March’s Sacred Call: Surrender
With the new year in full swing, now is a great time to indulge the sacred practice of surrender—letting go of control, deepening trust in the divine, and allowing ourselves to be guided by faith. Across many spiritual traditions, this month is marked by fasting, deep prayer, and self-examination, offering an opportunity to release what no longer serves us and embrace a posture of openness and humility.
The word surrender comes from the Old French surrendre, which combines sur- ("over") and rendre ("to give back" or "yield")—a powerful image of lifting up what we have been holding and returning it to its rightful place. This invites us to reflect on what we have taken on in our own strength that was never ours to carry.
How often do we cling to burdens, responsibilities, or expectations that were meant to be entrusted to the Divine?
What would shift in our lives if we truly believed we didn’t have to carry it all alone?
This month calls us to examine where we have been relying solely on ourselves and, in an act of sacred release, offer back to the Divine what has always belonged there.
A Practice for the Month:
Research the Origins of Fasting – Explore the history of fasting across different spiritual traditions. How has fasting been used as a tool for purification, surrender, and divine connection? What resonates with your own spiritual practice?
Consider What You Need to Fast From – Fasting is not only about food—it can also mean abstaining from distractions, unhealthy habits, or mental patterns that create resistance to surrender. What in your life do you need to release in order to create space for deeper trust in divine support and wisdom?
Set an Intention for Surrender – Write 2–3 intentions, such as “I trust in divine timing” or “I release what is not mine to carry.” Let these intentions guide your choices throughout the month.
As we embrace March’s call to surrender, may we find strength in letting go, peace in uncertainty, and renewal in our deepened trust in the Divine.
—Jalyn Isley, One Spirit Seminary, Class of 2025
