In Full: Pursue LifeSample

Surrender Your Heart

Ready: “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”  -- Romans 10:9 (NLT)

Set: In competition, we’re taught not to surrender. We play with everything we have, refusing to give up one inch on the field or one point to the opposing team. It’s all or nothing, and we refuse to give in. 

That’s the power and thrill of play. We’re fierce with our convictions and play with a deep sense of loyalty to our team and what it represents. Surrender is unyielding, but what about when it comes to our faith? Sometimes, giving in is the greatest decision we can make. It’s time to surrender.

Surrender to Jesus

Jesus surrendered to the Father’s will as He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. Knowing what was before Him, Jesus willingly laid down His life. We in turn surrender to Jesus as our Savior, fully God and fully man, who cleared a path to everlasting life by way of the cross.

It’s not our will, but God’s, and that comes through accepting that Jesus lived a perfect life on earth, obediently died on the cross and conquered sin and death forever. By Him we have salvation; there is no other means.

Surrender to New Life

In Christ, our old ways and habits are traded in for a different lifestyle. Out with the old; now, a new way is ushered in. As we surrender to the Lordship of Christ, He begins to teach us how to love God deeper, love others and look after their well-being and live out His Kingdom on earth. 

Surrender to God’s Pursuits

Once God has hold of our heart, He shapes it to how He sees best. He begins to place in us new passions, a new way of seeing the world around us and instills a desire to love like He does. The way we pursue life and athletics has an eternal tint to it now as we keep our eyes open for what God has in store.

As we willingly choose to pivot from our old ways of living and turn towards the life in full God promises in Jesus Christ, we’re transfused in an entirely different motivation to see our sport and those we play with impacted for the Kingdom of God.

Go:

• Have you surrendered your life to Jesus? What’s stopping you?

• What are you trying to hold on to that Jesus says to release?

• Will you make Jesus your Lord and Savior today?

Overtime: “Father, You gave Your Son Jesus to take my sins and grant me life everlasting. Thank You for the sacrifice Jesus made. I want to surrender my heart and life to Jesus and serve Him. Create in me a pure heart and transform my pursuits to what You’re after. Amen.”