Seeking Input on Surrendering to God

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Hi all, i am an RCIA team member in my parish and also a member of the Knights of Columbus. i was reading my August issue of the Columbia magazine (KofC) and there is an article on page 13 titled “Making a Difference - Five steps to a better (eternal) life” by Father Larry Richards.

The five steps outlined in the article are (my additions in parenthesis):
  1. Surrender (to God)
  2. Pray Daily
  3. Be a Man (Woman) of Love
  4. Be a Man (Woman) of Service
  5. Change the World for Christ
i thought these five steps would be good for application to the conversion process within RCIA for both men and women as we are always seeking and offering life plans and guidance for the candidates throughout the phases of the program and beyond.

However, i am interested in hearing from all of you out there in terms of practical (name removed by moderator)ut, examples, advice, life experiences and resources as to what surrendering to God means to you in practical terms, how you have acheived this blessing and how you would give guidance to others in acheiving and maintaining this blessing.

Here is the full text in the article for step 1. Surrender:
“1. Surrender. Doesn’t sound very manly does it? But surrendering to God may be the toughest thing you will ever do. Who is in control of your life - is it you or is it God? I hope you know that being a Christian is not about doing nice things or just living a moral life. It is about letting Christ live his life through you. This only happens through daily surrender to God.”

thank you to all for any (name removed by moderator)ut you give on this topic,
david
 
This is a fantastic question
For me it means following God’s will not just in the big things but in the little things. It’s about saying Lord I am yours, what do yiou wnat. For example, if I see someone sitting by themselves it means going over and takling to them, maybe there are other poeple I’d rather speand time with, but if I feel God calling me to do it I try and say not my will but that of the father.

I think one of the big problems in Christianity is that we don’t believe the Gospel, we sing and pray about a God of love but we don’t believe it.

We think that if we surrender to God something bad will happen, not just bad but something catastrophic. I think we are afraid of surrendering. I try and think of it like this, God loves us, he died on a cross for me. Did he go through that just to ruin my life and make me miserable. I don’t think so. If God wants me to do something it must be becasue he loves me.

The times when things have gone wrong in my life have been the times when I’ve gone against God’s will. When I follow God’s will good things happen. I always worry that when I do follow God’s will something bad will happen but it never does.
Surrener menas saying yes.
 
The way that I surrender to God each day is through prayer (rosary), reading my Bible daily (starting with the daily readings), and by asking Jesus to come into my heart and take charge of my life by guiding me to His will and not my own. I also focus on putting others before myself, especially my husband and children. I am a stay-at-home wife/mother and they come second, after God. Also, whenever I pray, I do not pray to receive “things”…I pray for God’s will to be done in any given situation or person I am praying for. I can honestly say that I am in love with Jesus and my relationship with him has significantly become more intimate since I started a serious prayer life. I also spend time with Him by going to Eucharistic Adoration almost weekly - this also increases my love for Jesus and my respect for God, the Father. I am a mother of four children under the age 7 (youngest is 8 months) and my days can become quite hectic and frustrating at times and I can definitely tell a difference in my patience level when I do or do not read my Bible before breakfast. I’ve also created an altar in my home which we pray in front of as a family every day and I focus on keeping God in my thoughts continuously throughout my day so that He guides me according to His will and my own will does take charge. I do the best I can, but always strive to do better.
 
I tend to think that we learn how to surrender to God when it’s especially difficult for us and when He asks us to do things that we don’t really want to do. For example, when I started feeling lead to the Catholic Church, that was about the last thing I wanted at the time. Going through with it anyways was painful but it taught me a lot and I see how God used it in my life.

I also think it starts with the small things. We can’t say that we’ll be obedient in the big things if we haven’t yet learned how to do this in everyday situations. Sometimes (rarely…) I feel that I’m ready to do anything for God, that if He calls me I’d even be a missionary or a religious (2 things that I’ve always considered difficult) - but how am I with loving my enemy? do I forgive those who hurt me? do I get impatient with people? do I follow God’s will and surrender to Him in whatever situations I’m in. I think if we learn how to do this…then we would be faithful in the big things too.

I also think that surrender takes lots of trust. We need to trust God that His way is better than our way. Sometimes this is difficult and requires humility.

I really need to learn how to surrender to Him better 🙂
 
newmex1598 said:
Hi all, i am an RCIA team member in my parish and also a member of the Knights of Columbus. i was reading my August issue of the Columbia magazine (KofC) and there is an article on page 13 titled “Making a Difference - Five steps to a better (eternal) life” by Father Larry Richards.

The five steps outlined in the article are (my additions in parenthesis):
  1. Surrender (to God)
  2. Pray Daily
  3. Be a Man (Woman) of Love
  4. Be a Man (Woman) of Service
  5. Change the World for Christ
i thought these five steps would be good for application to the conversion process within RCIA for both men and women as we are always seeking and offering life plans and guidance for the candidates throughout the phases of the program and beyond.

However, i am interested in hearing from all of you out there in terms of practical (name removed by moderator)ut, examples, advice, life experiences and resources as to what surrendering to God means to you in practical terms, how you have acheived this blessing and how you would give guidance to others in acheiving and maintaining this blessing.

Here is the full text in the article for step 1. Surrender:
“1. Surrender. Doesn’t sound very manly does it? But surrendering to God may be the toughest thing you will ever do. Who is in control of your life - is it you or is it God? I hope you know that being a Christian is not about doing nice things or just living a moral life. It is about letting Christ live his life through you. This only happens through daily surrender to God.”

thank you to all for any (name removed by moderator)ut you give on this topic,
david
Click to expand...
Although it may sound like a broken record from me I cannot recommend highely enough this book. "The Fulfillment of All Desire", By Ralph Martin and subtitled, “A guidebook for the journey to God based on the Wisdom of the Saints”. I have never read a better book on the subject of growing in holiness.

I provided the link to Amazon because it gives a chance to peek inside the book.

Peace
James
 
could those who posted and future posters comment on how “God calls” you or how “God guides” you as you mention in your posts? i know the thoughts, feelings and situations that apply for me but i would like to hear from others on exactly how this happens for them and how they know for sure what it is that God calls or guides them to do.

thanks!
david

p.s. thank you for the book reference - i will check it out.
 
newmex1598 said:
could those who posted and future posters comment on how “God calls” you or how “God guides” you as you mention in your posts? i know the thoughts, feelings and situations that apply for me but i would like to hear from others on exactly how this happens for them and how they know for sure what it is that God calls or guides them to do.

thanks!
david

p.s. thank you for the book reference - i will check it out.
Click to expand...
you feel a lot of peace about something, it’s more than just an emotion… but I think it might be different for different people. Also in my case, when God was guiding me into the Church, He gave me the faith to believe its teachings, that was a whole new experience for me in a way cause I was very resistant at first. It’s like something is happening to you, you can’t control it even… though you’re free to reject it or accept it, as you want.
 
Surrendering to God is really easy. If you can surrender fully into a falling dream then you can surrender fully to God.
 
newmex1598 said:
could those who posted and future posters comment on how “God calls” you or how “God guides” you as you mention in your posts? i know the thoughts, feelings and situations that apply for me but i would like to hear from others on exactly how this happens for them and how they know for sure what it is that God calls or guides them to do.

thanks!
david

p.s. thank you for the book reference - i will check it out.
Click to expand...
How God calls and guides is as personal and unique as the people he calls.
For me it is a combination of a deep desire on my part and a small, but instistant, voice on His part.
I spent many years in deep sin and it was only a combination of desperation and the intervention of my Godfather that finally got me back on track. In my desperation for the welfare of my wife who is ill with Alzheimers God actually spoke to me in that small voice, but as clearly as a friend standing near me, and told me that he will take care of her.
The journey in this disease has allowed me to see many things and many ways in which God has helped me and her.
I think the most basic point in the surrender to God is that you need to try and keep Him in front of you. Talk to Him often and ask, not for your will and desire, but for His to be done through you. The Lords Prayer is the best example of this I think.

Peace
James
 
I might also recommend that, for a man, you might want to investigate EWTN’s program called “Crossing The Goal” which is staffed by former Proffessional sports people including a former NFL player and coach.
It’s a good program.

Peace
James
 
I think that when people are unsure of God’s direction in their lives, one way to know for sure is that God will NEVER call you or guide you to do anything that goes against His teachings that Christ has outlined. For example, you may want to accomplish something good for another person, but He will not guide you to accomplish those intentions by lying to get it done. This is an example of the ends do not justify the means. This is only to illustrate how to discern the difference between God’s will and Satan trying to deceive us.
 
Think of a “tow rope” at a ski resort.

The rope is God’s grace and His teaching. It is always there beckoning us to carry us up the hill. It is up to us to simply reach out and grasp the rope. Of course we must work to keep our legs under us and following the direction of that rope, and, if we are not careful, we could let go or slip off in which case we will slide right back down the hill. But it we surrender to the rope and do our part it will lift us all the way up the hill from which we will be able to see all of God’s Glory.

Surrendering to God is surrendering to that Rope. It is doing the little things that we know God wants us to. Giving someone else the last piece of french toast, or letting a driver in in front of you. Giving a bit more in th ecollection plate and holding a door for someone. Volunteering at a food bank, or giving your stuff to St. Vincent DePaul instead of having a yard sale.
We know what God want’s us to do, We know where that Rope is leading us, and it is where we truly want to go. We only need to let go of our pride and grab the rope of Grace.

Peace
James
 
Every morning I surrender my life & will to God. I ask Him to make known His Will for me today and to give me the grace for the willingness to accept His Will and the courage & strength to carry it out. However, I don’t get explicit instructions but I do the things that I know I am supposed to do. When I first started this I was spinning around in circles, not knowing what to do and I was a mass of confusion, simply because I wanted to get the surrendering to God’s Will right. But eventually, reason set in and I learned that fulfilling my daily obligations and trying to be a better Catholic, mother, employee etc all around human being to the best of my ability is God’s will for me. As far as resolving situations-I’ve learned I have to face my fears and deal with them the best I can…God will do for me what I can’t do for myself. I know that if I pray and do my little part-God will do His big part and everything turns out according to His will, whether it is by His direct will or His permissive will. Either way I know it is for the best, even though I may not like it or understand it. There are lots of times when I am in a difficult situation when I think I am doing God’s will & I am convinced of it and everyone is telling me I’m wrong and I get a small grind in the pit of my stomach that seems to get bigger, then eventually I realize yes I’ve been wrong all the time…I take care of the situation another way & Whoa! the weight of the world has been lifted off my shoulders and good things start to happen. I’m working on this, I have some real poor judgment at times…(I think I hear some laughter coming from heaven) I do also pray, and I try to help, although I do not go out of my way to help a stranger but I have at times. But I really don’t do enough-I need to do better in that area. I also say the St Francis prayer every morning and I have a desire to be able to actually live that prayer…that is one of my goals.
 
I am mentally ill. It took me many years to accept that. Especially in light of God’s love and grace. If He made me, then why am I the way I am? Surrendering to Him is a daily thing. Some days are better than others. The days I get hit with one of my “moods” are particularly difficult. Especially when it ends up being directed to someone I love, like my daughter. I’ve upset her countless times this way. But we are both coming to terms with it. We are quicker to going through it to resolution.

Five things I heard on a christian radio station that came to mind when I first saw this thread. I can’t remember who said it, but he called it the five signs of spiritual life.
  1. Dusty shoes (from walking the walk)
  2. Worn out knees (from being on our knees in prayer)
  3. Rolled up sleeves (showing that we are ready to work)
  4. Outstretched arms (accepting what we are called to do)
  5. Open hands (for giving it all away)
 
To me, surrender to God is to love His will above mine.
Here is a real experience happened lately.

My son has been admitted into medical schools.
School A, a top medical school of the nation, provided him with great financial aid.
At the same time, he was on waiting list of school B.
All the time my son’s heart was on school B because his girl friend was going there for graduate study. My son said as long as he could get into school B, regardless financial aid or not, he would go. He’d rather be further in debt than being apart from his girl friend for four years.

I called school B and found out they did not offer “middle income grant” as school A offered. In other words, the chance of getting into school B from waiting list and get financial aid was almost none.

In my thinking, God’s will must be for my son to attend school A; otherwise, He wouldn’t lead him into one of the hardest medical schools to get in, with a good financial package. I thought if God wants my son to be in school B, he should have already got in, not just on the waiting list. As a parent, I could not bear to see my child throw away the very important financial package and owe more debt.

But my son insisted he would be much happier in school B. So, how should I pray for this? I could only be honest with God. I told God I could not afford to see my son throw away the financial package and the top medical school admission. But I also told God I only want His will be done. If God sees it is best for my son to be in school B, then please help him in. But only if it is His will. I prayed that only God’s will be done. I surrender my will to His.

When my son accompanied his girl friend to school B settling for her summer school, he stopped by at the admission office. The director told him the class was full, but in case someone dropped off, they would let him in. My son did not even ask anything about financial aid. The director took the initiative inquiring him how much financial aid he has received from school A, and automatically promised to match it if my son were in.

That was a Wednesday afternoon. Thursday morning, one person dropped off, and my son was in, with matching financial aid.

I always believe God’s will is the best. This experience further confirms that surrendering our own will to God and trusting in Him is the best. I asked my son afterwards if he had been praying to get into school B all the time. To my surprise, he said no. He said he was praying for God’s will all the time.

We are still awed by God’s miracle and mercy. We continue to thank God million times.

I just want to share how I have struggled and tried to surrender.
 
Hi David,

May the Peace of God be with you.

Surrendering to God. Wow! That’s pretty powerful and I think that only through the grace of God is that ever possible because you are at a unknown spot. You don’t know what to do, what to think and act to fix the situation. It’s pretty scary. So through the grace of God, you let go and let God. I guess this is an affirmation of who is in control in our lives. Like a good Father, God always provides and give us the strength (graces) to carry our crosses whether big or small.

One example i like to use is my mom’s passing (5 mos ago). Aside from my husband, my mom was my best friend. I loved her tremendously. Only God knew this for people only knew what they saw on the outside but not my Sweet Jesus, He saw further than that. That’s why I love Him so much because He’s special like that!

All through her sickness, i prayed and fasted for another miracle to happen for it was the 2nd time she had gotten cancer. I had faith that God would heal her again if that was His will. All during the 9 mos. that she lasted, God gave me the strength and grace to help my mom in her most trying times, in her journey into Eternal life. The Holy Spirit filled my mouth with consoling words to her. I wanted her to live on this earth awhile longer. I prayed to all the Angels, the Saints and to Mother Mary however, there came a point that I physically felt that I had to let go and let God. So I did. I surrendered to God and was called just to be with her, to hold her hand, to kiss her and to tell her how much i loved her and how beautiful she was.

On Feb. 19, 2009, my Mom, my best friend passed away. Although she suffered quite a bit, the LORD took HIS child in peace (in her sleep). That day, I cried in joy to know that cancer didn’t win rather she won with God’s grace. She didn’t despair, she didn’t hold on to this world, she took her cross and walked with Christ, Jesus to the finish line and she won! Praise GOD forever.

To surrender to God is to be blessed. These times are treasures to be stored and pondered upon to help me on my journey on this earth.

Hope this helps:)
 
Best resource on “surrendering to God” that I’ve found, and recommend (from personal experience) is a wonderful book entitled “Abandonment to Divine Providence” by Fr. Jean-Pierre de Caussade. This simple book has literally changed my life and given me the inner peace that, as St. Paul states, “…goes beyond all understanding.”

Here’s a good link for it: getfed.com/catholic-product/956/Abandonment-to-Divine-Providence/

God bless!
John
 
For me, it depends on what thing I am working on surrendering. Here’s one recent example in my life. I have known for the past five years that I’m going to be a nun, up until Friday, I was sure that I was going to go to college before entering the Sisters of Life in New York City. At first it was really hard for me to come to terms with three things about this call. I am not a big city girl AT ALL, that’s really far from my family and I was going to have to wait for six years. A couple of weeks ago, I was in Adoration praying about my vocation and I really felt the Lord tell me that the only way I would have the peace I was craving was if I was able to surrender it all to Him. At that moment I made a decision to not be so impatient about it, and focus and growing in my relationship with Him. So that’s one way to do it, it’s not always the easiest way to do it and I’m sure not everyone is the kind of person who could do that. Another way I’ve found that works for me is to write down what I’m surrendering and then either tear it up and throw it away, or burn it. Another way is to ask God to help you want to surrender what ever it is.

JMJ+
~Betsy

Totus tuus Maria!
 
Christy_Beth said:
Five things I heard on a christian radio station that came to mind when I first saw this thread. I can’t remember who said it, but he called it the five signs of spiritual life.
  1. Dusty shoes (from walking the walk)
  2. Worn out knees (from being on our knees in prayer)
  3. Rolled up sleeves (showing that we are ready to work)
  4. Outstretched arms (accepting what we are called to do)
  5. Open hands (for giving it all away)
Click to expand...
That was lovely, ChristyBeth… Another one that I pray a lot is from Mother Teresa:

“Lord, I accept all You give to me.
I give, all You take from me.”

Another way of saying that is “Thy Will be done.”
 
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