Yielding to God -Part I

Devotional

“The mature children of God are those who are moved by the impulses of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 8:14 (TPT)

I remember my nephew Sam at the airport, heart pounding, suitcase wheels rattling behind him. A traffic jam had delayed us, and he was minutes from missing his flight to a job interview he had been waiting months for. He reached the gate just as the door closed. He stood there, completely still, dreams apparently shattered.

Then he heard it, not out loud, but deep inside: “Will you trust me now?“

Later that day, the company called him. They had had an emergency and needed to reschedule all their interviews. That missed flight was not a failure. It was God’s quiet way of reminding Sam who was really in charge.

That moment changed him. For the first time, Sam started surrendering his plans not just when things fell apart, but every single morning.

We often mistake surrender for weakness, giving up, losing control. But in God’s kingdom, surrender is strength. It is not quitting. It is choosing to trust the One who sees the whole picture. Yielding to God is not passive. It is a deliberate, daily decision to hand over our thoughts, plans, emotions, and direction.

Paul tells us in Romans 12:1 to offer ourselves as “living sacrifices.” We do not die. We live fully surrendered. We place everything we are into God’s hands, day after day. That is real worship. That is how we grow. It is not a moment. It is a lifestyle.

And God does not ask us to surrender and then leave us alone. He gave us His Spirit, His very presence living inside us, to guide, correct, comfort, and empower. When we walk with Him, the Spirit shapes us to look more like Jesus. But we can silence that voice. We can grieve Him with our choices. We can resist by clinging stubbornly to our own plans. Yielding is the opposite. It is softening our hearts and whispering, “You lead.”

We are not the first to walk this path. Jesus Himself prayed, “Not my will, but yours be done.” He showed us where real strength comes from. The early church waited for the Spirit’s direction before they traveled, preached, or decided anything big. David delighted in God’s will. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trusted God even in the fire. Their stories remind us God honors those who yield.

So how do we start? Recognize the Holy Spirit lives in you. Then, slowly loosen your grip, on your pride, your fears, your need to control. And learn to respond when He nudges you. That thought to pray for someone, that urge to offer kindness, that unease when you are off track, that is often Him. The more we listen and obey, the clearer His voice becomes.

Lord, help me hear You. Help me trust you. Teach me to yield every part of my life to your Spirit. Amen.

Yielding to God -Part II