But God

Praise God for His sanctifying work in our lives. He doesn’t leave us in our wretched state. On our own, without the blood of Christ covering us, we are hopeless, and we do not stand a chance in our flesh. But God! He loves us so much that He didn’t want to leave us in that state. Even after He saved us, He didn’t leave us alone and on our own to fight against our flesh. Praise You, Lord, for that grace. Our verse for the day in Joshua tells us simply that the land was at rest from the war. Breathe a huge sigh of relief! Doesn’t that just sound refreshing—to be at rest from the war? But guess what? We too, in spite of the flesh versus the spirit, can have rest, even in the midst of it all. Are you asking how? We just read about the constant struggle between what we want to do and don’t want to do, yet we do it anyway. What is the answer to rest from war in our lives? Surrender! Surrendering is waving the white flag — an agreement to cease fighting. Surrendering is submitting. We surrender ourselves to Christ — we lay aside all that is us that is in us, and we give to Christ to complete the work He so desires within us and through us.

What does surrender look like in the life of a believer? I am so glad you asked! So many times, as Christians, we “know” what we are supposed to do, but we don’t really know what that actually looks like when lived out. We will see what scripture says about surrendering ourselves and experiencing rest in our lands from war.

Read Romans 12:1.

What are we instructed to do here with our bodies?

How would you describe a living sacrifice?

Read Galatians 2:20, and write it here:

Who was crucified with Christ?

Who now lives in us?

How do we live, then?

Read Philippians 2:5–8.

What did Christ make Himself as?

What two things did He do, according to Philippians 2:8?

Now look back at Philippians 2:5, and write how verses 6 through 8 should affect us.

Read Philippians 2:5–8.

Do you see the connections here, my friend? We are to completely die to ourselves— we have been crucified with Christ. He was raised back to life, but we can remain dead to sin and live for Christ. We make a choice to daily surrender ourselves to Jesus and choose to live how He wants us to live. We should adopt the same attitude as Christ, who so completely humbled Himself that He was obedient to die on that same cross. May we humble ourselves daily to walk in obedience and total surrender to Him. This death to ourselves ultimately offers us the most satisfying, most fulfilling life we can live. Surrender provides us with much-needed rest.

Matthew 16:24–25 says this: “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.’” Denying ourselves. Dying to ourselves. Losing our lives. All of these concepts are completely backwards to the way our culture and society and our sin nature operate. But God. He desires so much more for us than we can even begin to wrap our minds around. His way offers us peace, rest, and freedom.

What do you need to surrender today? I encourage you to take Jesus at His Word. Tell Him today what you need to surrender, ask Him for the courage to do so, and trust Him to be worth it. Close today by writing that prayer to Him. trust Him to be worth it. Close today by writing that prayer to Him. Tell Him today what you need to surrender, ask Him for the courage to do so, and trust Him to be worth it. Close today by writing that prayer to Him.