(Excerpt from Cheryl Gnagey's Spiritual Healing: The Surrender That Brings Victory, Chapter 9)
We are taught from a very young age that we not only can accomplish things, but it is better if you do it all by yourself. This sounds like good instruction, but it does so because this has been ingrained in us since we began to hold our own bottles at feeding time. But God's word does not teach that at all. As a matter of fact, He tells us this in Zechariah 4:6 instead:
"Not by [your] might, nor by [your] power, but by MY SPIRIT, says the Lord of Hosts."
"Here's the problem that most of us have when it comes to surrendering to God so that we might obey His every command. We tend to try to do it in our own power. In other words, we try to surrender the flesh--BY THE FLESH! You have already heard that nothing good resides in your flesh, yet you are probably guilty of trying to surrender by your own fleshly power and strength anyway. You have also likely discovered that surrender by way of the flesh is fruitless. If you think that isn't true, then just think of one New Year's resolution in which you have succeeded for life!
It bears repeating. We can only accomplish surrender to God in one way--God's way! We must come to the place where we allow God to change our hearts and minds so that we understand that repentance--the intentional turning from sin--that flows from a heart that God is changing, is required of every God-seeking believer. When we allow God to work in our hearts and minds we are set free to act upon the work He has already done within us--the heart-transforming act of placing the life of Christ in us by way of the Holy Spirit. Because of this one action, we can fix our gaze on Him and turn away from our sin instead. This is how we die to our flesh.
It is at the veil that divides the Inner Court from the Holy of Holies where the crucifixions of our flesh will take place. When the veil of your heart that keeps you from fully surrendering to God is removed, then you will be enabled to become a fruit- bearer of the greatest kind! But if your walk lacks crucified flesh, then your flesh will remain in its state of decline, ruling over your thoughts, words, and deeds. If you choose against the surrender that involves the crucifying of your sinful flesh, then you will become useless to God, and your 'religion' will be dead. Remember, the flesh is death to you, but the Spirit is life."
We can do it, but not alone! Our part is to surrender to the Spirit in us, and then He accomplishes obedience through us. Any changes we make on our own can never be heart-transforming because our flesh is made of nothing good. Changing us is the work of the Spirit within us. Only He can change your heart.
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