#568: Will You Surrender to God? Three Important Questions to Ask Yourself

As a child, I was mesmerized by the portrayal of Moses in “The Ten Commandments.” Seated in the family car at a drive-in theater, my eyes widened as Charlton Heston, staff in hand, brought the miracles of the Exodus to life.

Moses’ staff, this symbol of power and divine intervention, rooted itself in my imagination. It resurfaced during a profound moment when Pastor Rick Warren expounded on Exodus 4, presenting the staff as more than a tool—it represented Moses’ identity, income, and influence. A mere shepherd’s staff in human hands, it morphed into a conduit of wonders when surrendered to God.

Reflecting on this, I recognized a parallel in our lives, particularly as Christian leaders. We grip onto our identities and livelihoods while holding sway over others, much like Moses held his staff. But what transformation awaits when we loosen our grasp and place our trust in God’s hands?

This narrative, ingrained from a young age, gained new significance as I pondered Pastor Warren’s insights and revisited Exodus 4:1-5. Here, the transition of a simple shepherd’s staff into a vessel for the divine raises compelling inquiries about our leadership today.

What is Our Identity?

Moses, a shepherd by trade, held a staff that signified his past and his profession. God’s command to cast it down was an invitation to surrender his identity to the Divine’s will. As Christian leaders, are we prepared to lay our titles at the feet of God, embracing our true identity found in Him?

What is Our Income?

Moses’ staff was also a symbol of his wealth, as prosperity in those times was often counted in livestock. By surrendering his staff, Moses demonstrated unwavering faith in God’s provision. In modern terms, this challenges us to trust God with our finances, acknowledging that our security is not in material wealth but in the richness of our faith.

What is Our Influence?

A staff directed the sheep, mirroring Moses’s influence over his flock. Upon relinquishing his staff, Moses surrendered his control, allowing God to steer his path. As leaders, our influence can forge paths for others, but true leadership emanates from submission to God’s greater vision.

Conclusion

In essence, Moses’ staff was a mere object until he surrendered it to God. Accordingly, God calls us to emulate this act of faith, particularly in leadership. What do we clutch in our hands? Our identities, our incomes, our influences—are we willing to surrender them to God? Doing so allows the ordinary to become extraordinary under God’s direction. Therefore, let us release our ‘staffs’ with faith in the Miracle-Maker, the One capable of drawing water from stone and parting the seas.

Action Steps

• Personal Inventory: Identify the aspects of your life that correspond to Moses’ staff. Consider your identity, income, and influence. How might God want to use these if you surrendered them to His will? Offer each one to God in prayer, seeking His purpose.
• Trust Exercise: Determine where surrender is most challenging in your life. Commit to an act of faith that symbolizes letting go. If finances are your stronghold, perhaps increase your giving as a testament to your trust in God’s provision.
• Mentorship and Accountability: Seek out a mentor or peer who exemplifies surrendering to God in their life. Arrange regular discussions to share insights on submitting identity, resources, and influence to God and ask for accountability in practicing surrender.
• Reflection and Journaling: Meditate on Exodus 4:1-5, journaling your thoughts on what it means to lay down your ‘staff.’ What fears surface? What expectations do you have of God’s work through your surrender?
• Community Engagement: Facilitate a conversation in your faith community about surrendering to God. Organize a study group or a discussion panel to explore this theme further and support one another in committing to this act of faith.

Discussion Questions

These questions can serve as a valuable framework for guiding a thoughtful and engaging discussion about the article and how its insights and perspectives apply to our lives today.

• Reflecting on Identity: How does your current role define you? What changes might you need to embrace to realign your identity with God’s perspective of you?
• Considering Income: How can you manage the resources God has entrusted to you, such as your income, with open hands? What steps can you take to demonstrate your trust in God’s provision over your financial planning?
• Evaluating Influence: Reflect on the areas where you exert significant influence. How can you surrender this influence to God and allow Him to use it for His divine purposes?
• Understanding Surrender: Recall a time when you relinquished something of value for a greater cause. Discuss the experience and the impact it had on you and others.
• Observing Transformation: Share instances where you’ve seen God work through surrendered wills. How did these experiences affirm or challenge your faith?

More Articles

I have written several articles on dependence on God. You can find them by typing ‘Dependence on God’ in the search bar. Meanwhile, here are a few of the most recent articles.

• #548: Do You Know the Power of “I Will Be With You” in Your Life?
• #524: Have You Given Up on The Promise of God Prematurely?
• #500: Do You Take God to Work with You on Monday Morning?
• #490: Do You Know How to Handle a Disheartening Trial in Life?
• #489: Are You Listening to A Shouting Crowd or Jesus?

Join the Conversation

As always, questions and comments are welcome. Of the three questions (What is your identity? What is your income? What is your influence?), which do you find hardest to surrender to God?

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Category: Personal Development | Dependence on God