The Surrender That Stays

Read

Luke 9:23 “Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.’”

Think

We’ve reached the end of this series—but not the end of the journey. If anything, self-control might be the fruit that outlasts the others. Because love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness all flourish in a life that’s consistently surrendered. And that’s what self-control really is: a lifestyle of surrender. Not a moment, not a rule, not a surge of effort—but a rhythm of choosing Jesus again and again, even when our feelings scream otherwise. In Luke 9:23, Jesus lays it out plainly. If we want to follow him, we must deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and walk in his footsteps. Not occasionally. Not when it’s easy. But daily. That word matters. Because it reminds us that self-control isn’t just about what we avoid—it’s about who we pursue. Every morning, we decide again: Will I follow my urges, or will I follow Christ?

Jesus doesn’t ask us to deny ourselves because he’s cruel. He asks us because he knows what our unchecked desires can do to us. He knows how easily we’re enslaved by things that promise freedom but never deliver it. He knows how quickly “just this once” becomes a stronghold. So he calls us higher. Not to punish us—but to protect us. Not to limit our joy—but to lead us into real, lasting, unshakable joy. And let’s be honest—this isn’t a glamorous invitation. The cross wasn’t a symbol of spirituality in Jesus’ day. It was a brutal execution device. When Jesus told his followers to “take up your cross,” he was inviting them to die—to lay down their rights, their plans, their control. It’s the same call today. True self-control starts when we stop being the center of our own lives. When we let go of the illusion that we’re in charge. When we trust that Jesus doesn’t just know better—he is better.

That’s the real secret: self-control isn’t primarily about you controlling yourself. It’s about giving Jesus control. About choosing his voice over the voice of your cravings, his way over the comfort of your patterns, his promises over the pressure of culture. The more you know him, the more natural surrender becomes. Not effortless—but Spirit-led. Not instant—but increasingly joyful.

Over the past nine weeks, we’ve walked through the fruit of the Spirit. Not a checklist to complete—but a portrait of who we become when we stay close to Jesus. These aren’t traits we manufacture. They’re fruit that grows naturally in a life rooted in him. The final fruit—self-control—doesn’t stand at the end like a wall. It stands like a gate. It opens the door to a life where the Spirit leads, and we follow. Where we stop reacting to every impulse and start responding to his presence. Where obedience isn’t driven by guilt, but grounded in love.

If you’ve struggled through this week—if you’ve fallen, failed, or felt like you’ll never get this right—don’t miss the point. The fruit of the Spirit isn’t about your performance. It’s about your posture. God isn’t asking for perfection. He’s inviting your participation. And the way forward isn’t to “try harder” next week—it’s to stay surrendered tomorrow.

Daily surrender might not feel exciting. But over time, it becomes freeing. It becomes steadying. It becomes the soil where the rest of the fruit can grow. This is the life you were made for—not ruled by impulse, not dominated by shame, but marked by trust, rooted in grace, and empowered by the Spirit. The table is set. The invitation is open. Now comes the daily choice: Will you pick up your cross and follow?

Apply

Set aside ten minutes today to reflect on the past nine weeks. Look back over the fruit of the Spirit—where have you seen growth? Where is God still working? Write out one specific area where you’ve experienced the Spirit’s transformation and one area where you’re still in process. Then, make a simple plan to “stay surrendered”—this could be committing to a new rhythm, inviting accountability, or praying the same prayer each morning this week.

Pray

Jesus, thank you for walking with me through every step of this journey. I don’t want to live ruled by my impulses or my fears—I want to follow you daily. Teach me to surrender, not just once, but again and again. Grow your fruit in my life—not by force, but through your Spirit’s work. Make me more like you, one day at a time. In Jesus’ name. Amen.