Picture a long-distance marathon runner standing at the starting line on a cold morning. To run a successful race, the runner must make a conscious decision to lay aside comfortable heavy jackets, unhelpful gear, and the immediate urge to stay wrapped in a warm blanket. Denying those immediate comforts isn't an act of self-hatred; it is the necessary preparation to run with endurance and reach the finish line of true freedom. Turning our will and our lives over to God is not a one-time ceremony that we complete and forget about; it is a daily, moment-by-moment choice to pick up our cross and follow Jesus. When we deny the destructive demands of our self-will, old habits, and selfish desires, we aren't losing our identity—we are shedding the heavy gear that used to drag us down into misery. Daily surrender is the very foundation upon which long-term, joyful freedom is constructed. | 
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