Surrendering to God requires a profound shift in our approach to life, a turning away from the drives of human nature toward a childlike humility. This transformation is not merely a passive state but an active choice to love God intimately with all our heart, mind, and soul. We must prioritize Him above all else, allowing this love to drive us to become childlike in our openness, sincerity, and vulnerability—qualities that reflect the nature of the Kingdom of God. This surrender involves denying the self, sacrificing our ego and desires for self-glorification. It means taking up our cross daily, choosing to please Jesus Christ regardless of others' opinions or mockery, and continuing in obedience to His Word. Such a choice often demands a cost, as it places us in conflict with our indwelling nature, yet it frees us to submit to God's way of life. Furthermore, surrendering to God means refusing to conform to the standards of this world, which often oppose His principles. Instead, we are to dedicate our conduct to glorifying Him, passing every decision through the judgment of whether it honors God. This is not driven by terror but by a positive desire to bring praise to Him, representing what He approves of in all that we do. The path to true freedom in God lies in continuing in His truth, loving Him above all, denying ourselves, rejecting worldly conformity, and living for His glory. These steps guide us to remain in His Word, ensuring that the truth is confirmed in us through a life surrendered to Him.

Surrendering to God requires us to relinquish our natural inclination to lead and instead allow Him to direct our lives without constant interference or complaint. It is only when we cede sovereignty to the Almighty, who holds it inherently, that matters begin to move positively and work out far better than anything achievable with our limited vision. The carnal mind, as described, is not subject to the rule of God, encompassing more than mere obedience to written laws but a deeper yielding to His governance over the universe and our lives. The story of Jonah illustrates a man who complies with God's commands but never truly surrenders to His will, showing reluctance and despair when outcomes differ from his expectations. In stark contrast, Jesus Christ exemplifies complete surrender, always seeking the Father's will over His own, even in the face of immense personal sacrifice, declaring, "Not My will, but Yours, be done." This supreme surrender opened the way for the restoration of the relationship between God and humanity. Ultimately, surrendering to God is the crucial first step, often the hardest, on a journey where yielding control signals our readiness for Him to act. The church, as the Body of Christ, consists of those who are subject to His rule in all its implications, continually declaring, "Father, I surrender. Not my will, but Yours, be done."

A Christian's life embodies both self-surrender and self-development, a balance that allows us to reach our true human potential only when we relinquish self-will for something greater, spiritual, and eternal. From the earliest times, humanity has been called to surrender, as seen in the perfect obedience expected of Adam and Eve to God, and in Abraham's willingness to abandon all for a land unknown at God's call, even surrendering his cherished hopes in his son Isaac. Moses, too, surrenders himself at God's command, undertaking the deliverance of his people with a readiness to be blotted out of God's Book of Life for their sake. Israel, set apart as a holy nation, expresses surrender to God through the Levitical system of sacrifice, where the whole burnt offering signifies complete surrender of the worshipper, and laws regarding the firstborn and priestly consecration reinforce this fundamental principle. Throughout history, the faithful, such as Nehemiah, who surrenders his position to aid the returned exiles, and Esther, who risks her life for her people, exemplify this spirit of giving oneself for God's purposes. The early disciples, sharing all possessions, and Paul, joyfully surrendering himself to unknown dangers for God's use, further demonstrate this commitment. Ultimately, self-surrender requires dying with Christ, crucifying the old self so that a new self may live, no longer for personal gain but for Christ Who lives within. This living sacrifice means daily death to self, extending to surrendering for neighbors' welfare and submitting to authority for God's sake. Christ's teaching and example underscore that self-surrender is essential to discipleship, demanding that one love father, mother, and even one's own life less than God. Jesus Himself practices this surrender, subjecting Himself to His parents as a child, doing the Father's will throughout a life of privation, and ultimately surrendering His spirit to the Father with His dying breath, obedient even to death. This surrender, far from diminishing personality, opens the way to true potential, with the reward of eternal life and joy in God's Kingdom.