I Surrender All

We weren’t sure we would make it to church a few Sundays ago after 4 days of flooding on Oceans Ministries campus. How thankful we were for a break in the rain which allowed us to encounter the Father’s voice during the worship time in Masiphumelele. The song right before the message was the old hymn, “I Surrender All.” As Sunny, the worship leader, repeated the refrain several times these powerful words from Scripture (see Lk. 9:23-25) rocked my heart:

I surrender all, I surrender all: All to Thee, my blessed Savior. I surrender all.

A few night earlier I was having a conversation with the Father about the flooding on campus. It always seems to happen in the middle of the night when all seems the darkest. There was no one else to help as the school was on break and Delgun who oversees our facilities was on a much needed family vacation.

As the sewage water was seeping into one of the buildings, the rains intensified, and I couldn’t find an adapter for the pumps. Without a doubt I was having one of those “why me” moments.  A few hours later I was upset about my pity party and strong emotions.  I knew others living in shacks were having their homes washed away.  I also knew other things were churning in life and the flood was a tipping point. And then the word “control” popped into my head. Deep down I was upset because I couldn’t stop the rain, the flooding, poverty and so many other things in life. Once again I was reminded that: I was not in control and I am not God.

In the wee hours of the morning I felt the Spirit say “Surrender,  you are not Sovereign, but I am!”  The first verse of the song says it best:

All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give:  I will ever love and trust Him,

In His presence daily live.

At the heart of surrender is “love and trust” in a Father who is in control of my life-even when it doesn’t make sense and even when things don’t seem right. The way I show my love is to trust Him even in the midst of life’s storms. He will use it and in some way work it out for good. This battle for control began along time ago in Garden of Eden in the hearts of Adam, Eve and their children, and now us. When we try to take matters into our own hands things seem to get worse. However, when we learn to daily surrender and live in the Father’s loving presence there is freedom.

As the song was revetting through the church it was a powerful reminder of my need to daily surrender this truth and apply to my life. Yes Lord, today “I surrender all” to my loving Sovereign Savior.  What happened next was quite out of the ordinary, as right after the song, the person who was to preach that Sunday stood up and said, “I feel Pastor Tim has a message for us today.”  As I slowly walked up to the podium, I knew I was in need of help. I sensed the Spirit in my heart say, “Don’t worry just surrender!”  I thanked Him for this answered prayer, and sighed deeply as His peace overcame me and spoke through me. It was truly His words not mine that were shared that morning.

Let these verses be a prayer which you cling to whenever challenges, storms, and uncertainties arise in your life :

All to Jesus I surrender, Humbly at His feet I bow;

Worldly pleasures all forsaken, Take me, Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus I surrender, Make me Savior, wholly Thine;

Let me feel the Holy Spirit, Truly now that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus I surrender, Lord, I give myself to Thee;

Fill me with Thy love and power, Let Thy blessings fall on me.

All to Jesus I surrender, Now I feel the sacred flame;

Oh the joy of full salvation! Glory, Glory to His Name!