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I don’t know about you, but whenever I hear someone talk about surrendering to God, I can’t help but wonder… but how? How do you go about living a life of surrender to God? Is it as simple as praying or reading the Bible more? And what does surrendering look like?
First things first, it often helps me to reword the phrase “surrendering to God” to “trusting in God.” That’s one way to look at surrendering to God and it’s always a little easier for me to wrap my head around! If you think about it, trust is the key to any strong relationship. And your relationship with God is just that—a relationship. So when we talk about living a life of surrender to God, we’re often talking about learning to trust in His plans over our own and lean on Him in every situation life throws our way.
As with all important relationships in your life, trust can take time to deepen and grow. And there are certain things you can do to ensure that your relationship has trust at the foundation. With that goal in mind, let’s dive into some ways to build that trust and deepen your relationship with God.
“Let Go and Let God”
This is a popular saying for a good reason! It perfectly captures exactly what surrendering to God looks like. When you’re going through a hard time, the hope is that you stop trying to control the situation and instead trust that God is in control, even if it really, really, really doesn’t seem that way. But how do you actually let go and let God? The first step? Ask God for help! Let Him know you’re struggling with how to surrender and need a little guidance. Then look to the Bible for example after example of people who surrendered or struggled to surrender. The Book of Psalms is a great place to start!
Remember Times God’s Had Your Back
When you’re in the midst of a tough situation, it can be difficult to trust that things will be okay. Especially since God’s plans are mysterious and not always revealed right away. So the next time you’re going through something, remind yourself of the many times God has been with you, through thick and thin. Keep a mental or physical list. And pull it out whenever you need a little reassurance.
Imagine Handing Over Your Cares
The next time you find yourself struggling to trust God, try meditating on one of the most comforting verses ever—Philippians 4:6: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Then picture giving your cares, fears, and worries to God, i.e. surrendering them over to Him. Get creative in how you visualize this. You can imagine handing over your cares to God and marveling at how small your worries look in His hands. Or picture packing up your fears in a shipping container or a parachute and sending them straight to God. Use whatever visualization works for you!
Spend Quality Time with God
When you meet a new friend, you get to know them by spending time with them. The more quality time you spend together, the more the friendship blossoms and grows—and the more your trust deepens. It’s the same way with God. He’s always trustworthy but, of course, it takes us time to be vulnerable and surrender. Spending time with God is one surefire way to deepen your trust and relationship with Him.
If you’re at a loss for how to spend time with the Creator of the universe, ask yourself: “Where do I feel closest to God?” Once you have a few places in mind, go to those places for some one-on-one time with God, i.e. away from the distractions of our busy world. It’s in these places that you’re often better able to hear God’s voice and really open up to Him.
Bible Verses About Surrendering and Trusting God
Of course, praying and reading the Bible are great ways to get closer to God and learn how to lean on Him. After all, the Bible is full of stories and testimonies that show just how trustworthy God is. The next time you sit down to pray or informally chat with God, try meditating on one of these verses about surrendering and deepening your relationship with Him.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” —Proverbs 3:5-6
“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.” —Psalm 63:1
“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” —1 Chronicles 16:11
“Come near to God and he will come near to you.” —James 4:8
“The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.” —Psalm 121:5-6
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” — Deuteronomy 6:5
Now listen to a short segment of this Abide meditation based on Colossians 1:9-10. Let God speak to your heart about growing closer to Him.
Let Abide help you in your journey to live a life of surrender to God. Our guided meditations, daily devotionals, and Bible-based sleep stories all exist to help you grow closer to God. Use this link for 25% off.
Diana Aydin is a writer and editor based in New York.
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