John 15:13, 15 “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends… I have called you friends…”
Jesus has not asked us to literally die for Him… but He has asked us to lay down our life for Him. This means we give Him our life — the one where we are in control. We surrender our right to ourselves, and He gives us His life in return.
The self is selfish and willful. It does not want to give up control. It is a hard thing to understand and a hard thing to do.
We call it our “free will.” God created the will and set it in our hearts for a purpose — so that we might choose Him freely. He will not force Himself on us. It is our God-given freedom to accept Him or reject Him.
But in another sense, we are not truly free. We are burdened with sin, fear, striving, and worry among other things. Yet the Holy Spirit has come with all the power of God Almighty to set us free. But then why are we not free, we are saved, we have the Spirit of God within us... what is missing?
God saves us, fills us with the Holy Spirit, and then, in effect, calls us to work out our salvation here on earth, surrounded by a world that hinders our ability to do so.
We have been forgiven our sins at salvation. Salvation is complete. But we are still under the power of sin in our life going forward unless we bow our free will in surrender at the point of salvation. This does happen… but I think it is rare.
Jesus lived the example. While Jesus walked this earth His life was the epitome of surrender to God — His Father. His Spirit now dwells within us. He was surrendered, His whole being, His life, His free will, was surrendered to the Father at all times. His Spirit now leads us into surrender. Just as God the Father accomplished His work in His Son through His full surrender... the Holy Spirit of Christ will complete His work in us through our surrender.
We do not realize we need a full surrender of our will and our life at the moment we come to Christ. But surrender is the doorway to a deeper walk with God. Surrender is the walk that frees us from striving, worry, and sin. Surrender is Jesus’ way — and since the Holy Spirit now dwells within us, surrender needs to be our way also.
I had no idea my posture at salvation did not include all that it needed to be. I lived 68 years without surrender in my life because I did not know anything about it. I read it in Chambers' book. That is why I try to explain it in my devotionals. I also thought all the verses following this devotional were just spiritual sayings—almost none of it ever applied to my life... until I surrendered. Now, they all do.
The church does not teach surrender, and there are multitudes of saved souls walking around wondering, "Where is the Lord in my life...?" He is right there with you... but exhibiting the life of Jesus is difficult until we have Him on the throne of our life.
Now that we know about surrender we can choose freedom from sin and the other burdens we carry. The Holy Spirit’s power to lift the yoke of sin from our life rests in the choice we make.
Will you choose to lay your life down for Him? Or will you continue to strive, worry, and sin? The Holy Spirit within you is hindered... because if He is not on the throne of your life, then sin, self, and the willful will are and He will not override the free human will He placed within you. But this is the reason that you have a war going on inside of you — your spirit wrestling with His Spirit all the time.
You must deliberately choose to surrender your own free will. The Holy Spirit will not force transformation on an unwilling heart. The distinct action of your surrender gives Him the freedom He needs to break the power of sin over your life.
Until then you will continue to be a slave to sin, self, the willful will, and the unconscious, harmful patterns in your life. When you refuse surrender, you are, in effect, choosing to remain under the power of sin and carry the burden of your own life.
But... His patience is never-ending. He waited for me to come to the end of myself for 68 years. He is never going to leave you, but He is grieving. He loves you more than you can even imagine.
He is waiting for you to ask Him for help. Waiting for the will to bow, and then He will carry you for the rest of your life.
With a posture of complete submission to Christ and your release of control, you will embrace the choice of freedom in Christ Jesus — and He will not disappoint you.
The Spirit of Christ will set you free and you will be free indeed.
Prayer Lord, I recognize my need for surrender. I lay my life down at the foot of Your throne. My right to myself I give to You. I give You the control of my free will. Lord, please, take Your rightful place on the throne of my life. I yield my all to You, my Savior and my God. In all things, Your will be done. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
Selah, ~ Quil
Scripture References
1. Laying Down Your Life / Surrender
John 15:13–15 — “Greater love has no one than this… I have called you friends.”
Luke 9:23 — “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself…”
Romans 12:1 — Present your bodies as a living sacrifice.
Galatians 2:20 — “I have been crucified with Christ…”
1 John 3:16 — “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us…”
2. The Will, Free Will, and Surrender
Deuteronomy 30:19 — “I have set before you life and death… therefore choose life.”
Joshua 24:15 — “Choose this day whom you will serve.”
Romans 6:16 — You are a slave to whom you obey.
Philippians 2:12–13 — Work out your salvation… for God works in you.
3. The Holy Spirit’s Indwelling and Power
1 Corinthians 6:19 — Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:9–14 — The Spirit empowers us to put sin to death.
2 Corinthians 3:17 — Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Galatians 5:16–18 — Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the flesh.
4. Freedom From Sin
Romans 6:6–7 — We are no longer slaves to sin.
Romans 6:11–14 — Do not let sin reign in your mortal body.
John 8:36 — “If the Son sets you free, you shall be free indeed.”
5. Jesus’ Life of Surrender
John 6:38 — “I came down from heaven not to do My own will…”
Philippians 2:5–8 — He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death.
Mark 9:2–29 — Mount of Transfiguration → valley of need.
6. God’s Grace and His Faithfulness
2 Corinthians 12:9 — “My grace is sufficient for you.”
Psalm 55:22 — Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you.
1 Thessalonians 5:23–24 — He who calls you is faithful; He will do it.
7. The Throne of the Heart / Lordship of Christ
Colossians 3:15 — Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.
Romans 12:2 — Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Matthew 6:24 — No one can serve two masters.
8. God Will Not Force the Will
Revelation 3:20 — “Behold, I stand at the door and knock…”
Isaiah 1:19 — “If you are willing and obedient…”
James 4:7–8 — “Submit yourselves therefore to God…”
9. God Carrying You
Isaiah 46:4 — “I will carry you… I will sustain you… I will rescue you.”
Deuteronomy 1:31 — God carried Israel as a father carries his son.
Psalm 68:19 — He daily bears our burdens.
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