February 24th, 2025
by Rose Marie Abraham
by Rose Marie Abraham
The Power of Surrender: When the Lord is at Your Gate
In life, we often find ourselves facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Like the ancient city of Jericho with its imposing walls and fortifications, these challenges can appear unbreakable. But what if the key to overcoming them lies not in our own strength, but in our willingness to surrender?
The story of Joshua and the fall of Jericho offers profound insights into the power of surrendering to God's will. After 430 years of bondage in Egypt and 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites finally stood at the threshold of the Promised Land. However, between them and their destiny stood Jericho - a formidable fortress that seemed impossible to conquer.
God's instructions to Joshua were unconventional, to say the least. For six days, the Israelites were to march silently around the city once each day. On the seventh day, they were to march around seven times, and then, at Joshua's command, give a mighty shout. These weren't typical battle tactics, but they required something far more challenging than military strategy - complete surrender to God's plan.
This account teaches us three crucial lessons about surrender:
1. Surrender requires silencing our own voice
For six days, the Israelites had to march in complete silence. Imagine the taunts and jeers they likely endured from those watching from Jericho's walls. Our natural instinct is to defend ourselves, to have the last word. But true surrender means learning when to be silent, even in the face of mockery or injustice.
In our own lives, how often do we feel compelled to speak out, to justify ourselves, or to control the narrative? Yet, as the book of James reminds us, we should be "quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry." There is profound power in knowing when to hold our tongue and let God fight our battles.
2. Surrender means trusting God's timing
The Israelites had to march for seven days before seeing any results. In our instant-gratification culture, waiting on God's timing can be excruciating. We want immediate solutions, quick fixes to our problems. But God's ways are not our ways, and His timing is perfect.
Consider the story of Rahab, the prostitute who hid the Israelite spies. Her act of faith not only saved her family but placed her in the lineage of Jesus Christ. God's plan for her life was far greater than she could have imagined, but it required patience and trust in His timing.
3. Surrender opens the door to God's power
When the Israelites finally shouted on the seventh day, the walls of Jericho miraculously fell. Their obedience and surrender unleashed God's power in a way that no human effort could have achieved. Similarly, when we surrender our will, our plans, and our desires to God, we tap into His limitless power and constancy.
The constancy of God is a theme worth exploring. Unlike the variables in our lives that constantly shift and change, God remains steadfast. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. When we surrender to Him, we anchor ourselves to this unchanging rock, finding stability in the midst of life's storms.
Surrender doesn't mean passivity; it means actively choosing to trust God even when His ways don't make sense to us. It means being willing to march around our "Jerichos" - whether they be health issues, relationship struggles, or financial difficulties - even when we don't see immediate results.
The ultimate example of surrender is found in Jesus Christ. In the Garden of Gethsemane, facing the agony of the cross, Jesus prayed, "Not my will, but yours be done." His surrender led to the greatest victory in history - the defeat of sin and death.
As we face our own walls of Jericho, we're invited to embrace this same spirit of surrender. It might mean:
- Holding our tongue when we desperately want to defend ourselves
- Continuing to pray and believe even when the situation seems hopeless
- Obeying God's instructions even when they don't align with conventional wisdom
- Letting go of our own plans and trusting in God's greater purpose
The beautiful paradox of surrender is that in giving up control, we gain access to a power far greater than our own. When we come to the end of ourselves, we find the beginning of God's unlimited resources.
So, what are the walls in your life that seem impenetrable? What situations have you been trying to conquer in your own strength? Perhaps it's time to adopt a different strategy - the strategy of surrender.
Remember, surrender is not a one-time event, but a daily choice. Each morning, we have the opportunity to say, "Not my will, but Yours be done." As we do, we position ourselves to experience God's power in remarkable ways.
The Lord stands at the gate of your life, extending an invitation. Will you surrender? Will you trust His plan, even when it doesn't make sense? Will you silence your own voice to hear His?
As you contemplate these questions, consider the words of an old hymn:
"All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live."
May we all find the courage to surrender fully to God, trusting that as we do, even the mightiest walls will fall before His power. For when the Lord is at your gate, surrender is not defeat - it's the pathway to victory.
In life, we often find ourselves facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Like the ancient city of Jericho with its imposing walls and fortifications, these challenges can appear unbreakable. But what if the key to overcoming them lies not in our own strength, but in our willingness to surrender?
The story of Joshua and the fall of Jericho offers profound insights into the power of surrendering to God's will. After 430 years of bondage in Egypt and 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites finally stood at the threshold of the Promised Land. However, between them and their destiny stood Jericho - a formidable fortress that seemed impossible to conquer.
God's instructions to Joshua were unconventional, to say the least. For six days, the Israelites were to march silently around the city once each day. On the seventh day, they were to march around seven times, and then, at Joshua's command, give a mighty shout. These weren't typical battle tactics, but they required something far more challenging than military strategy - complete surrender to God's plan.
This account teaches us three crucial lessons about surrender:
1. Surrender requires silencing our own voice
For six days, the Israelites had to march in complete silence. Imagine the taunts and jeers they likely endured from those watching from Jericho's walls. Our natural instinct is to defend ourselves, to have the last word. But true surrender means learning when to be silent, even in the face of mockery or injustice.
In our own lives, how often do we feel compelled to speak out, to justify ourselves, or to control the narrative? Yet, as the book of James reminds us, we should be "quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry." There is profound power in knowing when to hold our tongue and let God fight our battles.
2. Surrender means trusting God's timing
The Israelites had to march for seven days before seeing any results. In our instant-gratification culture, waiting on God's timing can be excruciating. We want immediate solutions, quick fixes to our problems. But God's ways are not our ways, and His timing is perfect.
Consider the story of Rahab, the prostitute who hid the Israelite spies. Her act of faith not only saved her family but placed her in the lineage of Jesus Christ. God's plan for her life was far greater than she could have imagined, but it required patience and trust in His timing.
3. Surrender opens the door to God's power
When the Israelites finally shouted on the seventh day, the walls of Jericho miraculously fell. Their obedience and surrender unleashed God's power in a way that no human effort could have achieved. Similarly, when we surrender our will, our plans, and our desires to God, we tap into His limitless power and constancy.
The constancy of God is a theme worth exploring. Unlike the variables in our lives that constantly shift and change, God remains steadfast. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. When we surrender to Him, we anchor ourselves to this unchanging rock, finding stability in the midst of life's storms.
Surrender doesn't mean passivity; it means actively choosing to trust God even when His ways don't make sense to us. It means being willing to march around our "Jerichos" - whether they be health issues, relationship struggles, or financial difficulties - even when we don't see immediate results.
The ultimate example of surrender is found in Jesus Christ. In the Garden of Gethsemane, facing the agony of the cross, Jesus prayed, "Not my will, but yours be done." His surrender led to the greatest victory in history - the defeat of sin and death.
As we face our own walls of Jericho, we're invited to embrace this same spirit of surrender. It might mean:
- Holding our tongue when we desperately want to defend ourselves
- Continuing to pray and believe even when the situation seems hopeless
- Obeying God's instructions even when they don't align with conventional wisdom
- Letting go of our own plans and trusting in God's greater purpose
The beautiful paradox of surrender is that in giving up control, we gain access to a power far greater than our own. When we come to the end of ourselves, we find the beginning of God's unlimited resources.
So, what are the walls in your life that seem impenetrable? What situations have you been trying to conquer in your own strength? Perhaps it's time to adopt a different strategy - the strategy of surrender.
Remember, surrender is not a one-time event, but a daily choice. Each morning, we have the opportunity to say, "Not my will, but Yours be done." As we do, we position ourselves to experience God's power in remarkable ways.
The Lord stands at the gate of your life, extending an invitation. Will you surrender? Will you trust His plan, even when it doesn't make sense? Will you silence your own voice to hear His?
As you contemplate these questions, consider the words of an old hymn:
"All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live."
May we all find the courage to surrender fully to God, trusting that as we do, even the mightiest walls will fall before His power. For when the Lord is at your gate, surrender is not defeat - it's the pathway to victory.
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