04/19/2026
Have we surrendered completely to God? Do we consider everything we are, and everything we have, to be His? So often we say these words, but when it comes time to turn all we have over to Him we renege, or have second thoughts. We promise the Lord that He is first in our lives and that everything we have is His; yet at the first sign of true sacrifice, or at His first request of us we falter. In truth, our Father doesn’t need our possessions... He just desires that we not need them more than we need Him.
“Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together. Thirty-two kings were with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and closed in on Samaria and fought against it. And he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, "Thus says Ben-hadad: 'Your silver and your gold are mine; your best wives and children also are mine.'" And the king of Israel answered, "As you say, my lord, O king, I am yours, and all that I have."”
1 Kings 20:1-4 ESV
This is a story of Ahab the king of Israel who was confronted with the overwhelming army of King Ben-hadad. He looked out at these amassed forces and surrendered without a fight, He thought he had agreed to a symbolic request... an oath of allegiance, but when Ben-hadad sent men to actually claim these things, then Ahab pulled back from His agreement...
“Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said, "Mark, now, and see how this man is seeking trouble, for he sent to me for my wives and my children, and for my silver and my gold, and I did not refuse him." And all the elders and all the people said to him, "Do not listen or consent."”
1 Kings 20:5, 7 ESV
Ahab was prepared to offer all these things in surrender when he didn’t think they would actually be required of him; do we feel the same way when we pledge our terms of surrender to God? Do we tell Him that all we have is His, thinking that He will never come to claim them? Offering our possessions is a sign of surrender and capitulation, but actually giving them up is a test of obedience.
I was praying in intercession with a man whose business was on the verge of collapse. God had blessed him immensely, and he had received and worked many large construction contracts, but when it came time to receive payment from the people who He had done the work for, they wouldn’t pay him. We prayed week after week that this money would be paid, yet the payments didn’t come, and his financial situation became more and more grave. This man had honored his commitments and had done all he knew to get the money he was due, including praying with us, the elders, for the Lord’s intervention. Then, miraculously, the money was paid in full... what happened? What had changed? Only one thing was different... this man had reached the point of total submission, and knelt before God saying that there was nothing he could do, that all his own efforts were for naught, and that he was placing this matter completely in the Lord’s hands... after all, it was all God’s in the first place. So, he handed the problem over to God, not symbolically, but in total surrender, and the Lord rewarded him for his obedience by changing the hearts of the debtors and returning the owed money to him in full.
I had a similar situation in my own life with a child that had become addicted to prescription drugs. I prayed and prayed, as I worked relentlessly to solve the issue, but at last I reached my breaking point, and lifting up my hands in desperation I told the Lord that this was beyond my ability, and there was nothing more I could do... so I handed it to Him in total submission; I gave it completely over to God, and humbled myself before Him... I was defeated. What God did next was miraculous, He sent two men to me during a Wednesday night church service, and they laid hands upon me and prayed for my child. As they prayed I felt hands all over my back, and I thought “How wonderful that all of these people are praying in unison for my lost child.” When the prayer was over I thanked the two men, and turned to thank the others... but there was no one else there. Within two weeks my child was in a faith-based rehab center, had a renewal of faith, and has been sober, happy, and successful in life for many years.
God desires our total trust in Him, and our real submission. The question becomes this... are we able to turn loose of the things we possess when doing so causes us pain? It is easy to give something to God when times are good; to give money when there is more than enough, or to work for Him when we have plenty of time, but what about those instances when the outcome is in doubt, and your fortune, or future wellbeing, is at stake? Ahab was fine with promising his gold, silver, wives, and children, but when it came time to let them go... he faltered... he couldn’t do it. Thankfully for him Ben-hadad wasn’t God, and Ahab was rescued by the one true Lord.
Pastor Andrew Murray wrote a very good exposition regarding our surrender; listen to his words...
“God answers your prayers for spiritual blessing with one requirement: the willingness to surrender yourself absolutely into His hands. God knows the hearts of those who have done so and of those who long to do it but still have doubts or fears... Surrender yourself to God. You won’t be disappointed.” - Andrew Murray
Have you truly surrendered all you have to God? If He comes today to claim His prize will you be able to let it go? In other words... is your promise empty, or is your word true, and your obedience complete? Search yourself.
“And each struck down his man. The Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them, but Ben-hadad king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen. And the king of Israel went out and struck the horses and chariots, and struck the Syrians with a great blow.”
1 Kings 20:20-21 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for hearing my prayers, and delivering me in times of great need. I thank you Holy Father for asking me to surrender totally to you, and that I should obey you in all ways. My trust Lord is in you, and my faith is in your goodness, mercy, and grace. All I possess is yours, and all I have ever counted as mine has always been yours too. I deceive myself in believing that the money in my pocket, or the shoes on my feet belong to me... no, you provide, and these things have always been yours to take away. Help me to understand this Father without me being tested as Job was. Let no doubt stand in the way of placing myself in your hands. Let no fear of thirst, or hunger, keep me from trusting completely in your provision. If you ask me for my last bit of bread, or sip of wine, I pray that my faith and obedience will suffice, and that I will give it freely to you. If you ask me to place my son on the altar, I pray that I will show the resolve of Abraham. If you ask me for my treasure, like the rich man that Jesus told to sell his fortune, and give the money to the poor, I pray that nothing will stand in my way. These are hard things Merciful Father, and they are like walls erected between us. Help me in my submission, and teach me what it means to surrender, and to humble myself before you. Merciful are you my God, and good are your ways. Hear my prayers Holy Father, and answer in full knowledge of my heart that serves and obeys you.
Amen!
Rich Forbes