Releasing the Reins: Surrendering Your Loved Ones to God's Care
As Christian women, we know the power of prayer and the importance of lifting up our loved ones to God. But often, our prayers can become consumed by our own worries, fears, and desires. We plead with God to answer our prayers, to fix our loved ones, to change their circumstances. But in our fervent praying, we can forget the most crucial aspect of prayer: surrender.
The Power of Surrender
Surrender is not a one-time act, but a continuous process. It's a choice to release our grip on our loved ones, our expectations, and our timelines. It's a choice to trust in God's sovereignty, His goodness, and His love. As Romans 8:28 reminds us, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
Letting Go of Control
When we surrender our loved ones to God, we're not abandoning them; we're entrusting them to the One who loves them more than we do. We're acknowledging that God's plans are higher than ours, His ways are better than ours, and His timing is perfect (Isaiah 55:8-9). We're letting go of our need to control outcomes, to fix problems, and to manipulate circumstances.
Praying with Surrender
So how do we pray with surrender? We start by acknowledging God's sovereignty and His love for our loved ones.
We pray, "Lord, I surrender [name] to You. I trust in Your goodness, Your mercy, and Your grace."
We pray for God's will to be done, not ours. We pray for wisdom, guidance, and strength for our loved ones, but also for ourselves.
Finding Peace in Surrender
When we surrender our loved ones to God, we find peace. We find peace in knowing that God is in control, that He is working everything out for good. We find peace in trusting in His love and His plans. As Philippians 4:7 reminds us, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Surrendering our loved ones to God is not easy, but it's necessary. It's necessary for our own growth, our own trust, and our own peace. When we surrender, we're not losing control; we're gaining perspective. We're gaining a deeper understanding of God's love and His sovereignty. So let us pray with surrender, trusting in God's goodness and His plans. Let us pray with faith, knowing that God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).
Prayer:
Heavenly Father I thank you for my family, for my marriage or for all the blessings you have given to me now and in the future. I ask you Lord to help me as I surrender my loved one (use name) to You. You are in complete control and I trust You. Father help me to continue to walk in obedience and have faith during this season I am in. You said in Ephesians 36:26 that you would soften the heart of my loved one (use name) and remove their stony heart and soften it. I ask you to ofter soften my heart and teach me forgiveness and give me strength to withstand the storm. Thank You for hearing my prayer and thank You for answering this prayer. In Jesus’ precious name, I pray. AMEN
