Surrender is the first essential step in inviting God’s presence and action into our lives. To help in this process, we meditate on the reality of how much God loves us. God wants so much for us to believe in Him, to know Him as a child knows his or her mother and father.
Faith in this loving God leads to wonderful things.
“But without faith it is impossible to please him, for anyone who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
Total and Complete Surrender
What is the key to experiencing this faith that “passes all understanding?” It is total and complete surrender. God desires all of us: our hearts, dreams, worries—everything!
When I was 28 years old, I was a District Sales Manager for a pharmaceutical company. A sales representative in the company was Catholic, but was very much in the world. One day, he appeared at work wearing a Holy Spirit pin on his suit.
I looked at him and said, “What is this? Catholics don’t wear Holy Spirit pins!”
He replied, “I found Jesus.”
I looked at him in shock and replied, “You go to Mass every week, receive the Eucharist and listen to the readings; how can you say you just found Jesus?”
He said, “I never knew Him, His love or forgiveness.”
I came home from work thinking about what he said. Did I truly know Jesus? If you followed me around all week could you convict me of being devoted to God? Devoted in what I said? Devoted in what I did? Devoted in my actions, thoughts and words? I was active in my parish. I taught religious education, worked with the poor and attended Mass every week. Yet, something was missing. My friend had a conviction I did not have. He had a joy that I did not have.
That day, I made a decision. I would give my heart and soul to Jesus. I looked at myself in my bedroom mirror and I said, “Jesus, take over my life, completely and totally.”
And I meant it!
At that point, everything changed. I went into my living room and saw a big, thick, dusty book that contained text and beautiful pictures. What was it? A Bible, of course, sitting there, looking as if I actually read it. The reality is I had rarely, if ever, opened this holy book!
I began reading the Bible, and the words leapt off the pages. It was a love letter to me! A love letter that told me I was forgiven. I was a child of God. I was not condemned, and nothing would separate me from the love of Christ. Wow! Why hadn’t I known this before then?
I couldn’t stop reading the Bible. Memorizing it. Quoting it. I spent an average of eight hours a day examining, pondering and praying over the words, messages and wisdom of the Bible.
I started quoting Scripture to everyone I encountered. I started with my family and friends. They thought I was nuts! I realize now this awakening of mind and heart is what we call the “Baptism of the Holy Spirit.” A Baptism of fire! Of love! Of joy! Of zeal!
I remember my mother’s response. “Catholics,” she said, “don’t quote Scripture!” Then, she couldn’t handle it anymore. “I know you have joined a cult,” she said to me. “Come clean and tell me!” I thought she was then going to ask me to describe the color of the Kool-Aid I drank!
My mother decided that a solution to this sudden unusual behavior of mine was for me to visit a family relative who was a priest. When I met with him, he asked a lot of questions and finally decided I was probably okay, but that I should read books on the saints.
However, something deeply profound had changed within me when I surrendered my complete being to God. The fire of the Holy Spirit was enkindled and began to blaze. And the zeal I have for the Lord and Scripture has only increased over time! Perhaps I am more tactful in expressing my faith, but the desire remains aflame.
When we surrender to the Lord, everything changes. We begin building the foundation of an abundant life and a life of miracles. Jesus fervently wants us to live this abundant life, to trust Him and to embrace His passionate love for us. In John’s Gospel, He tells us, “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
We were created and designed to give our hearts to Jesus! We do that by totally surrendering to Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit! Let us lift up our hands to our Heavenly Father with this prayer of surrender.
We pray: “Heavenly Father, I surrender my life to you, I surrender my soul to you. I surrender my dreams to you. Use me in any way you want. I love you. In Jesus’ name. Amen!”
Ask for Faith
Faith is a gift from our loving God; we don’t earn it. We desire and request faith. Paul’s letter to the Hebrews explains the importance of faith.
“But without faith it is impossible to please him, for anyone who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
We must ask for the power of faith. When we ask for an increase of faith with a pure and sincere heart, we can expect to receive it. All I want is to be a vessel for Jesus, but I need faith to step out to make a difference. The Gospel of Mark teaches us about faith.
“Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24)
We will receive it! Often people wonder why all their prayers are not answered. The First Letter of John explains why.
“And we have this confidence in him, that if we ask anything, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, we know that what we have asked him for is ours.” (1 John 5:14-15)
We must ask in His will. So how does that work? We know God always hears prayer—100 percent of the time. We also know something else: good things and blessings will occur when we pray. Every time we pray!
With a pure heart, we can ask for an increase of faith and expect to get it. If we pray over someone in fervent belief, healing does take place. However, the type of healing may be different than what we have asked. It might be spiritual, emotional or physical healing. When we pray, God answers by “Yes” or “No” (meaning something better is in store!). Often the answer is “Not Yet”— there will be some time before our request is fulfilled—all according to God’s time and will.
Something good will always happen when we surrender to God and trust in the gift of faith!