God Did Not Go to the Scrap Junk Yard When He Created You
By Pastor Joel – Open Heaven Christian Church – Fisher, Arkansas
There is a powerful truth many believers struggle to fully grasp: God does not call us to lose ourselves—He calls us to become who we were always meant to be.
A very misunderstood verse in scripture is when Jesus said these words in the gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
When we hear phrases like “deny yourself” or “die to self,” it can sound like God is asking us to erase who you are, your likes, dislikes, dreams, and desires. But that is not the heart of God. The Lord is not in the business of destroying anyone’s identity—He is in the business of restoring our true identity that we were all created with, but only in Christ and not the false identity that we were all deceived into believing before Christ became our Lord and Savior.
You were not a mistake. You were not thrown together. God did not go to the junk scrap yard when He created you. You were fearfully and wonderfully made, designed with intention, purpose, and divine precision.
By now you may be wondering, So why, then, does God call us to surrender and deny ourselves and follow Jesus?
The Mystery of Surrender
Surrender is not about becoming empty in a lifeless sense—it is about removing everything that is not aligned with God so that what is from Him can flourish and bring out your uniquely created identity that God created you to be.
Many of us are filled—but filled with the wrong things:
Fear instead of faith
Pride instead of humility
Control instead of trust
Confusion instead of truth
God’s call is not “become nothing,” but rather:
“Let go of what is not from Me so I can fill you with what is.”
This is where transformation begins.
Jesus: The Perfect Example
Jesus showed us what true surrender looks like. He did not lose His identity—He walked fully in it. Yet, He continually submitted Himself to the will of the Father.
He chose obedience over comfort.
He chose purpose over popularity.
He chose surrender over self-preservation.
And because of that, His life carried power, authority, and impact.
The Process of Becoming
Transformation does not happen overnight. It is a daily process of yielding, trusting, and obeying.
First, we become aware of the areas in our lives that are out of alignment. These are often the places where we struggle the most—habits we can’t break, fears we can’t shake, or desires that pull us away from God’s will.
Then comes surrender. Not partial surrender—but full release. We lay it down before God and choose His way over ours.
But God does not leave us empty.
As we release, He replaces:
He gives peace where anxiety once ruled
He gives clarity where confusion lived
He gives strength where weakness dominated
This is the divine exchange.
Becoming Your True Self
Here is the beautiful truth: the more you surrender to God, the more you become aware of true self. This is the inward man of the heart that becomes fully aware and alive in Christ, just as Jesus was fully aware of his divine purpose.
2 Corinthians 4:14-15 “Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.”
Not the version shaped by the world.
Not the version controlled by fear.
But the version created by God from the beginning.
Your true identity is not found in independence from God—it is found in alignment with Him.
When you walk in His will:
Your purpose becomes clear
Your decisions become guided
Your life gains direction and meaning
You stop striving to “figure it out” and begin walking in what was already designed for you.
The Blessing of Transformation
As you are being transformed, God begins to move in your life in ways you cannot manufacture.
Doors begin to open.
Peace begins to settle in your spirit.
Favor begins to follow your obedience.
This is not coincidence—this is alignment.
God blesses the life that is yielded to Him because that life can be trusted with His purpose.
How to Allow God’s Will to Take Over Your Life
If you truly want God’s will to be done in your life, it begins with daily, intentional steps:
Start each day with surrender.
Tell God, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”
Identify what you are holding onto that God is asking you to release.
Be honest—God cannot transform what you refuse to surrender.
Replace your thoughts with truth. Why truth? Because becoming aware of “truth” is what makes your free! Many today say “the truth sets us free”, however truth is not a one time occurrence, but rather an ongoing process – It ‘makes us free” implying it is a continual work that God does in all of our lives.
John 8:32 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
When fear, doubt, or pride rises, bring it under submission and choose God’s Word instead. Why? Because truth is absolute and found in the word of God.
Act in obedience—even when it is uncomfortable.
Transformation happens through action, not intention alone.
Stay consistent.
This is not a one-time moment—it is a daily walk. As you walk in truth, you are being made free!
Final Truth
God is not trying to take something from you—He is trying to give you everything you were created to be.
You are not being erased.
You are being refined.
You are not losing your life.
You are discovering it as you loose what is not really true in your life. This is why Jesus said these word in the gospel of Matthew:
Matthew 10:39 “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find.”
What does God want us to lose? Not our literal life, but the false identity that blocks the identity that God created all of us with.
And as you surrender, align, and walk in His will, you will find something greater than anything you could have created on your own – TRUE LIFE BEGINS:
You will find your true self—fully alive, fully aligned, and fully blessed in the purpose of God.
This is why Jesus said that he came to give us life and that more abundantly.
John 10:10 “…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
How “Emptying Yourself” Actually Works (Step-by-Step)
This process is not mystical confusion—it’s structured, repeatable, and grounded in Scripture.
1. Awareness: Recognizing What Must Be Surrendered
You begin by identifying what is competing with God’s will in your life:
Pride (needing control, recognition)
Fear (avoiding obedience)
Fleshly desires (impulses, patterns)
Self-direction (“my plan over God’s plan”)
This is where most people stop—they feel conviction to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, but don’t act so they miss out on what God has prepared for them.
2. Surrender: A Conscious Decision
Surrender is not emotional—it is a deliberate act of the will.
You are essentially saying:
“Lord, I release my way, my timing, my control. Your will comes first.”
This must happen daily—not once.
3. Replacement: Being Filled, Not Left Empty
God never leaves a surrendered vessel empty.
As you let go of:
Pride → He gives humility
Fear → He gives faith
Confusion → He gives clarity
Weakness → He gives strength
This is the “filling” stage. If you skip this, you feel empty instead of transformed. The Holy Spirit is the one who fills us.
4. Alignment: Choosing God’s Will in Real Life
This is where surrender becomes visible:
You forgive when it’s hard
You obey when it costs you
You speak truth when silence is easier
You walk away from things that once defined you
Transformation happens through consistent obedience, not just intention.
5. Transformation: Becoming Your True Self
Here’s the paradox:
You don’t lose yourself—you find your real identity.
You become more stable, not less
More clear, not confused
More purposeful, not lost
This is who God originally designed you to be—before fear, sin, and self took over.
6. Blessing: The Byproduct of Alignment
Blessing is not random—it flows from alignment.
This doesn’t always mean material wealth, but it does mean:
Peace that isn’t shaken
Direction that isn’t unclear
Favor in ways you can’t manufacture
Open doors that effort alone couldn’t produce
This is why it is important to align our will to the will of God by walking in the Spirit as we are led to do the will of God! It brings Joy and Peace!
Romans 8:6-9 “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”