I was listening to a podcast the other day and heard this interesting quote from Cliff Barrows, former music director for Billy Graham. He said, “There is a difference between commitment and surrender. With commitment, we still have control. With surrender, God has control.”
How many of us as Christians or pastors have ‘committed’ our lives to Christ, but have not yet surrendered it? It can become so easy to commit and promise to follow God’s will without ever giving Him control. The problem with surrender is it’s scary. Have you ever been on a roller coaster and just as it tops that steep hill toward it’s quick drop you almost lose your lunch? It’s scary – you’ve surrendered your personal safety to that ride. It’s frightening when we don’t have control.
In Luke 9:24, Jesus says, “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.” He’s basically saying surrender isn’t an option – it is a basic aspect of being a follower of Christ.
Are there areas in your life or ministry you’ve committed to follow God but haven’t yet surrendered? What deeper steps of surrender is He calling you to today? Remember the extent of your surrender will determine the extent of your impact.
Nick Poole 
This blog is really good.
For me, I surrender. In my life I never know what’s going to happen in the next minute. At a certain point in time I have admitted that my life really isn’t my own. If you look at my past, that is evident.
Just had a vision: Remember riding in the back seat of your parents car? You were too short and never knew where you were going? Same principle applies. but, in this case, the Lord is driving.
I trust in Him completely, and I know things work out for the good of those who love Him
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