“If you really want to know who God is, you have to be prepared to surrender.”
Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Can we have a personal relationship with God on our own terms? Can we be spiritual and live the way we want at the same time? From the way many people talk and act, you would think it’s possible, but I’m afraid the sooner we burst their bubble, the better. Because if we truly want to know God, we must do it his way.
I recently listened to an interview with Somali-born author and human rights activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali, whose most famous book is Infidel. She explained why she converted from atheism to Christianity (after being raised a Muslim). Her quote above caught my attention because it perfectly summarizes the attitude we often lack in our quest for God and spirituality.
My purpose is not to point fingers at others—I need to remind myself of this truth as much as anyone else. Regardless of our standing with God—whether we’ve walked with him for years or are debating his existence—the same principle applies. So let’s explore what he has to say.
We’ll start by looking at John the Baptist. His task was to prepare the nation of Israel for the coming of the Messiah. How did he go about fulfilling his mission? By calling people to repent. That’s it. You might think he would have shared many other important messages, but he focused only on this one theme. Why? Because God knew people would never accept Jesus without first having the right attitude.
Why is this mindset of surrender so important? Is God some dictator who delights in controlling everything we do? If that were the case, he would never have given us free will in the first place. No, I compare him to a guide leading a group of people through a minefield, where one wrong step has tragic consequences. God wants to help us navigate life and eternity.
As with anything else, we can’t solve a problem without first acknowledging its existence. The same applies to our relationship with God. We can’t connect with him if we don’t first recognize the barrier that stands in the way—our sin—and the solution he provides—Jesus Christ. God is holy and can’t have fellowship with sinful beings, any more than living organisms can approach the sun.
Before going further, it’s important to clarify what repentance is: it’s agreeing with God that a thought or behavior is wrong and choosing not to repeat it. Obviously, ending a behavior is rarely so simple, but if our attitude shifts, then our actions gradually start to reflect that change.
Every aspect of our relationship with God—from the initial step of reconciling with him through faith in Jesus to maintaining our daily walk with him—requires an attitude of submission. I want to emphasize again that it’s not because God is a dictator, but it’s because we’re in the minefield of life, and we need to follow a guide who knows where he’s going.
Another way to describe this perspective is the expression “the fear of the Lord,” which has nothing to do with fear per se. It’s all about showing respect, the same respect a private would show a general.
Granted, being submissive isn’t easy, fun, or convenient. I’ve struggled many times in the past with having the right attitude, and I’m sure I’ll continue to do so in the future. However, I ultimately choose to surrender to God because I trust him. He knows what’s best for me, and he has my well-being in mind. Why make the unwise choice to disobey … and step on a mine that not only blows me up but those around me?
How many blessings have I missed because I was too busy ignoring what God said? I’ll never know. I’m just grateful that the Lord’s grace and mercy are new every day.
Do we want to get to know God? Do we desire a vibrant spiritual life? Do we want to be filled with unshakable joy and peace, unaffected by the dark world around us? As Ayaan said, we must first be willing to surrender to our Creator. There is no other way.
Picture: ChatGPT