You’ve probably heard it said that we should yield or submit to God’s will.
But what does it really mean to yield to God? Is it just blind obedience or something more? In this article, we’ll explore the biblical meaning behind yielding and look at some examples of what it looks like to yield to God in our lives today.
We’ll see that yielding is an active posture that requires trust and sacrifice.
It’s not the path of least resistance but rather a vulnerable step of faith.
As we seek God’s heart and open ourselves to His guidance, yielding allows Him to shape us and work through us.
Discover how yielding can lead to blessing, growth, and a deeper relationship with our Creator who loves us.
What Does “Yield” Mean in the Bible?
Surrendering Control
In the Bible, the concept of “yielding” is deeply rooted in the idea of surrendering our will and control to God.
It’s about letting go of our desires and plans, and instead embracing His guidance and direction for our lives.
When we yield, we’re essentially saying, “God, I trust You.
Your way is better than mine.”
A Humble Posture
Yielding requires humility – recognizing that we don’t have all the answers and that our understanding is limited.
It’s about letting go of our pride and admitting that we need God’s wisdom and strength to navigate this journey called life.
The Bible encourages us to “humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God” (1 Peter 5:6), and yielding is a practical expression of this humble posture.
Obedience and Trust
At its core, yielding is an act of obedience and trust.
When we yield to God, we’re choosing to obey His commands and trust that His plans are better than our own.
This doesn’t mean we’ll always understand the “why” behind His ways, but it does mean we’re willing to follow His lead, even when it’s difficult or doesn’t make sense from our limited perspective.
A Pruning Process
The process of yielding can be painful at times, as it often involves letting go of our own desires, dreams, and comforts.
But just as a gardener prunes a plant to help it grow stronger and bear more fruit, God sometimes uses difficult circumstances to prune us and shape us into the people He wants us to be.
When we yield to this process, we allow God to do His transformative work in our lives.
A Pathway to Peace
Ultimately, yielding to God is a pathway to peace and fulfillment.
When we surrender our lives to His control, we can rest in the knowledge that He has our best interests at heart.
We can exchange our worries and burdens for His peace, which transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
And as we yield to His plan, we can trust that He will use our lives in ways that bring glory to Himself and blessings to others.
Old Testament Examples of Yielding to God
Abraham’s Obedience
The story of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac is a powerful example of yielding to God’s will.
When instructed to offer his long-awaited son as a burnt offering, Abraham didn’t question or argue.
He simply obeyed, trusting that God had a greater plan.
His obedience was rewarded when God intervened at the last moment, sparing Isaac’s life.
Abraham’s faith was strengthened through this act of yielding to the Lord’s command, no matter how difficult or confusing it seemed.
Moses and the Burning Bush
Another iconic Old Testament story involves Moses encountering the burning bush in the wilderness.
God called out to Moses, instructing him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and slavery.
At first, Moses made excuses and doubted his ability.
But when he finally yielded to God’s plan, miracles unfolded.
Moses humbled himself before the Lord’s power and calling on his life.
His story reminds us that even weakness can become strength when we yield control to the One who has all authority.
Gideon’s Unlikely Victory
Gideon’s incredible military victory against the Midianites showcases what happens when an ordinary person yields to an extraordinary God.
Gideon was an unlikely hero – the least in his family, hiding in fear from enemies.
Yet when the angel of the Lord called him a “mighty warrior,” Gideon yielded himself despite insecurities.
By trusting God’s strategy and power over his own limited perspective, Gideon led a tiny army to an impossible triumph over a vast multitude.
These Old Testament heroes didn’t have all the answers.
But their lives were transformed when they relinquished control, doubts, and personal agendas to humbly follow where the Lord led them.
As we yield our lives to Christ, He can work in us in similarly awe-inspiring ways.
New Testament Teachings on Yielding to God
Surrender Your Will
Jesus taught that fully surrendering your will to God is the essence of yielding.
He said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).
Denying yourself means letting go of your own desires, plans and control.
It’s relinquishing the reins of your life to God’s sovereign will.
When you surrender to God, you’re following Christ’s example.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).
He yielded his human desires to the Father’s plan, even though it meant suffering.
Yielding requires the humility to say, “God, I don’t understand your ways, but I trust you.”
Depend on God’s Strength
The apostle Paul wrote, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
When you yield to God, you’re admitting your weakness and depending on Christ’s power working through you.
You can’t change through self-effort alone – you need supernatural grace.
Yielding frees you from trying to control everything through your limited abilities.
Paul said, “I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Embracing your inadequacy causes you to rely on God’s sufficiency.
Bear Spiritual Fruit
Jesus compared yielding to God to a vine and branches.
“I am the vine; you are the branches.
Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
When you yield, staying vitally connected to Christ, you’ll naturally bear spiritual fruit – love, joy, peace and more (Galatians 5:22-23).
Trying to produce godly character through self-effort is futile.
But as you yield control to the Holy Spirit, he cultivates Christ-like qualities in you.
Yielding positions you to experience the abundant life Jesus promised (John 10:10).
The Blessings of Yielding to God
Finding Peace in Surrender
You know that feeling of being weighed down by the burdens of life? Constantly striving, worrying, and trying to control every outcome.
But what if I told you there’s a way to find profound peace? It comes through the act of yielding to God.
When you surrender your will to the One who holds the universe in His hands, a weight lifts off your shoulders.
You realize you don’t have to have all the answers or make everything happen through sheer force.
Instead, you can rest in the assurance that your loving Father has a perfect plan.
His ways are higher than yours – yield, and you’ll experience an indescribable calm.
Renewed Strength and Purpose
Trying to go it alone eventually wears you down.
You start running on fumes, questioning if it’s all worth it.
But yielding to God renews your strength.
He promises to give power to the faint and increase the might of the weak (Isaiah 40:29).
As you let go and let God take the lead, you gain a fresh sense of purpose.
You’re no longer just spinning your wheels; you’re walking in step with the Creator of the universe.
Every area of your life – relationships, work, goals – finds renewed meaning as you yield to His higher ways.
Experiencing God’s Abundant Blessings
One of the greatest blessings of yielding is experiencing God’s abundant provision.
When you stubbornly cling to your own path, you limit what the Lord can do in your life.
But a surrendered heart opens the door for Him to pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams (Ephesians 3:20).
It may seem paradoxical, but it’s in letting go that you gain everything.
You’ll see God’s hand at work providing wisdom, resources, open doors, and divine appointments.
As you yield to His lead, He’ll satisfy your desires with good things (Psalm 103:5).
That’s the awesome power of surrender!
How to Yield Your Life to God
Surrender Your Will
Yielding to God starts with surrendering your will to His plan.
This means putting aside your own desires, ambitions, and agendas.
Instead, ask God to reveal His purpose for your life.
Be prepared to let go of control – yielding is an act of trust and obedience.
Seek Him Wholeheartedly
Yielding requires wholeheartedly seeking God through prayer, Scripture reading, and worship.
Open your heart to let the Holy Spirit guide you.
Ask God to renew your mind and transform your desires to align with His will.
Yield the unhealthy attitudes, habits, and relationships that don’t honor Him.
Step Out in Faith
As you yield areas of your life to God, He may lead you in unexpected directions.
Have faith to follow His lead, even when it doesn’t make sense.
Yielding often requires bold steps of obedience and faith.
Let go of fear, pride, and resistance that could hinder you from fully yielding.
Stay Surrendered
Yielding is an ongoing process, not a one-time decision.
Each day, surrender your life afresh to God.
Yield your thoughts, emotions, choices, and circumstances to His higher wisdom and authority.
True yielding means maintaining an open, pliable heart before the Lord.
Yielding your life allows God to work in you and through you in mighty ways.
As you decrease, He increases – transforming you from the inside out.
The more you yield, the more you’ll experience His profound peace, power and purpose for your life.
