surrender to god: many perspectives

"What does it mean for someone to totally surrender himself/herself over to God?"

"You know in your heart that what matters to you really doesn't matter. All that matters is what God thinks and what He wants you to do. You basically tell God and actively pursue the idea that no matter what comes into your life, you will seek Him first and not even try anything on your own. Ever. You pray and maybe even fast before you make decisions, you seek godly counsel from those around you, you get into the word more and more, and you basically just make a conscious effort to live everyday looking at the world through God's eyes." - Julie

"It means putting God before everything else in your life." - Matt

"Give God complete control of your life: your resources, your desires, and you just completely let God do everything and not worry about anything you want." - Kyle

"It means you completely submit your life to the will of God, and that everything you do in your life would have to be for Him, His plan, and in alliance with what He tells us in scripture. It's about forgetting what you wanted and what you planned, and letting God do all things for you." - Katy

"We do things not for our own satisfaction or glory, but for God's satisfaction and glory. Every aspect of our life should reflect Him. Someone who surrenders to God is someone who gives Him the control over their whole life." - Megan

"Everything that the person owes, he or she gives it all to God. All their thoughts, possessions, all their heart. Anything that God has provided, you give it back to Him." - Rochelle

"You put everything you want aside and seek what God wants for you." - Dan

"Surrender everything you are and everything you have to Him. Live totally for Him and let Him be in control over everything." - Trista

"You decide that you'll do whatever God wants you to do. You put Him first in your life before all others. You do what's best for Him and His kingdom, and not what will benefit you. That kind of stuff." - Doc Rob

"Ummm... Well... I think it is just making your will what He wants, it is learning what it is that God has for you and to chase after that with all your heart, not trying to get distracted by things that you want that are not in His will." - Tim

"To give up things you know are pulling you farther away from Christ and to seek Him first in everything. Basically say, 'Lord, here I am. I'm giving up all these things for you. I know that they are getting in the way of my relationship with you. Lord, let your will be done through me.' It's sacrificing what you want for what God wants. It's saying, 'Here I am, Lord. Use me to further Your kingdom." - Pentoast

Here's one I like a lot:

"I could give you a nice 'christianese' answer, like, 'It means giving up any control over one's life and seeking God's will alone.' But that doesn't cut it. I think a lot of it has to do with God calling us... us realizing how evil we are in our hearts... and asking God to transform our wicked hearts. But the idea of 'totally surrendering' seems a little irrelevent to me. We should all seek to surrender ourselves to God, of course, but I think coming up with a certain 'level' where everything is good is kind dumb... We'll never really perform good enough for such an infinitely perfect God. That's where grace comes in." - Benhase

And Katy throws on as a tag-line, keeping us all humble:

"Well, it's not exactly fun. Not that I ever seem to get it right."

Nor do I, Katy, nor do I.