"Surrender."  This word is rarely used in a positive context.  It implies that you are "raising the white flag", giving up, and relinquishing control of your life to someone else.  How could you possibly be successful in the workplace, in your decisions, and in your life if you are surrendered to someone else?  Isn't it considered a form of weakness?

The Bible teaches the opposite if it is God you are surrendering to. He is the Creator of the universe who is all powerful, all knowing, infinitely pure and completely holy.  He begins to use you and equip you in ways that would have never been possible if you were still resisting Him with your weapons raised.  When you lower your weapons and raise the white flag, you acknowledge that He is who He says He is and He is worthy of following.

Surrender to God is not a sign of weakness, but an acknowledgment that He knows more than you could ever fathom and is much better at directing your life than you are.  He loves you and wants what is best for you, and the only way He can provide that is if you let Him "sit on the throne of your heart."

The initial act of surrendering to God is only the first step.  In Luke 9:23, Jesus said that "whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."  One situation at a time, one decision at a time, one step at a time - daily surrendering your life to God.  It might be that you choose to hold your tongue rather than prove your point.  It might be that you assume the best rather than the worst about someone, or that you forgive a coworker or client who lied to you about a business transaction.  It might be that you look away when an attractive woman walks in the room, or hold your temper when an employee makes a mistake that makes you look bad.  Surrender can mean different things to different people.  Whatever your struggles are, God wants you to hand them over to Him.

So, what is the cost?  A better question is, what does it cost you not to surrender?  When you fight against God, you're sacrificing peace, joy, success - the list could go on and on.  Resistance leads to conflict while surrender leads to peace.  Surrendering to God not only leads to peace, but MUCH more importantly, that initial surrender to Him leads to an eternity spent with your Savior.  There is so much more to life than the few years you spend on earth, so hand over the reins to the One who is worthy and look ahead with hope at what is to come!