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 Eighteen • May 3, 2026
Trusting God With Tomorrow (Pt. 3)
In this final part of the message, “Trusting God with Tomorrow,” we are brought face to face with a powerful truth from Scripture—while we often plan our days and assume the future, the Bible teaches us that life is fragile, uncertain, and completely in God’s hands. As James reminds us, our life is “even a vapour” that appears for a little time and then vanishes away . The issue is not planning, but planning without God—living as though we are in control of what only God knows.
This message walks through the heart of biblical trust: having a proper perspective of tomorrow, a humble posture before God today, and a surrendered plan that says, “If the Lord will.” Whether facing uncertainty, fear, or the illusion of control, we are called to draw near to God, rest in His care, and trust that His will is good, even when tomorrow is unknown. Because Christ has risen, our future is secure—not in our plans, but in His perfect hands.
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