December 12
Deuteronomy 6:4-8
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes."
Give It All Away
by Makayla Williams
Deuteronomy 6:4-8 is a charge to love God with everything we are and everything we have—our hearts, our minds, our souls, and our strength. But what does it mean to truly surrender control to God? To give all of the glory, power, and praise to God?
This verse isn’t just a call to surrender, but an invitation to experience a fruitful life overflowing with God’s presence and might. It commands us to release our ambitions, and our fears, and surrender—not partially, but completely. We are imperfect, broken children of God. Many of us living lives of idleness, claiming lives we don’t lead rather than confessing our brokenness and outcrying to God that we need Him. Having faith in God is allowing our trust in Him to consume us and overflow into every part of our lives. We become vessels of faithfulness and love.
Scripture shows us that when we release control, God rewards our obedience with strength far beyond what this world can offer. For Godly strength is far greater and more powerful than any worldly strength we could ever have. His power is a power that doesn’t fade or fail. Giving it all to God frees us from the pressure to have it all together. And when we allow God’s strength to work through us, we see how He is truly working all things for our good. Faith is not about control, but yielding it to God. As we step out in obedience, we find God’s promises are steadfast.
In giving God full control, we acknowledge that He knows our purpose more clearly than we ever could. This doesn’t mean we won’t face challenges or doubt. As we let go, God makes us strong—stronger than our anxieties, stronger than any obstacles, stronger than our doubts. This kind of faith is not passive; it’s active. I invite you to live out this faith daily, in conversation, in study, in service, and community. By doing this, we not only draw nearer to God ourselves but also witness to those around us. In every step of our faith, we’re called to talk about God’s goodness, to praise Him for what He’s done, and to celebrate the ways His strength carries us.
Are you still holding on to control? Take a moment to pray and release to God. Faith isn’t just believing God can—it’s trusting that He will, and the Bible tells us He does. Make God the center. Understand that our weakness is where God’s power can shine the brightest. Let this remind us to keep going, not by our strength, but by His. Choose to praise.Make it a habit to thank God not just for what He’s done, but for who He is. Be committed. Commit to giving God all the power and glory, not just in words but in action and surrender. Give it all away, and He will give it all to you.
About the Author
Makayla Williams
Makayla Williams, of Humble, Texas, is a senior communications major and Trailblazer Scholar at Baylor University. During her time at Baylor, she has been an active participant in student life, serving as the vice president of the Nu Iota Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.
After graduation in the Spring of 2025, Williams will begin Baylor’s accelerated master’s program in Communications. She hopes to follow this accomplishment with a career working with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. Away from academics and service, Williams loves to cook, enjoys reading, expressing herself through writing or new ideas, dancing, and spending quality time with friends and family.