Surrender Control – BT4: What does the phrase “Let go and let God” really mean?
Surrender Control – BT4: What does the phrase “Let go and let God” really mean?
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The phrase “Let go and let God” likely originated as the “fundamental principle of Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous, which is the recognition that we do not have power over our addictions, and outside help is needed to maintain sobriety.” Thus the 2nd and 3rd steps of the 12-Step program are “I came to believe that a POWER greater than myself could restore me to sanity. I made a decision to turn my will and my life over to the care of God as I understand Him.” You see, “our best thinking is what got us here in the first place,” to this place of addiction!
The “letting go” part is surrendering the phony idea that we have control/mastery or are responsible for the world beyond our own small interactions. The “letting God” part means to proseuchomai conversationally-pray along with deesis supplication and then leave the matter in God’s hands – “Thy will, not my will, be done,” just as Jesus taught us in “The Lord’s Prayer. But like anything, this method takes practice, so don’t be discouraged if your results are part “flesh” and part “Spirit.” God knows we are like “little children” who need to learn how to crawl before walking, and walking before running! God knows that “little children” need training wheels to learn how to ride a bicycle!
There are a plenty of bible verses to support continuing to turn (repenting of) our own “puny abilities” over to trust the Lord for His unlimited enabling-power, and the peace and confidence that result: “Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you” (a); “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by proseuche conversational-prayer and/coupled deesis supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of/belonging-to God, which surpasses all nous reasoning-mind, will guard your hearts and/couples your noema minds in Christ Jesus” (b); “Commit your ways to Yahweh; trust in Him, and He will act” (c); “Trust in Yahweh with all your heart and do not lean on your own [human] binayh/sophia understanding/wisdom. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight and smooth your paths/roads” (d). <Notes> a) 1 Peter 5:7, b) Philippians 4:6-7, cf. Psalms 34:17, c) Psalms 37:5, cf. Proverbs 16:3, d) Proverbs 3:5-6.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for agathos ‘God-like good’ works” (a); “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to do His good pleasure” (b); “There are varieties of the Spirit’s activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone” (c); “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of Yahweh, which He will work for you today. . . Yahweh will fight for you, and you have only to be silent” (d). <Notes> a) Ephesians 2:10, b) Philippians 2:13, c) 1 Corinthians 12:6, d) Exodus 14:13-14.
Jesus said, “Come to Me, all who labor and are weary, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke (a) upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (b); “For whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works just as God did from His” (c); “Now may the God of peace . . . equip you with everything agathos ‘God-like good’ that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ” (d). Well, this is just a dent! <Notes> a) a harness of instruction for animals, training the novice by connecting it to the expert, a common expression for rabbinic discipleship, b) Matthew 11:28-29, c) Hebrews 4:10, d) Hebrews 13:20-21.
Reflections:
As Christian musicians, there is good reason to distrust our own limited abilities and instead turn to the Lord for his unlimited abilities. What has your experience about repentance been?
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Spiritual Education, Propitiation, Atonement, Exchanging our unrighteous control for Christ’s righteous control, Let Go and Let God, Surrender of our will for God’s will, Surrender of our ability for God’s ability, Surrender of our failure for God’s success, We are to be God’s workmanship NO longer our own, We are God’s temple, New Covenant is about God working IN us to do His will, New Covenant is submission subordination subjugation to God’s power, Power comes from being Yoked to Jesus as our Rabbi-Teacher by the Spirit