Take It All Series – Pt 4
You Can Have It All Lord
Romans 12:1-2
Taking It All: A Journey of Surrender and Trust
As the first month of this new year comes to a close, many of us long for this year to be different. We want to grow, achieve, and become better versions of ourselves. But what if the key to truly “taking it all” is all that God has for us? The key lies not in striving harder but in surrendering more fully.
But here’s the challenge: as we grow in our faith, we often become less quick to trust… less willing to surrender. We accumulate knowledge, experiences, and our ideas about how things should work. We start to lean on our own understanding, forgetting the simple, childlike faith that marked the beginning of our walk with God.
Remember those early days of faith? When we heard a biblical truth, we acted on it immediately. We were eager to obey and quick to trust. But as time passed, we may have become more hesitant, more prone to analyzing, questioning, or even dismissing God’s promptings altogether.
We need to return to that place of complete trust and surrender. It’s not about being manipulated or guilted into submission. Instead, it’s about recognizing God’s mercies and responding with wholehearted devotion.
Romans 12:1-2 puts it beautifully: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Notice the emphasis on presenting our bodies—not just our minds or hearts, but our physical selves. Our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, the base of operations for God’s work on earth. When we position our bodies in alignment with God’s purposes, our minds and hearts often follow.
But what holds us back from this full surrender? Often, it’s fear and worry. We worry that if we give ourselves completely to God, He might send us somewhere uncomfortable or ask us to do something difficult. We forget that God’s plans for us are good and that He loves us more than we can comprehend.
Philippians 4:6-7 addresses this directly: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
The word “anxious” here comes from two Greek words meaning “to divide” and “mind.” Worry essentially divides our minds, pulling us in different directions and robbing us of peace and stability. But when we bring our concerns to God, presenting ourselves wholly to Him, we find a peace that surpasses understanding.
As we contemplate what it means to “take it all” in this new year, we must first adopt the posture of “You can have it all, Lord.” This involves:
- Surrender: How fully are we yielding our lives to God?
- Submission: Are we genuinely submitting to God’s will or clinging to our own plans?
- Yielding: How flexible are we to God’s direction, even when it differs from our expectations?
- Obedience: How quick are we to obey God’s promptings?
As we enter this new year, let’s remember the words of Deuteronomy 6:4-5: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” This command to love God with our all is followed by instructions to keep God’s words constantly before us – when we sit at home, walk along the road, lie down, and get up.
It’s a call to present ourselves to God continually, to make Him the center of our lives. As we do so, we’re warned not to forget God when we enjoy the blessings He provides—the cities we didn’t build, the houses we didn’t fill, the wells we didn’t dig, the vineyards we didn’t plant. All we have comes from His grace and mercy.
So, as we are one month into a new year full of possibilities and opportunities, let’s remember that the key to truly “taking it all – all the Lord has for us” is first saying, “Lord, you can have it all.” It’s about presenting ourselves fully to God, trusting Him completely, and being ready to obey quickly.
Are there areas of your life you’re holding back from God? Are there fears or worries dividing your mind? Take a moment now to surrender them to God. Ask Him to open your spiritual eyes to see His provision and protection. Commit to presenting yourself to Him daily, morning, noon, and night.
As you do, you may find that this year becomes one of unprecedented growth, peace, and spiritual victory. Not because you strived harder but because you surrendered more fully to the One who loves you beyond measure and has good plans to prosper you, not to harm you, and to give you hope and a future.
