The Surrendered Shepherd: The Power of Abandonment

What if the greatest strength you could offer your family wasn’t found in control, but in surrender?

▶️ Click Here to Watch On YouTube

God’s Promise:

Luke 14:26 – “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”

I used to say the Lord’s Prayer in church like it was just another ritual, something I had memorized as a kid and repeated out of habit. For years, I spoke the words without really understanding them. But after I truly repented and surrendered to Jesus, the Holy Spirit gave me a completely new appreciation for those words. Suddenly, I wasn’t just reciting a prayer—I was talking to God with the very words Jesus had given me.

That’s when I realized something: the Lord’s Prayer is not just a prayer—it’s an invitation to complete surrender. Every line calls us to abandon self and trust fully in God’s provision, His forgiveness, and His kingdom. But that kind of surrender? It’s not easy. In fact, it’s a daily battle—a battle in our hearts even while we fight to protect and lead our families.

As men, we often feel the pressure to hold everything together. We want to be strong, to provide, to lead. And yet, Jesus calls us to let go—to give up our self-interest, our desire for control, even our families, and place everything in His hands. That’s tough to hear, isn’t it? But that’s exactly what Jesus meant when He said, “Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39).

Letting go of our own plans, fears, and desires is the only way we can truly shepherd our families. It sounds contradictory—surrender your family to Jesus so you can truly lead them. But when we give them to God, we lead from a place of trust instead of fear. When we let go of our own strength, we lead from His strength.

Look at the words of the Lord’s Prayer:
“Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” That’s a call to release bitterness, to let go of pride, to surrender justice to God. It’s a radical kind of abandonment—not just letting go of control, but letting go of the need to be right, the need to be in charge, the need to hold on to things that aren’t ours to keep.

The truth is, you can’t shepherd well if you’re holding too tightly to your own desires. A shepherd trusts the voice of the Master and leads his flock where God directs, not where his own heart tells him to go (John 10:27). To be the kind of man who protects and provides, you first have to be a man who surrenders. (John 3:30) That’s how we live out the Lord’s Prayer—not just as a set of words, but as a way of life.

So, brother, what are you still holding onto? What part of your life—your leadership, your fatherhood, your marriage—needs to be abandoned to Jesus?

Today’s “Shepherding in Action” Value:

Surrender – A shepherd doesn’t grip his flock in fear but releases them to the care of the Master. True leadership begins when we let go and trust God fully.

Reflection Questions for Men:

1. What is one area of your life where you struggle to surrender control to God? How does this impact your leadership?
2. How does trusting God with your family make you a stronger shepherd in your home?
3. In what ways does the Lord’s Prayer challenge you to let go of self-interest and fully embrace God’s will?

Bible References:

• Luke 14:26 – “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”
• Matthew 10:39 – “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
• John 3:30 – “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
• John 10:27 – “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

Prayer:

Father, help me to surrender my plans, my fears, and my family to You. Teach me to lead not from my own strength but from Yours. May my life reflect complete trust in You, as I shepherd my family with love and faith. Amen.

My Personal Journey:

These weekday reflections flow from my time in God’s Word. I invite you to join me and other Men of the Shepherd in building Christ-centered homes—leading, discipling, and serving like Jesus. If these reflections encourage you, please like, share, and pass them on so more men can grow in their calling.

To follow along with the weekday readings, check out our Weekday Reflections Playlist on YouTube or subscribe to the YouTube channel here.

#TheHarvestField #Father #Men #Husband

Surrender