“Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy, and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.”           
Romans 12:1 

    
        When we think of the word surrender we most often think of giving up something - letting it go, releasing it, or  laying it down.  It makes sense then that when we think of surrendering to God, we think of giving up our addictions, laying down our sense of entitlement, or releasing our need to be in control.

        It is interesting that the Holy Spirit prompted Paul to use the word offer or present to communicate this concept of surrender in Romans 12:1.  He doesn’t say to give up your bodies or release your bodies but present your bodies.  The difference is the direction of the surrender.  In presenting my body to God, I am not just releasing addictions, flesh patterns, selfishness and control, I am giving them over to Him.  I am releasing them to Someone who can do something about them!

         If I am sitting at a table full of people, struggling to get the lid off of the pickle jar, I am not going to pass the jar to a three year old.  I am going to surrender it (and my pride) to someone who has the power to deal with the problem.  Choose Surrender!

Truth:  God can easily handle anything I surrender to Him.

Choice:  Today I choose life by …