the place of these two characters. Can you feel their dire need, their fears and reactions as this experience unfolded?
Take a closer look at Jairus, a synagogue ruler, who was desperate for help to prevent his little girl from dying. He surrendered to Jesus, humbly falling at His feet, believing Jesus’ touch could save her. He asked for Jesus to heal her and with that request he relinquished control. Would Jesus agree to go with him?
As they were on their way to his house, Jairus witnessed the healing of a woman who
touched the cloak of Jesus. That had to have been a faith builder to watch. However, in the next moment, he was told his daughter was dead and the possibility of healing seemed to dissolve. But Jesus ignored the obvious and said, “Don’t be afraid, just believe.” Jairus’ surrender meant defying his fears and trusting in the power of Jesus even when circumstances seem hopeless. This step of faith opened the door for Jesus to perform the miracle by raising his daughter to life as he watched in astonishment.
Now let’s focus on the woman who’d been bleeding and unclean for 12 years. She’d
exhausted every possibility for healing and on this day, she had a plan. She would
surrender to whatever the power of Jesus would do for her as she humbly touched
His cloak from behind Him so no one would notice. Her surrender, an act of faith itself, led to the release of the power of Jesus in a miraculous healing.
But Jesus didn’t stop there. He called for her to come forward. As she humbly fell at His feet she had no idea what He would do. For 12 years, she had been dealing with this physical issue. This meant no worship in the temple or synagogue. She was cut off from her community and lived a life of isolation. Because of her ailment, anyone who came in contact with her would have been unclean as well.
Now she knelt in surrender at the feet of Jesus. His words of love and acceptance washed over her. “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” The healing she received went beyond the physical. Her identity went from unwanted to daughter, from suffering to freedom, from anxiety in isolation to peace.
For Reflection:
What touched you most in these two experiences of surrender to the power
of Jesus?
Where have you struggled to surrender to Jesus’ power?
What are your fears or the risks of releasing the control you try to hold over these
areas?
Say a prayer asking Jesus to help you come to the place where you can release
your need to control and trust His power and His plan for this area of your life.
Day 2:
Access to God's Power
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Holy Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. (Ephesians 3:14-17a. NIV)
Have you ever wondered how to access God's power? Jesus taught He lives in all who believe in Him by His Spirit. He said to ask, seek and knock and the door to God’s power and love would be open. In these verses from Ephesians, Paul prays for us to be strengthened through His Holy Spirit in your inner being. That power is the same one that raised Jesus from the dead,
But how often do each of us draw on and rely on that power? What did it mean when Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid, just believe”? It meant trusting in Jesus, not on our own terms, but on His. It is not just falling at his feet to get what we want and how we want it, but it is asking in faith, surrendering everything into his hands and His plan. It is trusting that Jesus can do immeasurably more than what we ask or imagine by His power at work in us.
I don’t know if you’re like me, but I’ve found it’s in the hard times God teaches me the big lessons. In yesterday’s devotional we looked at two people who came to Jesus for healing. Often, times when our health or the health of a loved one is in a dangerous place, are the times when we reach out for Jesus and His power just like Jairus and the woman in Mark’s gospel.
About 16 years ago, I had one of the greatest tests of my faith. My 4-year-old grandson, Tyler, was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoblastic lymphoma with masses in his mastoid, his liver and his thymus. I prayed for his healing at every step of the medical process expecting a miracle. The process of full diagnosis and evaluation of findings takes time. With each new test hopes were focused on a simple, treatable answer but it seemed the test results always showed something much more dire. I was praying about each test result trusting that the answer I prayed for would be confirmed. I knew in my head that God was more than able to do what I was asking but my faith was being tested. I finally realized I needed to pray specifically, ask for the need and then release it all to God’s power and wisdom. That was the only way for me to find the place of peace. Over the next two years, we saw victories and setbacks but after all of the treatment we finally celebrated the miracle of a cancer free report.
Tyler is now 20, he is healthy, strong, and serving God as he attends college. I learned so much about prayer and my faith during that time. Through the exuberance of a 4 year old even in his illness, I learned the importance of living in the moment without worrying about the future. Fully trusting God taught me that I need to name and express my fears to Him because they will come. BUT in doing so, in surrender of those fears to Him, He could then renew and deepen my faith.
God does heal and He is faithful. He teaches us about true faith in hard times. I’ve seen Him heal instantly. There are times when healing comes through medical treatment over time. Sometimes the healing comes as the person passed from this world into Jesus' arms. But God’s power is always at work.
As a member of God’s family, you are part of His plan for healing in this broken world. Whether you are the one who needs some kind of healing or someone you love needs it, you can pray. Pray in faith. Pray specifically. Pray consistently. As you do so, surrender to God’s power and trust in His plan.
For Reflection:
What has been your experience with prayer for the sick?
What holds you back from asking for prayer for healing?
Who is God inviting you to pray for faithfully and consistently?
Day 3:
Don't be Afraid, Just Believe
What does surrendering to God’s power mean for you? We all face things that feel way beyond our control. We all face times when we or someone we love needs physical, emotional, mental or spiritual healing. When we come to faith in Jesus, we begin to learn about trusting His power at work in our lives.
Total surrender is not easy. Way too often I’ve spoken to Jesus of a dire need with my prayer nicely wrapped up in how I think He could best glorify Himself in meeting it. Then, he patiently takes my hand and says, I hear the fear behind your need to control this outcome. You can trust me, my cherished daughter. Don’t be afraid, just believe. I will help you through this.
Katy Nichole’s song, In Jesus Name (God of Possible) stems from her personal struggles with severe pain from scoliosis surgery. This led to a 3 year battle with anxiety, depression, hopelessness and suicidal ideation. The song was born from her journal entries during this time, reflecting on when she nearly gave up. Instead she felt a renewed sense of hope through God’s presence and a sense of purpose for her life.
Use the link to the song to listen and quietly focus on the lyrics below. There are two ways to think about these words. You may want to pray to them for your own need or pray them over someone whose need is on your heart. After you’ve finished listening, end your devotional time today with some prayer suggestions below the lyrics.
I speak the name of Jesus over you
In your hurting, in your sorrow I will ask God to move
I speak the name ‘cause it’s all that I can do
In desperation, I’ll seek Heaven and pray for you.
I pray for you healing, that circumstances would change
I pray that the fear inside would flee, in Jesus Name
I pray that a breakthrough would happen today
I pray miracles over your life in Jesus name,
In Jesus name
I speak the name of all authority
Declaring blessing, every promise He is faithful to keep
I speak the name no grave could ever hold
He is greater He is stronger, He’s the God of possible
Come believe it, come receive it
Oh, the power of His Spirit is now forever yours
Come believe it, come receive it
In the mighty name of Jesus, all things are possible.
I pray for you healing, that circumstances would change
I pray that the fear inside would flee, in Jesus Name
I pray that a breakthrough would happen today
I pray miracles over your life in Jesus name,
I pray for revival, for restoration of faith
I pray that the dead will come alive in Jesus name
In Jesus name
Quiet your senses and focus on God’s presence with you right now.
What need for healing or change of circumstances in your life or the life of someone you love is on your heart today? Imagine Jesus sitting in front of you. Talk to Him and name the need specifically. Include the details of your fears or anxiety over the situation. Tell Him how your inability to control it makes you feel. Now open your hands and confess your faith in His power and ability to work in this situation. Surrender all control of the whole thing to Him. Acknowledge His power to do the impossible. Now imagine Him saying the words He spoke to Jairus when everything looked impossible. “DON’T BE AFRAID, JUST BELIEVE” Thank Him for what He will do according to HIs plan. Close by breathing out all of your anxiety and fear and breathe in His peace.