What does it mean to surrender to God?

TL;DR:

A life surrendered to God means prioritizing the Lord, rather than our own desires. A surrendered life is one opposed to the values of the world and committed to the Lord.

The Bible teaches that becoming God’s children means living our lives for the Lord, rather than for the world. Old Testament figures, such as Joshua and the Israelites (Joshua 24:15), as well as New Testament saints, chose surrender to God over surrender to the world (Matthew 16:24–25; Romans 12:1; Galatians 2:20). Genesis shows this world was given over to the devil at the fall of mankind (Genesis 3:17–19). That made Satan the "god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4) and caused all people to be born under the power of sin because of Adam's sin (Romans 5:12). But Christ overcame the power of the world (John 16:33). Those who place their trust in Him receive the Holy Spirit, who provides the strength to surrender our lives to Him (Acts 1:8; 2 Timothy 1:7). The Bible explains that until Jesus returns and takes His rightful place as the final authority and ruler over all, we must surrender our minds, wills, and actions to Him (Romans 8:20–22; 12:1–2). Scripture demonstrates that the first stage of surrender is accepting Christ as Savior (Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9). When we choose to submit to the lordship of Jesus Christ, we become God's children (John 1:12; 2 Corinthians 5:21). We are new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). A surrendered life is one in which the believer lives for Christ, rather than for self.

from the old testament

Joshua 24:15 lays out the choice the Israelites had after conquering the Promised Land: “And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” The Israelites had a choice then, just as we do now: Surrender to the god of this world (Satan) or to the true Almighty God.

from the new testament

The first stage of surrender is submitting to the new life we have in Christ, as described in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
Jesus surrendered His life for ours, so we should surrender our lives for Him, as Paul speaks of in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Ephesians 4:22–24 also speaks of the “new self” we have when we surrender to God: “to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Surrendering our lives to God means committing to live as God’s children, not holding onto worldly desires.

implications for today

Although surrendering is often considered to be defeat to many people, to Christians, surrendering to Christ is the ultimate victory. It’s the triumph over sin and death. It’s the opportunity to have what the world can never give us: a new life, one that is purpose-driven and meaningful. But what does surrender to Christ mean, practically? In a battle, surrender means living according to the terms set by the victor. Laying down our arms in the battle between our worldly life and our life in Christ means agreeing to the terms the Lord has laid out in His Word. For instance, the world tells us to devote our time to pursuing a lucrative career, but Christ tells us to lay up treasures in heaven by seeking first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:19–21). The world tells us to “do what feels good,” but a life in Christ may mean doing what’s uncomfortable for the sake of the Kingdom (Luke 9:23; 2 Timothy 3:12)—maybe telling your neighbor about Christ at the risk of him thinking you’re “weird.” Those who lead a life surrendered to Christ put Christ first. A surrendered life is one in which the believer lives for Christ, rather than for self.

understand

Surrendering to God means choosing His will over worldly desires.
Accepting Christ as Savior is the first step in surrender.
A surrendered life prioritizes God's Kingdom and living according to His Word.

reflect

What are some areas in your life where you struggle to surrender to God's will, and how can you submit those to Him?
How does considering surrender to God a victory, not defeat, challenge your current perspective on faith?
What does it mean for you personally to live for Christ, rather than for yourself in your daily choices?

engage

How do we practically choose God’s will over worldly desires in the context of modern life?
How can we encourage others to surrender to God’s authority when they might resist it?
How do we distinguish between worldly desires and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our decision-making?