Start the Day with Surrender: A Prayer to Surrender
Surrendering to God is an excellent way to start the day. Surrender is the opposite of self-effort. To surrender we have to stop resisting and submit to an authority other than ourselves. We can surrender to God’s authority because we can know and trust in God‘s character. The act of surrendering to God shows that we have confidence and hope that God has a greater purpose and plan in mind for us than what we could imagine for ourselves.
Previously, I shared some scriptures with examples of ways of surrendering to God. Today, I’d like to use those scriptures as a basis for a prayer to start the day with surrender.
Keeping Christ as Lord by trusting in and surrendering to him
As Christians, if we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, it’s important to remember the “Lord” part of our confession. As true followers of Christ, we must learn the act of submitting and surrendering to his lordship. This is difficult for a lot of us because we like to be in control and follow our own agenda. Even the word “surrender” brings up mental images of a white flag signaling giving up or losing. No one wants to feel like a loser. To surrender control can sometimes feel risky because we may fear that things won’t go the way we want them to.
However, it’s important for us to remember that with Jesus as our Lord, we can trust that he (and God the Father) has our very best interest in mind. They are the epitome of love. Even in the midst of pain and difficulty, God’s will, plan, and purposes for our lives will always be good and not to harm us (see John 10:10 and Jeremiah 29:11). Therefore, we can rest assured that when we say as Jesus did “Lord, not my will but your will be done,” the will of God that follows is completely out of love for us, for our good, and will lead us closer to Christ and his plan for our lives.
I love what Pastor Tony Evans says it in the book Divine Disruption: Holding on to Faith When Life Breaks Your Heart…
“You cannot surrender to someone you do not trust. Trust, enables surrender. You have to know and believe in the character of God, and his love and commitment for your best, trusting that he knows what he is doing, that he sees a far bigger picture than you can imagine.”[1]
Furthermore, Chrystal Evans Hurst, in the same book says that when we surrender we can actually make better progress in our lives…
“There are times you can’t make progress without trust…Progress, requires surrender. It involves one person allowing another to lead and show the way. Surrender invites humility and admits ‘I do not know.’ …Surrendering is admitting that God’s plan is better.”[2]
Surrender to a power source
I heard somebody once compare surrendering to God in the morning to plugging a device into a power source for the day. We don’t have to run on battery or on our own supply. We have a present, never-ending source. Through that source not only are we receiving power, but by surrendering to God we become a channel through which God’s power and love can flow out as well. When we surrender to God, he will help us and give us the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” Philippians 2:13 (NLT)
John 15:1-17 describes a picture of branches staying attached to a vine wherein the sap in the vine gets dispersed giving nutrients and power to the branches, and the branches are then able to produce fruit. When we surrender control of our lives to God and abide in Christ, his life-giving and restorative power will be dispersed to us. We surrender (i.e. don’t cut ourselves off by trying to do things our own way) and stay connected to God in order to bear fruit in our lives.
Additionally, the Bible says that the Holy Spirit is our helper (John 14:26). Again, we don’t need to rely on self-effort and our own power supply. We have the power of God available to us through the help of the Holy Spirit empowering us.
Modeh Ani—Jewish waking prayer
I recently learned of the Modeh Ani. This is a Jewish prayer said the moment you wake up in the morning before getting out of bed. It’s a prayer of thanking and surrendering to God at the start of the day. I loved the idea of surrendering to God before even taking a step in the mornings.
Here is a rough translation of the prayer in English:
“I thank you, living and enduring king, for You have graciously returned my soul within me. Great is your faithfulness.”
If you are interested in learning more about the Modeh Ani Jewish waking prayer here are a couple of articles:
Modeh Ani: It’s Not Just About Gratitude
Model Ani: Step by Step (with videos)
Below are some other things to pray to start the day with surrender.
A Prayer to Surrender
Today, I surrender to and commit to obey your will, Lord. Please open my eyes, ears, heart, and mind to you. I submit my will to you, praying as Jesus did, not my will but yours be done. I want actions that come from a surrendered will. Grant me strength to live in obedience, to stop resisting, and to submit to your authority.
“He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”” Matthew 26:39 (NLT) *see also Matthew 26:42, Mark 14:36, Luke 22:42, John 6:38
“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10 (ESV)
““Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.” Matthew 7:21 (NLT)
“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” James 1:22 (NLT)
“My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.” Proverbs 23:26 (ESV)
“To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations” Revelation 2:26 (NIV)
Lord, I want to abide and remain connected to you today. Align my thoughts with your thoughts today.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” John 15:1-7 (ESV)
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8 (ESV)
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 (NLT)
“Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.” Ephesians 4:23 (NLT)
I want every area of my life to bring you glory. Today I choose to humble and deny myself and my own way and choose to follow your way alone. You’re God, and I’m not. I surrender my life and control to you today. I surrender everything I have or am holding to you today. My:
- Will
- Family
- Friends
- Heart
- Home
- Job
- Belongings
- Finances
- Health
- Dreams
- Circumstances
- Even the negative things I cling to: Worries, fears, pain, anger, shame, failures.
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:10 (NIV) *see also 1 Peter 5:6
“LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.” Jeremiah 10:23 (NIV)
“You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other.” Deuteronomy 4:45 (NIV) *see also Exodus 20:3, Isaiah 45:5,9
“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 16:24-25 (ESV) *see also Galatians 2:20, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23, Luke 14:33, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
“Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.” Psalm 37:7 (NLT) *see also Psalm 46:10
I commit and surrender my way to you today, Lord. Please direct my steps. I invite the Holy Spirit to join me and guide me. I will go where you want me to go, do what you want me to do, say what you want me to say, and give what you want me to give.
“Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.” Psalm 37:5 (NLT)
“Commit your works to the LORD [submit and trust them to Him], And your plans will succeed [if you respond to His will and guidance].” Proverbs 16:3 (AMP)
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) *see also Psalm 9:10
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 (NIV) *see also Hebrews 4:16
Lord, I give myself completely to you. I am submitted to you. I want you more than anything else.
“Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.” Romans 6:13 (NLT)
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 (NIV)
“Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.’” Matthew 22:37-38 (NLT), *see also Deuteronomy 6:5
“Then I pray to you, O LORD. I say, “You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life.” Psalm 142:5 (NLT)
A song of surrender
Sometimes I also like to start my day with surrender by playing this praise and worship song and singing along as a prayer of surrender to God.
Take Some Practical Steps to Start the Day with Surrender:
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First, commit to surrender to God, to plug into his power source, and to stop resisting his will and his authority.
Think about what surrender looks like to you. What do you need to surrender to God? If there is anything that is holding you back from surrendering, be honest with God about it in prayer. It’s okay to be vulnerable with God.
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Next, pick one or more parts of the prayer above to start each day with surrender.
You can pray the entire list, or be guided by the Holy Spirit in praying one of the specific parts for that day. Consider saying a prayer to surrender each morning before you even get out of bed in the morning. You can also play and sing along to praise & worship songs of surrender (like the one mentioned above) to help start your day.
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Save the prayer somewhere: Pin it, print it, or screenshot it.
Save this prayer and keep it somewhere to use as a reference or to pray each morning. You could even print the image/prayer and put it in the front of your Bible or journal as you start your quiet times in the mornings.
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Then, read through the scriptures that the prayers to surrender are based upon (listed above or in this post here).
Consider writing out some of the scriptures and/or prayers and posting them as a regular reminder (or as a prompt to pray) to continue to surrender to God.
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Additionally, you might consider forwarding this prayer to surrender to others that you know that may find this prayer helpful.
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Finally, you can also revisit these previous posts on other helpful ways to start the day:
Why You Should Always Start with Praise
Which prayer to surrender to God is most helpful for you? What are some other ways that you surrender to God? Share them with us by leaving a comment below.
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If you know anyone who could benefit from this, please pay it forward! Share this post via the sharing links below. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)
- Evans, Tony, et al. Divine Disruption: Holding on to Faith When Life Breaks Your Heart, Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN, 2021, p. 181. ↑
- Evans, Tony, et al. Divine Disruption: Holding on to Faith When Life Breaks Your Heart, Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN, 2021, p. 182. ↑
