Surrendering to the Spirit
Surrendering to the Spirit
January 13, 2026
Communion Reflection
Because Christ gave His life to bring us into fellowship with God, we come to the table surrendering our direction to the Spirit’s leading.
Most Christians know a lot about God. We’ve heard sermons, read books, highlighted verses, and filled notebooks. And yet, one of the most challenging questions for many believers to answer is surprisingly simple:
“What is God actually doing in your life right now?”
Not what you believe. Not what you affirm. Not what you agree with theologically.
But where you can point to real moments, real experiences, real situations, and say, “That was God shaping me.”
Information alone doesn’t transform us. It can inform our thinking and even strengthen our convictions, but transformation happens when truth collides with real life—and we respond by faith. This is why experiencing God personally is not optional for spiritual growth; it is essential.
Communion brings us back to this reality. Christ did not give His life merely to give us correct beliefs about God. He gave His life to bring us into living fellowship with God—to walk with Him, to be led by His Spirit, and to be changed by His presence.
At the table, we are reminded that the Christian life is not something we manage; it is something we surrender.
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When Faith Moves From Theory to Real Life
One danger of long-term church involvement is that faith can slowly become abstract. We talk about trust, obedience, and surrender, but rarely name the places where those things are being tested.
Growth stalls when faith remains theoretical. But faith comes alive when we begin noticing how God is responding to our prayers through everyday situations—conversations, interruptions, frustrations, delays, and decisions.
This is why Growth Adventures matter. They train us to see life differently. When we give God permission to use anything and everything in our lives to shape us, ordinary moments become sacred spaces. Situations that once felt random begin to look intentional. And instead of reacting automatically, we learn to respond attentively.
Spiritual growth becomes less about trying harder and more about noticing sooner.
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Why Sharing Your Story Matters
When people share their Growth Adventures, especially when they are messy, slow, or challenging, they give the church a gift.
They remind us that spiritual formation is not instant. That obedience often feels uncomfortable. That surrender usually involves uncertainty. And that the Spirit’s work is real, even when it is not dramatic.
Stories anchor faith in reality. They help others recognize God’s work in their own lives. They normalize struggle without glorifying it. And they build courage for others to take their next step of obedience.
This is why Communion is such a fitting moment to share. The table levels us. We all come needing grace. We all come surrendering control. And we all come trusting that the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead is at work within us.
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Coming to the Table With Open Hands
When we take Communion elements, the invitation is not to perform, impress, or prove anything. It is simply to surrender.
To say:
• “Lord, I don’t want to lead myself.”
• “Use the real circumstances of my life to shape me.”
• “Help me recognize Your work and respond by faith.”
When we come to the table this way, Communion becomes more than remembrance. It becomes realignment. A moment where we place our direction back into the hands of the Spirit and trust Him to lead us into life.
And as we do, we discover something powerful: God is not distant or silent. He is present, active, and deeply committed to completing the work He began in us.
That is grace. And that is why we surrender.
Pastor Brad.