Surrender Your Life and Live for Christ

SHOW NOTES: 

EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode, I share an excerpt from Step Four of my new book, Living Perfectly Loved. We are all in a process of loosening our grip on the things of this world. Learning to trust God with the things He calls us to release into His strong, loving, and capable hands, is often God’s way of teaching us to rely on Him alone for our every need and to shift our focus from the temporary things of this world to eternity. Ultimately, we learn that the things God will call us to surrender now are small in comparison to the life He wants to bless us with. The abundant life—love, freedom, blessings, joy, peace, and the riches of God’s glory—is for us! Only in learning to trust God, surrender and live for Christ, will you experience true freedom from fear and fullness of joy. One day we will depart from this world and we will finally have to surrender it all. Until then, we should strive to keep an eternal perspective and an open hand. We truly have nothing to lose and everything to gain!

CONNECT WITH KELLY: I’m your host, Kelly Ann Snyder, a Christian writer, speaker, and teacher. Grateful to God for rescuing me from the grip of anxiety and fear, I created this podcast, started a blog, launched a small group for women at my church, and wrote my first book titled, Living Perfectly Loved, to encourage, equip, and inspire Christian women to live free from fear and full of joy, secure in God’s perfect love. I enjoy fresh flowers, nature walks, decorating my home, sipping tea, and studying God's Word.

Visit my website at kellyannsnyder.com to learn more about me and Living Perfectly Loved Ministries, including information that can help you take the next step forward in your faith journey.

By signing up for my email list today, you’ll get blog and podcast episodes sent directly to your inbox, and be given the opportunity to learn about other Living Perfectly Loved Ministries offerings made available only to my subscribers. Here’s a link to a free resource I created for signing up: 40 Anxiety-Reducing Self-Care Tips for the Weary

You can also purchase my new book on Amazon today: Living Perfectly Loved: A Christian’s 12-Step Journey to Freedom from the Grip of Anxiety and Fear

Find me on my Facebook Page @kellyannsnyderauthor and on my Facebook profile @kellyannsnyderofficial, as well as on my Instagram account @kellyannsnyderofficial. I look forward to connecting with you soon!

DISCLAIMER: The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition or disease. This podcast is not a substitute for consultation with a licensed practitioner. Please consult with your physician or healthcare specialist regarding the suggestions and recommendations made in this podcast. The podcast host makes no guarantees concerning the level of success you may experience by following the advice and strategies she has offered, and you accept the risk that results will differ for each individual. The use of this podcast implies your acceptance of this disclaimer.

For additional help or resources, I recommend you consider reaching out to a professional Christian counselor or a pastor at a church for guidance in your next steps. 

Episode Transcript

Kelly Ann Snyder (00:02):
I'm Kelly Ann Snyder.
Welcome to Living PerfectlyLoved, the podcast created to
encourage, equip, and inspireyou to live free from fear and
full of joy, secure in God'sperfect love.
If you're longing to stand firmin Christ amidst the storms of
life with a faith deeply rootedin God's perfect love, stop

(00:25):
anxiety and fear from stealingyour joy and controlling your
life, shine brightly and lovefearlessly, confident in who God
uniquely created and called youto be, then this faith-inspiring
podcast, full of practical helpand spiritual tools, is for you.
You're listening to season one,episode five.

(00:46):
Surrender your life and live forChrist, brought to you by Living
Perfectly Loved Ministries andmy new book, Living Perfectly

Loved (00:55):
A Christian's 12-Step Journey to Freedom from the Grip
of Anxiety and Fear.
For all recommended resources,products, and freebies discussed
in this episode, please see thenotes for this episode.
I'm happy to announce that ineach episode this season, I will
be sharing an excerpt from mybook containing each of the 12

(01:17):
steps the Lord used to deliverme from the grip of anxiety and
fear.
In this way, you'll be getting asneak peek into my book, Living
Perfectly Loved.
I'm so glad you've decided tojoin me.
Subscribe to my email list todayat kellyandsnyder.com and you
will be kept in the loop withall book and ministry-related

(01:37):
announcements I make, and beeligible to receive all free
resources I create and sharewith my subscribers.
Visit my website atkellyandsnyder.com to learn more
about Living Perfectly LovedMinistries, including direct
links to purchase my book andinformation that can help you
take the next step forward inyour faith journey.

(02:00):
If you haven't yet listened tomy podcast trailer, I'd like to
invite you to do so afterlistening to this episode.
All right, let's get started!The following is an excerpt from
step four of my book.
Living Perfectly Loved, titled,Surrender your Life and Live for

Christ (02:20):
God uses times of testing to reveal to us what we
have yet to surrender to Him.
Surrender happens when ourfleshly desire or human will is
broken.
When we finally come to the endof ourselves, our hearts, minds,
and bodies are ready to fullysubmit to God's will, to live

(02:42):
for God's glory instead of ourown pleasure or ideals.
To be completely honest, this iswhere many choose to turn around
and walk the other way.
It can be difficult to abandoncontrol over our own lives,
especially when we havestruggled for so long over
uncontrollable fear.
There are many who aren't readyto give up living life on their

(03:05):
terms.
They count the cost and say,it's too much! Before you count
the cost as too high, let meencourage you, only if you die
to yourself and live for Christwill you find true freedom,
purpose, and fullness of life.
The Bible confirms this in whatJesus once said, Whoever wants

(03:27):
to be my disciple must denythemselves and take up their
cross daily and follow me.
For whoever wants to save theirlife will lose it, but whoever
loses their life for me willsave it," Luke 9 verses 23
through 24.
Let me tell you about one of thefirst times I had to surrender

(03:47):
my spirit of fear to God andlive within his freedom.
As my family and I were drivinghome from church one Sunday, my
son, Riley, excitedly asked myhusband and me,"Can we go to
Indian Hills summer camp thisyear?" My daughter, Janie, piped
in,"We saw a video of the campand all the things that we can

(04:07):
do there.
You get to sleep in coveredwagons and play in a tree
house." They handed me the flyerwith all the details.
It would be four days and fournights.
I wanted to share in mychildren's enthusiasm, but
instead my mind instantly beganfilling with anxious thoughts
and what if questions?

(04:28):
Can the camp counselors andstaff be trusted?
My son has a life-threateningfood allergies to wheat and
peanuts.
Will the camp be able to makeaccommodations for his dietary
needs and ensure his safety?
My daughter has Snow White'scomplexion, and in the extreme
heat of summer, I wondered whowill make sure she is properly

(04:48):
covered with sunscreen allthroughout the day?
The idea of sending my babiesaway to an overnight camp for
the first time made my stomachchurn.
Second and third grade is tooyoung to go away overnight, I
told myself.
I had just made up my mind thatcamp was out of the question
when I suddenly felt the HolySpirit nudging me to reconsider.

(05:12):
I sensed that God had plans andreasons I didn't yet understand
for them to attend camp.
It seemed that God was callingme to surrender to Him my fears
about my children's safety, torelease control, and to trust
that He would look after mychildren while they were away.
My husband and I talked it overthat afternoon and we finally

(05:33):
agreed, we would let them go.
However, there was still thequestion of cost.
How much was this blessed campgoing to run us anyway?
Quickly adding up the cost in myhead, I carelessly blurted out
the total amount in front ofboth kids.
Yikes,$700! Oops, I thought.

(05:53):
I hadn't intended to lay aburden of guilt on my kids for
wanting to go to church camp.
Looking inspired, Riley ran offto his bedroom.
Returning seconds later with hiswallet in hand, opening it up,
he pulled out his cash and hehanded me the entire.sum,$130.
This was all the allowance andbirthday gift money he had been

(06:15):
saving for over a year.
For a kid without a job, thiswas a lot of money.
"I want you to have it to helpwith the cost of camp," he said.
I stared at him dumbfounded, notquite knowing how to respond to
such incredible generosity andkindness.
Riley turned and disappearedinto his bedroom again, coming

(06:37):
back with his piggy bank.
After removing the plug from thebottom, he began shaking out all
the loose change onto the familyroom couch.
At this point, I had to sitdown.
It was too much! I wasn't suremy heart was capable of
receiving so much love all atonce.
It actually made me feeluncomfortable.

(06:59):
I couldn't let him sacrifice somuch for me.
Could I?
I began to protest,"No Riley,you save your money.
Maybe there will be another timewhen you can help out with the
cost of something." But that'ssweet boy and mine wouldn't take
no for an answer.
He looked right into my eyes andever so confidently asserted

(07:19):
himself,"The time is now.
I'm giving you this money."Apparently, this was not up for
discussion.
My daughter, Janie, whowitnessed her brother's gift,
ran to her bedroom.
She too walked out with all hermoney in hand.
Following the example set by herolder brother, she opened up her

(07:40):
piggy bank, and before I couldsay anything, she began
showering me with coins.
As the coins rained down into mylap, I suddenly became
overwhelmed with the sense thatthis was God pouring out His
love for me.
I simply had to sit there andtake it all in.
I felt the perfect love of Godtaking the place of all my fear.

(08:03):
I sensed that, though I hadn'tearned it and didn't deserve it,
His love was for me, not to berefused but humbly received.
Suddenly I knew everything wasgoing to be okay.
My children would be taken careof and I could stop worrying.
When the last coin from Janie'spiggy bank finally fell into my

(08:25):
lap, I thought of the story ofMark 12, of the poor old widow
and what she gave to the churchoffering.
As the story goes, a poor widowcame and put in two very small
copper coins worth only a fewcents.
Calling His disciples to Him,Jesus said,"Truly, I tell you,

(08:46):
this poor widow has put moreinto the treasury than all the
others.
They all gave out of theirwealth, but she out of her
poverty put in everything, allshe had to live on," Mark 12
verse 42 to 44.
The poor widow had so little togive, but she was willing to

(09:07):
risk it all without fear of thefuture, just as my children had
just demonstrated to me.
In the love of God, she knew shewas safe and secure.
As I reflected on her trust inGod, I felt the Lord telling me
in my spirit, you must bewilling to give at all.
Minutes after giving me all hermoney, Janie handed me a little

(09:29):
note.
It read,"I love you so much Iallowed myself to give up all my
money for you.
Love, Janie." As I read hersweet note, my heart melted.
In my spirit, I heard Godechoing,"I love you so much I
allowed myself to give up mylife for you." Tears began
streaming down my cheeks.

(09:51):
Jesus willingly gave it allbecause of His love for each of
us.
He came that we might have lifeand have it more abundantly,
John 10:10.
Therefore, His abundant life,the love, freedom, blessings,
joy, peace, and riches of Hisglory are all for us.

(10:12):
We don't have to earn it.
He offers it to us freely.
All He asks is that we open ourhearts to receive it, to the
receive Him.
Ultimately, the things God callsus to surrender now, our
family's health and safety orour finances, for example, small
in comparison to the life Godwants to bless us with.

(10:35):
To receive all He has for us, wemust first consider what we're
holding on to or trusting inother than God, and then be
willing to let it go.
What might God be calling you towalk away from or surrender to
Him at this moment?
Will you choose to give up whatis temporary for what is
eternal?

(10:55):
Are you ready to lay down yourlife?
All your hopes, dreams, personaldesires, and selfish ambition
for the one who gave His lifefor you?
What about all your fears,insecurities, regrets, and past
pain?
Will you surrender those thingsas well?
I love this quote by KyleIdleman, from his book, Not a

(11:18):
Fan.
When we choose to surrender ourlives to Jesus,"in a twist of
irony we find that giving up ourlives gives us the life we so
desperately wanted all along."Let's pray.
Heavenly Father, I confess thatsometimes it's really hard to
follow where You lead.
I don't always see the benefitswhen faced with suffering and

(11:41):
trials of many kinds.
I confess to You now that I'veheld back from surrendering my
all to You.
Please forgive me and help me tofollow You with my whole heart.
Help me to see that I canentrust everything to You
without fear.
Reveal to me those things I haveyet to surrender and give me the
power to release them to You,one by one.

(12:04):
Thank You for willingly going tothe cross for me.
My salvation, joy, peace,purpose, and hope are found in
You alone.
By Your wounds, I am healed.
In the mighty name of Jesus Ipray, Amen.
Thanks for listening to thisepisode of the Living Perfectly

(12:25):
Loved podcast.
While it's true that God is loveand we are perfectly loved by
Him, we all struggle at times tolive like this true.
While we should strive to growin Christ likeness, we can rest
in knowing God loves us becauseof who He is, not because of who
we are or anything we could everdo for Him.

(12:47):
In Jesus Christ, we are enough!Remember, you don't have to be
perfect to live perfectly loved.
You have always been and willalways be a completely forgiven,
fully accepted, deeply loved,daughter the King.
Beautiful friend, His grace isfor you.

(13:07):
Please subscribe to my podcastnow and stay tuned for another
episode of Living PerfectlyLoved.
May the Lord bless you and keepyou.
May He shine His face on you andbe gracious to you.
May He turn His face toward youand give you peace, in Jesus'
name.