Begin with Surrender
Week 1: Position Yourself Under God
“Submit yourselves, then, to God.”
— James 4:7a
I didn’t expect surrender to feel like a fight.
Not a fight against God—but a fight against myself.
Against my pride.
Against the illusion that I had things under control.
Against the parts of me that still wanted to be strong, in charge, and right.
But that’s how it goes, doesn’t it?
Surrender isn’t always about falling on your knees in a dramatic moment—it’s often that quiet tug in the middle of the day when you realize,
I’m holding something God already asked me to lay down.
And that’s where James starts:
“Submit yourselves, then, to God…”
He doesn’t say fix yourself.
He doesn’t say go do something big.
He says submit. Yield. Lay it down.
☕ Let’s Talk About Control
This part hit me deeply. Because if I’m being honest, I’ve followed God while still keeping one hand on the wheel more times than I can count.
I’d pray, “Lord, have Your way,” while still crafting backup plans in my head.
I’d say, “I trust You,” but only if things moved on my timeline.
And I’d sing about surrender on Sunday while clinging to my expectations by Monday.
Have you been there?
Submission feels unnatural when we’ve been taught to push, to plan, to perform. But James is calling us into something better than self-sufficiency. He’s inviting us into peace. Into alignment. Into freedom that only happens when you stop trying to be your own rescue plan.
📖 What Does It Really Mean to Submit to God?
Submission isn’t about defeat—it’s about placement.
It’s choosing to place yourself under God’s authority, protection, and wisdom. Not because He forces you to, but because you trust Him more than you trust yourself.
And trust? That doesn’t come from trying harder.
It comes from knowing His heart.
God doesn’t ask you to submit so He can control you.
He asks you to submit so He can carry you.
He’s not demanding obedience to make you small.
He’s calling you to let go so He can show you how big His love really is.
💛 If You’re Struggling with This…
You're not alone.
Even Jesus, in the garden, asked for another way.
He sweat blood. He wept.
But His surrender unlocked the greatest rescue in history.
“Not my will, but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)
So if it’s hard—if you’re wrestling—take a deep breath.
God’s not waiting for you to get it all right.
He’s waiting for you to turn toward Him.
This is where it starts.
🪞 Reflect:
What’s one area where I keep grabbing the wheel?
Is there something I’m saying I’ve surrendered, but deep down I haven’t?
How might God be inviting me to trust Him more deeply today?
🙏 Prayer:
Lord, I’ve been carrying so much—and I’m tired.
I’ve been trying to control what You never asked me to fix.
Teach me what it really means to submit.
Not just in theory, but in my thoughts, my plans, my relationships, my responses.
You’re not a backup plan.
You are my God.
I want to begin this walk back to You with open hands and a willing heart.
Amen.