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From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Q: What does it mean to surrender completely to God? – C.S.

A: We begin to surrender to God when we first accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The word Lord means just that – “Master.” Many people think they could never surrender their will – but it happens all the time. Many who give in to temptation surrender to worldly passions.

It’s a grave mistake to think that we can receive Christ’s offer of forgiveness and then go out to live our lives as we please. God has a claim on us and we must trust Him to direct us in how we should live – this is the importance of reading and obeying His Word. He shows us how to live life pleasing to Him.

We should never fear to give God complete control over our lives. He loves us more than we love ourselves, and He will only allow what is best for us. When we surrender our all to God, we find that we live with a new confidence and have a new strength of purpose. We can hold nothing back from God. He must control and dominate us wholly. It is a surrender without conditions attached. It is a definite and conscious act on our part in obedience to the Word of God. There is not one verse of Scripture that indicates we can be Christians and live any kind of life we want. When Christ enters into the human heart, He gives us strength to obediently surrender to His Love and Lordship.

The great hymn “I Surrender All” isn’t used much anymore in church, but it should be. The Holy Spirit empowers God’s Word, and the words of the great hymns of the church speak to the human heart, convicting souls and tenderizing hearts. “I am not ashamed of the Gospel … for it is God’s power working unto salvation … to everyone who believes with a personal trust and a confident surrender” (Romans 1:16, AMPC).

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)

©2024 Billy Graham Literary Trust. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

(c)2024 BILLY GRAHAM DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.