Total surrender
The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For the word of God will never fail. Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her. Luke 1:35-37
God demands to those that have accepted Jesus in their lives to fully surrender their lives to Him. When you try to restrict God’s working on your life, you will not fully understand the power of God working in you. To not fully commit your life with the things of God will mean missing countless opportunities to be useful in the expansion and growth of His Kingdom. From the text, Mary wholly surrendered to God’s plan for her life. When your actions demonstrate refusal to follow God inspite of your claim that He is the Lord of your life, He is not the one that controls your life. Jesus prayed and said, “not my will but your will be done” (Matthew 26:39). If He is the Lord of your life, you have to follow even if He leads you where you do not want to go. In your prayers, you have to stop bargaining with God by telling Him that you will follow once your prayer is answered the way you want it answered. You were saved by His shed blood on the cross so you could become a part of His Kingdom. You were helpless and had no power to save yourself, therefore you do not have a basis to negotiate with God. Obedience to Him should be wholehearted. Absolute surrender means you gave up the right in your life; relinquished your preferences to His leading and allowed Him to determine the course of your life. Jesus promised that once you let Him lead your life, you will experience His blessing, grow in deep fellowship with Him, and enjoy the blessing of being of service for His glory. “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it” (Matthew 10:39). Is your life in total surrender to the hands of Your Master?
Blessings.
