The NIV 365 Day Devotional

Obedience in Love

The Bible clearly commands believers to surrender to God—to obey his Word and submit to his will. While surrender is not natural or easy, a believing woman truly experiences freedom to live only through her surrender to God. On the cross, Jesus exemplified total surrender to the will of God. By his resurrection from the grave and exaltation in heaven, he illustrates the blessings that inevitably follow obedient surrender (Php 2:5–11).

Surrender means to yield voluntarily to the authority of another. For the Christian, ultimate authority lies with God. Scripture teaches believers to surrender to God’s way. The Word of God should supersede all other authorities in the believer’s life.

God’s Word reveals his nature, his work and his plans. Mary, the mother of Jesus, expressed her obedience to God’s Word when she accepted her role in the birth of the Savior (Lk 1:38). Total surrender to God requires both a knowledge and understanding of what the Bible teaches and a commitment to obey its directives.

Surrender to the authority of the Word of God leads the believer to the challenge of submitting her own will to God. Complete trust in God demands that a woman relinquish all rights to direct the course of her own life. By surrendering to God’s will, she affirms that her heavenly Father knows best. Personal aspirations become secondary to God’s divine plan. James pointed out the practical value of submission. Those who submit to God’s will come under God’s care (Jas 4:7–10).

Furthermore, all who submit become involved in some form of ministry to others (1Co 16:15–16). Believers are cautioned that surrender is not genuine until it is total. Scripture exhorts believers to surrender all to the Lord (Lk 9:23). God calls the believer to surrender self and submit to his Word and his will. He promises to lead, strengthen and bless those who answer his call to obedience.

Taken from The NIV Woman’s Study Bible.