Surrender isn't about giving up or giving in, it's about giving "it" to God. Authentic forgiveness requires surrender. To experience and extend true forgiveness, we must be willing to surrender all expectations of a favorable outcome for ourselves, feeling like justice has been served, and removing all desire for revenge and retaliation in exchange for allowing God to handle things His way - even if they go against our wishes and needs. Romans 9:15-16 is a clear example of how God (Controller and Creator) makes the final decision about whether or not to show mercy and kindness to those society would shout "crucify" instead. In obedience with God's will and requests, we need to realize that surrendering our path of justice back into God's hands might look very different than what we think is right and fair. Sometimes God chooses to show mercy to even the most vile sinners because He can see their future life while we are limited in present time reality. Ask yourself, "Is a person's Salvation worth more than temporary satiated feelings of revenge and getting even?" Jesus looks at the condition of the heart - things we often don't have awareness or understanding of fully. What would it look like for you to release yourself from the burden of divvying out punishment and retribution to those who have hurt and done your wrong? What about even for your worst enemy? What if God chooses to extend mercy to them... like He has so freely done for you on many occasions? What if His mercy act (that we interpret as unjust and unfair), turns out to be the fork in the road that leads this person to repentance, Salvation, and into right relationship with Jesus Christ? Who are we (prone to sin and wander) to stand in the way of what only God has the right to carry out in the first place? Romans 3:23-24 clearly states, "For everyone has sinned (no matter how good of a person they strive to be); we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet, God freely and graciously declares that we are made righteous due to our connection to Jesus Christ who paid the full debt of all our wrongdoing). Jesus' perfect sacrifice freed us from the penalty of sin. There is tremendous freedom experienced when we choose to surrender our rightful justice pursuit back into the loving hands of God. We allow Him to make the final decision of whether they will receive wrath or mercy. This is where true forgiveness is born - in the letting go of what we want and exchanging it for what God wants instead. Forgiveness does not ever release the offender from their wrongdoing and the negative impact it has had on the lives of those involved. Forgiveness simply releases you (the one suffering) from a crippling weight burden you were never meant to carry around on your own shoulders. Find that much-needed relief through Jesus-like forgiveness and set yourself free today!

* New Podcast Episode: Forgiveness Requires Surrender *

Embrace New Beginnings by Hannah Lockwood Ministries

* Christian Podcast and Blog *

Website: hannahlockwood.org