Small Surrenders

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Proverbs 3:5–6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”

What It Is Speaking to Me

I’m reminded of the story of two boys at the breakfast table fighting over the last pancake. Their mom reprimands them, reminding them to do what Jesus would have done. The older boy looks at the younger and says, “I’ll let you be Jesus first.” I think we’re really glad that Jesus was the way He was—we just don’t always want to do what He did.

Surrender is a funny thing because it’s easy to surrender the things we never had control over anyway. It’s not particularly spiritual to surrender world politics, the weather, the stock market, or the coming judgment to God. It may sound spiritual to post about it on social media or pray about it at the prayer meeting, but in reality, you aren't surrendering anything. Because those things aren't yours to begin with.

Surrender is about taking something that is YOURS—under YOUR control, within YOUR power—and giving it up to God. This proverb encourages the surrender of our understanding, our “know better,” and calls us instead to tell God, “You know better.”

“In all your ways acknowledge Him…” The writer didn’t leave any area of life for us to keep to ourselves. Surrender to God is meant to be complete. And blessing follows that surrender—our paths are made straight.

What Is It Saying to You?

Is your surrender complete? Or are there one or two small areas of your life you haven’t given up to Him?

Is your own understanding an idol in your life—or do you truly lean on His?

What Are We Going to Do About It?

Name a specific area of your life you’ve withheld from God (for example, finances or future plans) and verbally surrender it to Him.