Surrender is not a word synonymous with holding back.  You cannot surrender yet remain in control of anything.  Yes you can maintain a rebellious heart but the entire idea behind surrender is that you are “giving up” control to a greater authority.  This is done with the intention of following that party’s rule unless of course their is deceptive intent.  With Christianity, surrender is typically done voluntarily as each believer embraces faith that the Lord God is the Rightful Ruler of each heart, life and spirit.  Surrender in this instance may still come with some discomfort as the believer learns to “let go” of control, trusting ever more the Lord to lead their lives.  However, in some instances believers refuse to write their faith upon their hearts and instead determine to keep it in the “things I intend to do” category.  This provides instantaneous and lasting conflict within the life of the unrepentant/unrelenting believer.

As with many philosophical positions there are usually strong “tells” indicating a certain adherence to a particular frame of thinking.  In the instance of the un-surrendered believer the evidence is equally clear.  First there is always the unrepentant sin, that thing that the new believer refuses to let go of, choosing to disobediently allow sin into a life which has been washed clean by the Blood of Christ.  The other tell is more subtle and that is the presence of the word “but” injected in the middle of an “if then” statement.  For example; I know that I shouldn’t be going to the bars and drinking but I don’t think that the Lord would want me to be unhappy or I would like to conquer that obstacle in my life, but I am too weak, too dumb and too poor to concentrate on that right now.  These statements are clear evidence of the accuser’s insistent authority in the life of the new believer or a refusal to trust the Lord.  Although he is powerful, the Lord Jesus rebuke him, the enemy has been stripped of all authority in the life of every believer and simply maintains this position of influence out of voluntary capitulation on the part of each believer.

“All things are possible to him who believes”, “All things are possible through Christ who strengthens me”.  These statements are paraphrased from scripture but they clearly indicate an undeniable truth for each and every believer, the fact that nothing is impossible through belief in Christ.  To not accept this as truth carries with it one of three states of thinking; either the Lord God has lied as He clearly states that for the believer there is nothing impossible, or that the new/hardened hearted believer refuses to surrender to God’s absolute truth due to weak/immature faith, or the person is not a believer and chooses the enemy’s deception as truth.  Which is it?

I know that you want to believe, ask the Lord to help with your unbelief, so that you may stop the vacillation and start to overcome.  “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of the Lord”, another paraphrased passage from scripture but it is also decidedly true.  I say decidedly because once you make the decision that your faith will only be increased by hearing the Word of God then you must put it in your ear as often as possible.  This is where “getting the but out” of your statements becomes extremely important, because the enemy will go all out to stop you from hearing the Word.

So the next time when you have the opportunity to either listen to the Word of God or do something else, I pray for you that the statement after the conjunctive, “but” never makes it out of your mouth.  Choose life, choose faith, choose the Word of God and prayer continuously and rob the enemy of any and all influence in your life and lives of your Family.  Let us be the spiritual leaders which God intended.  Great day in Christ, Praise the Father in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ the Son.  Amen.