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•A Prayer of Surrender to Jesus’ Calling•By Anthony Valente👉 “Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.’” (Mark 8:34)Sometimes my life feels like a back-and-forth battle with control. One day I’m easily relinquishing my own way in favor of God’s plan. Other days I have to keep surrendering over and over because the pull of being in control is just too strong.“Give up your own way….” Those five simple words Jesus spoke to the crowd may be the ones I wrestle with the most. I get attached to my own way of doing things. Soon self-sufficiency rises and I start making decisions in my own strength, trying too hard, and wearing myself out. I end up exhausted instead of welcoming the peace Jesus offers.Surrender. It’s a hard concept for us to grasp because God gave us the will to choose. Surrender means to give up complete control. To yield to the power of another. Surrender is an amazing gift offered to us. Wouldn’t we rather hand over control of our lives to the One who holds power over all things? Then why do we struggle to surrender when Jesus calls?God designed us to hope, dream, create, and build. We long to do great things and make an impact on our world. So we must pray and find our purpose using the gifts God gave us, while daily surrendering our lives and hearts to Him.Mark chapter 8 tells us about Jesus’ ministry—from feeding four thousand people to healing one blind man. After a private word with his disciples, Jesus turned to a crowd and explained how to surrender. Jesus said, “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?” (Mark 8:35-36)In our efforts to do good, let’s not forget the presence of our Holy God. Today let’s pray this prayer of surrender. Jesus is calling us to release control and follow His ways instead of our own.Let us pray.✝️ Dear Heavenly Father,I hear Your precious son Jesus gently calling me, yet I realize I’ve let the temptation of control keep me from responding to his voice. Forgive me for trying to do things on my own when I know Your ways are best. I surrender to Jesus today.Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to draw me back to You in those times when I’ve relied on my own strength. Your Word in John 14:26 says, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” Thank You for reminding me that if I want to follow Jesus, I need to release my own way.I have felt Your Holy Spirit tugging at my heart. So I am laying down my own plans, desires, and goals. I replace those right now with total surrender to Your will. I am grateful for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and that Jesus never stops pursuing a deeper relationship with me.Your will be done in my life, Lord. I will follow where You lead me. In Jesus’ name, AMEN 🙏 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.(2 Timothy 1:7)I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.(Galatians 2:20)Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.(James 1:22)Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.(James 4:7)Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.(Romans 12:2)LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.(Jeremiah 10:23)Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O LORD, do not abandon those who search for you.(Psalm 9:10)Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.(Matthew 6:33)O my son, give me your heart. May your eyes take delight in following my ways.(Proverbs 23:26)"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"(Psalm 46:10)Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.”(Psalm 50:15)People may plan all kinds of things, but the LORD's will is going to be done. (Proverbs 19:21)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)Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.(1 Peter 5:6-10)Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”(John 4:23-24)Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.(Matthew 6:10)When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.(John 14:3)The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.(Numbers 6:24-26)He alone has spread out the heavens and marches on the waves of the sea.(Job 9:8)(pic verse)You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”(Jeremiah 29:13-14)Artist 👨‍🎨 I Am With You Always - David Delfeld