7 Scriptures on Surrender

Every summer at the local pool, small kids jump gleefully towards the water yelling, “Daddy, catch me!” These children aren’t worrying about the potential consequences or wondering if their parent is really all that trustworthy. They just want to experience the freedom and joy that is available when they can fully depend on their loving father.

Likewise, God calls us, His precious children, to fully surrender to Him. Not because He is interested in controlling our lives or ruining our fun. Quite the opposite. Jesus came so that we could have life to the full (John 10:10).

Throughout Scripture, we are called to surrender our hearts and minds to God. This daily act of obedience isn’t rooted in outward performance to gain the Father’s favor. It is an inward heart change that can give us peace in our circumstances and hope for the future.

Here are seven Bible verses to guide you as you work on the practice of surrendering to Christ:

Surrender Your Reputation

But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith. Philippians 3:7–9 (CSB)

Surrender Your Burdens

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (CSB)

Surrender Your Aspirations

Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it. Luke 9:23-24 (CSB)

Surrender Your Priorities

The one who loves a father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; the one who loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matthew 10:37 (CSB)

Surrender Your Plans

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34 (CSB)

Surrender Your Body

Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (CSB)

Surrender Your Worldly Identity

I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 (CSB)

Surrendering can be hard. Let us come alongside you. 

Surrendering at its core is yielding our power to another. This can feel scary at first. But as we learn to yield our desire for control, we will gain access to God’s strength.

To help with your journey, download our new Introduction to Spiritual Practices resource.