TRUST HIM

The first and greatest commandment is as follows ...

Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ Matthew 22:37

As you navigate this fallen world, that which you hold most dear will naturally become your priority. If it is the Lord, everything else that clamors for your attention will pale in comparison and fall by the wayside. 

'And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace'. (from the hymn, 'Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus' by Helen H. Lemmel)

You may concede that a 'surrender' to His Lordship is necessary, but your understanding of what that means might be tainted by a worldview. If your idea of surrender is represented by the 'white flag' of defeat, you've missed it. The 'surrender' that God desires is that of a bride to her husband ... the giving of yourself into the arms of the Lord's love, care, and protection. 

It has to do with 'trust' ... 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.  Proverbs 3:5-6

This is not just a cold assent that you are in need of divine guidance. It is instead the childlike, unwavering confidence in your Father’s proven wisdom, undying faithfulness, and perfect love.

When you face a trial, the tendency is to consult 'your own understanding' and hearken to 'self-reasoning'. This stifles the Biblical principle of 'living by faith'. 

Adam Clarke - It is on God, not on thyself, that thou art commanded to depend. He who trusts in his own heart is a fool … self-sufficiency and self-dependence have been the ruin of mankind ever since the fall of Adam. The grand sin of the human race is their continual endeavor to live independently of God.

The more you 'acknowledge' God, the clearer His divine will becomes. Study His Word and 'pray without ceasing', for this discipline creates 'trust' and 'controls behavior'. Christianity is not 'static' ... it is a lifelong journey exemplified by spiritual growth and sanctification. 

As your knowledge of God increases, so will your love for Him. Trust and obedience follow.