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Hope › Devotionals › Surrender
New life in Christ begins when we leave behind the rule of self and allow Jesus to govern our hearts.
One of the deepest truths of the gospel is that following Christ involves a radical transformation of our identity. Paul declares that he was crucified with Christ and that Christ now lives in him, showing that the Christian life does not consist simply of adding spiritual practices to our former way of living. It is a new reality in which our old self, dominated by sin and selfishness, loses control, and Christ begins to occupy the center of our existence. Dying to live in Christ does not mean losing our personality or gifts, but surrendering what separates us from God in order to receive the true life He offers. Many times, we struggle to preserve control, defend our own desires, or build our identity apart from God, but Jesus calls us to a life of surrender. This surrender may appear to be a loss from a human perspective, but it is actually the path to a full life. When Christ governs our hearts, we find a greater purpose, deeper freedom, and a secure identity in Him. The cross not only represents the forgiveness of our sins; it also represents the death of the old life so that new life may be revealed within us.
Identify something from your old self that you need to surrender to Christ today so He may govern your life more fully.
Lord Jesus, thank You because through Your cross You gave me new life. Help me understand that following You means surrendering what draws me away from You and allowing You to be the center of my existence. Remove pride, selfishness, and everything that tries to occupy the place only You deserve from me. Form within me a heart willing to die each day to my own desires in order to live according to Your will. May my life reflect that Christ lives in me and that everything I am belongs to You. Amen.