Yielding to God -Part II

Devotional

“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25

I remembered the testimony of Derrick, an old church member. He was in the grocery store when he saw an elderly man struggling to load groceries into his car. He felt that inner nudge to go help him.

But he hesitated. “I’m in a rush… someone else will step in,” he thought. Still, the prompting grew stronger. So he turned back, offered a hand, and ended up having a brief but meaningful conversation. The man had just lost his wife. He was lonely. That small act of obedience gave him comfort that someone saw him, and that maybe God had not forgotten him.

Derrick drove home with tears in his eyes. That simple moment taught him that being yielded to the Spirit means paying attention and acting, even when it feels inconvenient.

Have you discovered there are habits that help us stay yielded? Spending time in scripture renews our minds and tunes our hearts to God’s truth (Psalm 119:105; Hebrews 4:12). Consistent prayer keeps our desires aligned with his will (Romans 8:26–27; Jude 20). Obeying in small, everyday things builds our spiritual reflexes (Luke 16:10). Fasting clears out distractions and sharpens our focus (Acts 13:2–3). These practices do not earn God’s love, but they help us walk more closely with him.

Of course, there are also things that make surrender difficult. Sometimes we are too comfortable and do not want to step out in faith. Sometimes we get stuck in routines and forget to listen for his fresh direction. And sometimes, we simply trust ourselves more than we trust God. But even when surrender feels hard, the reward of walking in step with the Spirit is worth it. When we yield, God brings transformation. He produces real fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and more (Galatians 5:22–23). These qualities are not things we can force. They grow naturally when we are connected to the Spirit.

God also empowers us when we yield. We become available for his work: ready to encourage someone, speak truth, pray for healing, or serve in love (Acts 2:4; Acts 6:8; 1 Corinthians 2:14). We also begin to hear him more clearly. We sense his peace as we make decisions (Romans 8:16), his direction as we read scripture (John 16:13), and his hand arranging circumstances around us (Acts 8:26–29). It is not always flashy, but it is real. It is him.

Jesus is our perfect example. Though he was equal with God, he did not cling to his power (Philippians 2:6–8). He humbled himself and chose obedience, even to the point of death. That is what surrender looks like. It is the opposite of the enemy, the devil, who tried to grasp at power and ended up falling (Isaiah 14:12–14). Every day, we face a similar choice: will we hold tightly to our ways, or will we open our hands and trust God?

Yielding is not something we master overnight. It is something we choose again and again. Every morning is a fresh invitation to say, “Lord, lead me today” (Luke 9:23). We also need each other: other believers to encourage, challenge, and walk with us (Ephesians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 14:29; Revelation 12:11). And we need to keep eternity in mind. This world is not the end. God has sealed us with his Spirit, guaranteeing the hope that lies ahead (Ephesians 1:13–14). That truth gives our surrender purpose.

The life of surrender is not easy, but it is good. It is not weak, but strong. It is not a loss, but a gain. Because when we yield to God, we do not miss out. We actually step into the life we were created for. His Spirit does not just lead us. He fills us, changes us, and works through us in ways we never could on our own. This is the power of the yielded life.

Lord, teach me to truly surrender. Help me trust you more than myself. I do not want to resist, grieve, or ignore your Spirit. Give me ears to hear, a heart to obey, and hands open to your will. Fill me with your peace, your power, and your presence. Let my life reflect you. Amen.