The Surrender Novena: Allowing Jesus to Care For Everything

In times of worry, anxiety, and uncertainty, it is common for us to seek comfort, reassurance from God. For many Christians, turning to Jesus Christ for solace and strength is a natural response to life’s challenges. One powerful way to do so is through the practice of the Surrender Novena. This is a simple form of prayer. It encourages us to place our faith in Jesus and trust Him with everything in our lives.

Today, we will delve into the history and significance of the Surrender Novena. We’ll offer practical tips for incorporating it into your spiritual practice.

The Surrender Novena is a nine-day prayer devotion that focuses on the act of surrendering to Jesus. It was originally composed by Father Don Dolindo Ruotolo, an Italian priest who lived from 1882 to 1970. Father Dolindo was known for his deep spiritual insights, humility, and powerful intercession in times of need.

At its core, the Surrender Novena invites us to let go of our need for control and certainty. Instead, embrace the mystery and beauty of God’s plan for our lives. Through daily reflection and prayer, we are reminded that Jesus is always with us. He is ready to provide the support and guidance we need to overcome any obstacle.

The Surrender Novena consists of a short daily reflection, followed by a simple yet profound prayer:

“O Jesus, I surrender myself to you; take care of everything!”

In an age where independence and self-reliance are often celebrated, the concept of surrender may seem counterintuitive or even disempowering. However, true surrender is not about giving up or admitting defeat. Instead, it is an act of profound faith and trust in Jesus Christ. We recognize that His wisdom, love, and power far exceed our own limited understanding and capabilities.

By surrendering our worries, fears, and desires to Jesus, we open ourselves up to the transformative power of divine grace. We allow God to work in and through us in ways that align with His will.

This surrender frees us from the burden of trying to control every aspect of our lives. It also allows us to experience a sense of peace and serenity.

Here’s what you can pray during the nine days. After each prayer, you’ll recite, “O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!” ten times.

Why do you stress yourself by worrying? Entrust your matters to me, and everything will be calm. Every act of genuine, unquestioning, and total submission to me brings about the desired outcome and resolves all challenging circumstances.

To me, surrender doesn’t imply being anxious, distressed, or losing faith. It also doesn’t involve pleading with me to transform your concerns into prayers. Worrying, being tense, and constantly contemplating the outcomes of various situations are all contrary to the concept of true surrender.

It’s similar to the uncertainty kids experience when they request their mom to attend to help them. But then attempt to handle those needs on their own. This causing their naive efforts to interfere with their mom’s assistance. Surrender implies calmly diverting from distressing thoughts, and entrusting yourself to my care. Allow me to take action, as you say, “You take care of it.”

There are so many instances when our soul, in desperate need of spiritual and material support, turns to me, gazes at me, and tells me, “You take care of it,” before closing its eyes and finding peace. When you are in pain, you pray for me to take action, but you want me to act according to your desires. Instead of truly turning to me, you expect me to conform to your ideas. It’s as if you are not ailing individuals seeking a doctor’s help, but rather ill people instructing the doctor on how to treat you.

So, don’t act like this; instead, pray as I have taught you in the Our Father: “Hallowed be thy Name,” meaning, let your name be glorified in my necessity. “Thy kingdom come,” meaning, let everything within us and the world align with your kingdom. “Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven,” meaning, in our time of need, we make decisions that are best for our earthly and eternal lives. If you genuinely say to me, “Thy will be done,” which is the same as saying, “You take care of it,” I will step in with all my power and resolve even the most challenging situations.

If you notice evil increasing instead of decreasing, don’t worry. Calmly close your eyes and express your faith in me by saying: “Let your will be done; you take care of it.” I assure you that I will take care of the situation, and when necessary, I will perform miracles like a doctor would. If you see someone’s health deteriorating, don’t be distressed. Instead, close your eyes and say, “You take care of it.” I promise you that I will handle the situation, and there is no medicine stronger than my loving intervention. I pledge this to you through my love.

When it becomes necessary for me to guide you down a different path than the one you envision, I will ensure that you are ready for the journey. I will hold you close and provide comfort, like a mother cradling her sleeping child, until we reach the other side of the river. The source of your distress and pain comes from your own thoughts, concerns, and relentless need to confront the issues that plague you.

You can’t sleep because you feel the need to control, oversee, and handle everything, and you end up relying on human abilities or even other people, which prevents you from hearing my guidance and following my path. I deeply desire for you to fully trust and rely on me, and it pains me to see you so restless and anxious. This is exactly what Satan wants: to make you anxious and take you away from my protection, pushing you towards relying on human efforts. Therefore, have faith in me, find peace in me, and let go of your need to control everything, trusting me completely.

Miracles occur when you completely surrender yourself to me and stop focusing on your own needs. When you are at your lowest point, I provide an abundance of blessings. No logical person or deep thinker has ever performed miracles, not even the saints. Those who fully submit to God can accomplish divine acts. Stop worrying about this, as your sharp mind makes it difficult for you to see the negative and trust in me without thinking about yourself. Do this for all your necessities, and everyone will witness incredible, continuous, silent miracles. I assure you that I will handle everything.

Close your eyes and let the soothing flow of my compassion carry you away; close your eyes and cease to fret about the present, steering your thoughts away from the future as though evading allure. Discover solace in me, having faith in my goodwill, and I promise you, with my love, that if you say, “Take care of it,” I will take care of everything; I will console you, liberate you, and guide you.

Always pray with a willingness to let go and surrender, and you will experience immense peace and rewards, even when I grant you the gifts of sacrifice, repentance, and love. In that case, why worry about suffering? If it seems impossible, simply close your eyes and wholeheartedly say, “Jesus, please take care of it.” Do not fear, as I will handle everything, and you can be grateful by being humble. Keep in mind that a thousand prayers cannot compare to one act of surrender.

The Surrender Novena is a powerful spiritual tool that can help us navigate the ups and downs of life with faith, trust, and serenity. By offering our worries, fears, and desires to Jesus Christ, we open ourselves up to the transformative power of divine grace and experience the peace that comes from surrendering to God’s will. So, take a step back and allow Jesus to take care of everything. You may just find that life becomes a little bit lighter and brighter in the process!

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Surprisingly, less than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. In today’s world, many of these least-reached communities are accessible through local churches. Global Disciples utilizes a straightforward and effective strategy of training and coaching to enable believers to share the Gospel within their own countries and cultures. As Jesus instructed his followers to “Go and make disciples of all nations,” the organization is dedicated to fulfilling this mission. If you are searching for a Christian mission organization to collaborate with in order to grow as a disciple and help create more disciples, consider getting in touch with Global Disciples Canada today!