Happy Friday, friends! I can’t believe we are at the end of this month and this book! “I Give Up” really gave me a fresh view of surrender. I’m taking this challenge with me to surrender moment by moment. I hope this book has been an encouragement to you and the beginning of a new way of walking with the Lord – of giving up control and living a lifestyle of moment by moment trust and surrender to Him.
Here are the discussion questions:
Part Four: What Happens When I Surrender?
*How can your personal surrender affect others?
Chapter Ten: My Choices Impact Others
*The author discusses two people in the Bible whose choices impacted many others: Mary, the Mother of Jesus and Stephen, whose martyrdom changed the church forever. Do you believe God only uses “exceptional” people like these?
*How does obedience to God go hand in hand with surrender to Him?
Chapter Eleven: When I Surrender, Relationships Can Heal and Thrive
*Jesus was the ultimate model of surrender. How are you inspired by His example?
*Laura discusses three areas of surrender: marriage, parenting, and the past. Which of these areas do you feel you need God’s help in surrendering?
Chapter Twelve: When I Surrender, Reconciliation is Possible
*“Surrendering our agendas to God’s agenda involves not just letting our actions speak but also letting our judgment go and leaving our premade labels at home” (pg. 181). Can you think of a group of people that God may be calling you to surrender your judgment and premade labels of?
*What action steps can you take to initiate reconciliation, embrace unity, and live out Heaven on earth today?
Chapter Thirteen: When I Surrender, I Leave a Legacy
*Leaving a legacy to our children includes modeling joy, kindness, a fierce dependence on God, and being the change we want to see in this world today. What can you do today to begin to build a legacy of surrender for your children?
*How do you commit God’s faithfulness to memory? How are you sharing God’s goodness, love, and faithfulness to the next generation?
Chapter Fourteen: When I Surrender, I Worship
*“When we surrender ourselves to God, we worship him. Surrendering doesn’t lead us into worship; our surrender is our worship” (pg. 211). Is this a new concept for you? How does this expand your view of worship?
*As Laura ends the book, she discusses surrender as a moment by moment choice that becomes a lifestyle of worship – all we have to do is start with the moment in front of us (pgs. 218-219). How can you begin “giving up” today?
Scripture of the Week:
2 Corinthians 2:17-21
Psalm 145:1-7
Romans 12:1
Prayer for the Week:
Father God, may our surrender, our moment by moment waving of the white flag, bring You glory. May we offer ourselves as living sacrifices, finding joy in honoring You. May the legacy we leave for our children bring them closer to You and bring You honor. Help us to give up and live with our hands off the wheel, allowing You full reign in our hearts. We know through this that so much joy and so much change can happen, not just in our own lives but in the lives of others. Thank You for the privilege of serving You and for inviting us into Your presence. We love You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
For Next Time:
*Start “Praying Women” by Sheila Walsh. Check out THIS POST for all the details!
“So when we choose surrender…things change not just within us but around us.” (Page 144)
It’s no surprise that we don’t think about our personal surrender affecting others – because we’re selfish! 🙃 Most of the time I’m not surrendering because I’m in it for me and looking out for myself.
Something I think I’m learning is how closely tied obedience and surrender actually are. Obedience, for me, a lot of the time means doing something out of duty, but not necessarily with compromise. Usually though I think of surrender as a white flag, defeatedly giving away my power.
The fact that surrender can be, or is a result of obedience is intriguing and freeing!
God has made Himself accessible to us: Jesus was obedient to the Father and surrendered Himself for us to be made right to Him! 😊
“Every moment of prizing God is a reordering of my own status.” (Page 218) The focus needs to be off myself…because it never gets me anyway (believe me, I’ve tried). It’s a surrendering of all of me – continuously. This is really an act of obedience through which transformation occurs. It’s a letting go of my control, my ideas, my will – so He can reign and rule.
Because, as Laura says: “I don’t want to be in charge. Really, I don’t. I just want to be His.” (Page 219) 🤗💕