The Power of Full Surrender
By Pastor Jerry A. Burns
When evangelist J. Wilbur Chapman visited London, he had the opportunity to meet General William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army. Booth was over eighty years old at the time, a man who had seen both great trials and great victories in his ministry. As Chapman listened, he was deeply moved by the life and testimony of this seasoned servant of God. Wanting to understand the source of such impact, he asked a simple but profound question: “What is the secret of your success?”
For a moment, General Booth hesitated. Then, with tears in his eyes, he gave an answer that has echoed through generations: “God has had all there was of me.” He went on to explain that others had greater intellect, greater opportunities, and perhaps greater natural abilities—but he had made a decision early on that God would have everything. His heart, his will, his life—it all belonged to the Lord. And he believed that any power seen in his ministry was simply the result of that full surrender.
Chapman walked away from that meeting with a powerful realization: “The greatness of a man’s power is the measure of surrender.” That truth cuts straight to the heart of our Christian life. We often ask God for more power, more effectiveness, more results—but God is often asking for more of us. Not more talent, not more ability, but more surrender. The question is not how much God can do for us, but how much of us God truly has.
Take time this week to write out a personal prayer of surrender, specifically naming areas of your life you need to fully yield to God.
Have you given God part of your life—or all of it? Are there areas you still hold back, wanting control instead of surrendering fully to Him? True spiritual power does not come from ability, but from availability. Today, ask yourself honestly: does God have all of you?
"For I know that my redeemer liveth, And that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth" — Job 19:25
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This Week's Radio Program
Week Forty-Four • November 1, 2026
What are you Seeking?
In this week’s message titled "What are you Seeking?" from Kitchener Baptist Church, Pastor Jerry A. Burns explores John 20 to show how the world searches for meaning in the wrong places. Listeners will hear how Solomon looked for purpose in worldly success and pleasures only to find vanity, and how Mary Magdalene sought her Savior at the tomb, weeping for the dead before discovering He had risen.
Pastor Burns reminds us that true life is found only in Jesus Christ. The reality of Christ gives us life, and His resurrection is the key to our salvation and eternal life. We must choose life, for Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Join us on "Timeless Truths" as we turn to God's Word for these vital answers.
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