Share something specific in the comments that we can pray over you this month or a praise report of God's goodness!

Surrender sounds beautiful in theory...and then God asks us to release something that we're trying to control. Sometimes this looks like: -rigid health goals or habits -controlling how others perceive us -restraining our children from making their own decisions (within reason) Surrender is not giving up effort; it's giving up ownership of the outcome. Read Genesis 22:1-14 and consider yourself in Abraham's shoes. What do you think allowed Abraham to trust God in this moment? Do you think Abraham hesitated in any way? In what areas do you struggle with surrendering to God? Now consider the type of person you could be, if you surrendered this to Jesus.

My husband farms, planting wheat, barley, or canola each year. For him, the farming season begins long before anything goes into the ground. In March, he starts preparing equipment, purchasing seed and fertilizer, and praying for a successful harvest. Seeding usually happens in May, but the actual act of putting the seed into the ground only takes two or three days. The hardest part of farming, however, is the waiting. He does everything he can to prepare well—making sure the machinery is ready, the seed depth is correct, and the fertilizer is applied properly. But once the seed is in the soil, the timing, the weather, and the final results are completely out of his hands. All summer long, we pray that the Lord provides the right conditions for a good harvest, because when it comes to farming, there are never any guarantees. Our lives are much the same. We can do our part to eat well, exercise, and build healthy habits. That preparation is our responsibility. It is how we steward the bodies God has given us. But the outcome is not something we fully control. Slow progress, comparison, and fixation on things like the number on the scale can make us feel like our efforts don’t matter. But just like a seed in the ground, growth takes time. Sometimes months. Sometimes years. The work happening beneath the surface is often invisible before the harvest ever comes. Galatians 6:9 reminds us: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." So keep going. Keep showing up. Keep doing the good things, even when you can’t yet see the results. The harvest always comes in its season.

Before we step into our theme of SURRENDER this month, we have to slow down and define what we’re even talking about. Merriam-Webster defines surrender as: - to yield to the power, control, or possession of another upon compulsion or demand - to give up completely or agree to forgo especially in favor of another But that’s the world’s definition. God does not force. He does not coerce. He invites. When we surrender our will to His, it isn’t defeat — it’s obedience. It’s trust. It’s choosing to align ourselves with His plans and His timing, even when we don’t fully understand them. Surrender is releasing the illusion that we are in control. There are so many things I think I control — my health, how clean my house is, how “put together” my life looks online. But if all of that was stripped away… if I couldn’t maintain it… would I still have peace? Or would anxiety rise to the surface? That question exposes what I’m really holding onto. Surrender isn’t a one-time decision. It’s a daily posture. A daily act of faith that God’s timing is perfect — and that His plans are better than my grip. So here’s the question we’re starting with this month: What are you gripping tightly right now that God might be asking you to release? Drop one word in the comments — or send me a message if it feels more personal. Let’s step into this together.