Surrender is far from a widely embraced concept in our culture today. Surrender is the opposite of the independent “I can do it” attitude plaguing modern day society. In whatever capacity you lead in your church, we’re all called to let God lead the way when it comes to His vision and your church’s future. Many times throughout Scripture, God calls His people to lay down their prideful ways of living life and embrace His way, which sometimes seemed counterintuitive to culture. Yet, embracing surrender makes us leaders who can more effectively lead because we no longer rely on ourselves but on God.
But it’s easier said than done. How can we be leaders who effectively surrender? Here are five reasons why surrender is so important in the lives of us as leaders:
A person who regularly surrenders exudes humility
a prideful person selfishly pursues his/her own agenda. But someone who surrenders his own will to God’s will always opens the door for God to work in his life. Pride puffs out the chest; humility softens the heart. God can always use someone surrendered to His will for his life. This paves the way for God to use someone in leadership to further the work of the Kingdom.
Regular surrender reveals God’s agenda
Surrender is the antithesis of control because we are more focused on what God wants to do in our lives than what we want to do to have a better life. When we let go of areas in our lives that are difficult, it makes room for God to speak to our hearts.
Surender allows to adapt to changing circumstances
If this pandemic has taught us anything it is that circumstances can change in an instant. What is our normal one day can become a brand- new normal tomorrow. Perhaps this is why the Bible assures us to not worry during these times: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:24-27). By learning to let go of your own plans and embrace the new normal, it makes it easier to adapt to whatever new circumstances come your way.
A surrendered heart embraces accountability
All leaders need people with sound advice and wise counsel to help them make wise decisions that are in the best interest of all involved. A life surrendered to God will point out those wise people and seek them out and not only accept their advice, but also embrace it.
A surrendered heart increases a person’s faith
Jesus called twelve people to join Him on His journey. Although they were of all different backgrounds, heritages and places in society, He knew they would drop everything in their lives to follow him. Many of them lost many comforts to embrace his new chapter in their lives. As leaders, we will always be asked to sacrifice for the good of those we are leading. When we surrender, our faith increases because we must trust God to lead in our lives. Good leaders let the Lord guide the way; prideful leaders believe they already know the way.
Surrender is never easy. But by increasing our faith, embracing God’s agenda and allowing others to hold us accountable, surrender will not only make us better leaders but also better disciples.
Michelle S. Lazurek is a multi-genre award winning author, speaker, pastor’s wife and mother. She is a regular contributor for ibelieve.com and crosswalk.com and is a literary agent for Wordwise Media Services and a certified writing coach. When not working, she enjoys sipping a Starbucks latte, collecting 80s memorabilia and spending time with her family and her crazy dog, Cookie. For more info, please visit her website www.michellelazurek.com.