Scriptures: Joshua 1:9, John 14:27, Psalms 94:19, Psalms 56:3, Proverbs 12:25, Psalms 27:1, Psalms 55:22

FEAR 

All my dreams

All my doubts

The fear that fights to drown you out

Take it all to the ocean floor

‘Cause who I was I am no more

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  —Joshua 1:9

Fear is a powerful feeling—the type of feeling that can turn a day on its head immediately, the type of feeling that can stop us from trying certain things. None of us can pretend we don’t deal with anxiety and fear; we all do no matter our social status, how much is in our bank accounts, or what kind of cars we drive. We all deal with fear on a daily basis and it is up to us to rise to meet it or coward from it and let it overpower us. The biggest thing I try to remind myself is fear is just a feeling. Nothing more. 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us that God didn’t give us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and self-control. We have the power to overcome fear and anxiety because of the spirit God gave us. When we can surrender fear, there is more room for peace.

Many times, we run further into the fear instead of speaking what it truly is, a feeling with no place in our lives. It is a great reminder for me when it says in Joshua 1:9 that “the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” God is with us. Not sometimes, all the time. Run to that promise today. I challenge you to highlight, write down, and maybe memorize some verses that can keep reminding you that God is in control and there is no need to fear. You do not walk alone. 

“Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” —John 14:27

“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.” —Psalm 94:19

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” —Psalm 56:3

“An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” —Proverbs 12:25

“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” —Psalm 27:1

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” —Psalm 55:22

Scriptures: Proverbs 4:25, Proverbs 3:6, Psalms 119:37, 1 Corinthians 10:13

DISTRACTION 

All these miles

All the pain

The million times I lost my way

A guilty past I’ve held onto

I lay them down

I run to You

“Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.” —Proverbs 4:25

Distraction… man, oh man… In today’s world, it’s amazing we can get anything done when the world around us is flying a million miles an hour and it’s all begging for our attention. Distractions can hold us back, make us miss deadlines, cause us to forget our goals, or make us lose sight of who we are as people. When that happens, we can start living a life we never planned to live because we forget about what’s truly important. Distraction and focus do not coexist together. We can’t live with both. 

What distracts you? What takes your eyes off the prize? 

Each day, my goals are to focus, execute, and finish. It’s a choice I have to make day by day. 

Step 1 is to FOCUS. Focus on who you are in Christ and who you are called to be by Christ. We are not alone in our distractions. Paul said in Acts 20:22-24, “And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Remember who you are in Christ and do not be moved. Stand strong.

Step 2 is to EXECUTE. It’s easy for me to fall into the trap of feeling like my life would be better if I just gave up and just let the distractions take over. It’s in those moments that I remember that I can’t serve two masters, like it says in Matthew 6:24. I can’t have the life I truly want while giving-in to the distractions around me. In these moments, I “seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33) by saying a prayer or reading one of these bible verses. 

Step 3 is to FINISH. Finish the day strong. Like I said, distractions are all around us and this is the time to get rid of them to really focus on what is truly important—LOVE. Love others and love yourself enough by not wasting the day on the mindless distractions that take away from what’s truly important. We started the day strong, let’s finish the day strong.

“In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” —Proverbs 3:6 

“Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.” —Psalms 119:37 

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” —1 Corinthians 10:13 

Scriptures: Colossians 1:17, Psalms 27:1, Jeremiah 29:11

CONTROL

To break my every chain

And set this captive free

Oh, Jesus, all of me

I surrender

“He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” —Colossians 1:17

Control. As much as we try to control every area of our life, we find that it never really happens, and if we think we do, it’s just an illusion. No matter how happy we wake up and how Instagram-worthy our avocado toast breakfast is, we have zero, zilch, and absolutely no control of how our day will develop. I know that my attitude can turn on a dime when things don’t end up the way I planned. 

Y’all, it’s a simple concept but it can be really hard to execute. The finish line is right there but everyone takes their own time to get there. Remember that Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Yeah…. That verse…it’s simple to remember, but it’s okay if it takes time to surrender the anxiety that comes with not having control.

We try to have control but end up all kinds of mad and throw our day away because things didn’t go our way. (Trying to have control is actually a kind of selfishness, but we’ll talk about that later). Maybe, it’s time to pray for God to teach us to be anxious in nothing and trusting in Him and less about praying for things to work out the way we want. When we push to surrender, we are reminded that God has control, and then we are freed up to live the lives He wants us to live—lives of freedom, trust, and love.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” —Psalms 27:1

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” —Jeremiah 29:11 

Scriptures: John 4:34, 1 Corinthians 13, Philippians 2:3, Mark 12:30-31

SELFISHNESS

I’m not my own

Bought at a price

By the King of kings 

Who gave His life

‘”My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.’” —John 4:34 

 “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” —1 Corinthians 13

This chapter sums up my song “I Surrender”. Fear, distraction, and control can all boil down to a form of selfishness.

No matter how much we don’t want to believe it’s true, we always find ways to look out for ourselves, ol’ me first. What if we really did live a life free of fear, clear of distractions, and out of control in Christ, living to show people love? What if, regardless of social status, race, or background, we ran freely showing love, knowing not everyone was born into the same status, not everyone has the same abilities and not everyone always has a great day, and we truly walked intentionally looking to make someones day better? That’s the world I want to live in. 

Another thing to remember is that selfishness can also take the form of us not seeing our own shortcomings and only focusing on what others do wrong or have done against us. We’re afraid of looking in the mirror and are quick to point fingers because it makes us feel better about our failings. I believe this world would be incredibly different if we quit pointing fingers at others and started pointing the finger at ourselves, constantly pushing ourselves to show love to others and remember that Jesus’ love extends further and wider than our world views usually allow it to. Let’s together try to make the world a better place. We know that it only starts with Jesus, remembering His promise and walking through scripture to help keep us motivated for things that are true and purposeful. But then….it takes action. Us living those things out. So let’s try to do that this year. Surrender those areas of your life that cloud the way we should see people and make room for things in our life that our important like peace, purpose, and love.

Let’s surrender thinking of ourselves first. Let’s surrender the things that cloud the way we see others. When we surrender these things to God, we can make room for love and forgiveness in our lives. 

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” —Philippians 2:3

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” —Mark 12:30-31

Scriptures: Psalms 136:26, Galatians 2:20, Romans 8:28

WRAP-UP

“Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.” —Psalm 136:26 

As we focus on surrendering all of our fear, distraction, control, and selfishness, we all will probably mess up. Remember that none of us are perfect, but in all of our mess-ups and failures, let’s remember His love never changes. I know I beat myself up when I make mistakes, and there are a lot of people living their days feeling hopeless and beat-up, but remember there is no hope outside of Jesus. 

Surrendering fear, distraction, control, and selfishness to God can help us be the change for a better world. We can be a light. 

Let’s surrender the fear that we hold within us to make room for the peace that is only available through God.

Let’s lay aside all the things that fill up our minds and distract us from what matters.

Let’s take our hands off the things we can’t control and trust that Jesus is who He says He is.

Let’s let go of the me, me, me mentality and spread the hope, grace, and love that we are freely given.

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.” —Galatians 2:20 

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” —Romans 8:28

I encourage you to share the image above on your social media with the link to the I Surrender Devotional so that you can share the freedom we can feel when we surrender to God and encourage others to find that same freedom!