To Live Free of Fear, Surrender to God
By Rick Warren
“Surrender your heart to God, turn to him in prayer, and give up your sins—even those you do in secret. Then you won’t be ashamed; you will be confident and fearless. Your troubles will go away like water beneath a bridge, and your darkest night will be brighter than noon. You will rest safe and secure, filled with hope and emptied of worry.” Job 11:13-18 (CEV)
How do you learn to live in God’s love so that you can live free of fear? You have to surrender your heart to God every day.
The Bible says in 1 John 4:18, “Where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love drives out fear” (NCV).
When you wake up each morning, before your feet hit the floor, you have to say, “God, before I even start this day, I surrender my emotions to you. I want you to be Lord of my feelings. I want you to control my mind and my emotions. I surrender my heart to you. I want you to fill me with your love.”
Job 11:13-18 says, “Surrender your heart to God, turn to him in prayer, and give up your sins—even those you do in secret. Then you won’t be ashamed; you will be confident and fearless. Your troubles will go away like water beneath a bridge, and your darkest night will be brighter than noon. You will rest safe and secure, filled with hope and emptied of worry” (CEV).
Those verses hold three commands and eight promises. Every promise has a premise—God says if you do this, then he’ll do that.
First, he gives you the commands: Surrender your heart to God every day. Turn to him in prayer. Give up your sins, confessing them to God.
Then notice the eight benefits: You won’t be ashamed. You’ll be confident. You’ll be fearless. Your troubles will be like water under the bridge. The dark night you’re going through will be brighter than noon. You’ll be able to sleep well because you are safe and secure. You will be filled with hope. You’ll be emptied of worry.
Wow! Who wouldn’t want to experience those benefits?
Take a moment to write that Scripture on a piece of paper and put it somewhere you’ll see throughout the week. Let it remind you to do those three things—surrender your heart to God, turn to him in prayer, and confess your sins. Then let God’s love fill your life and cast out all your anxiety and fear.
Try it this week, and then watch God carry out his promises as he fills you with his love.
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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