Our sense of separation from God is nothing but an illusion. Yogananda says, “We are as close to God as we will ever be; we just have to improve our knowing.” Saints and sages teach us that the path to knowing our oneness with God is simple: surrender. What is the essence of surrender? As a starting point, surrender is consecrating everything of ourselves to God, to offer all that we are and all that we have. Surrender does not insist on its own ideas, desires, and preferences. Surrender whole-heartedly accepts the peace and joy that descends from above. When the Guru gives us wise counsel, surrender is receiving and following it. Surrender is making ourselves an instrument of God’s will. Finally, surrender is giving the burden of our lives to God. All of our cares belong to God because God is taking care of everything, and I do mean everything. Surrender is knowing that whatever happens to us is none of our business; our lives are God’s business. Surrender does not imply passivity! Quite to the contrary, surrender makes us strong, wise, and effective because we have become pencils in the hands of God.
Divine God,
Each day,
May I step
Closer and closer
Into surrender.
