“A word of Jesus stands alongside these daily reflections, and that word is ‘self-denial.’ It was the word, along with the image of a looming cross, that Jesus gave to his close followers immediately after Peter astounded them all when he named Jesus as ‘Messiah.’ Self-denial is a beautiful Christian term until it is something we need to deny to ourselves, and forty of such things are named by Mary DeMuth in this book. In The Freedom of Surrender we experience the joys of freely surrendering to God what God wants us to give up, while we also experience the hazards to our propensities to hang on to them. A deeply formative book. A voice for our day.”
— Scot McKnight, visiting professor of New Testament at Houston Theological Seminary
“In The Freedom of Surrender, you have the opportunity to walk through the intricacies of your heart, mind, body, and soul to surrender things you didn’t even know you were holding onto. Mary DeMuth’s vulnerable use of art, Scripture, and relatable story guides you to a place where you can finally let go of the things that are standing in the way of deep intimacy with the Lord. Whether your past or present, your inner life or relationships with others, every corner of your heart will be touched with a chance to relinquish these things into the hands of the Father in very tangible ways, and you will grow closer and closer to the heart of God. As I strolled through each day of surrender, I experienced an opening of tightly gripped hurts, renewal deep in my heart, and true freedom in Christ. Prepare to breathe more fully!”
— Amy Graham, spiritual care pastor at The District Church
“With vulnerability and faithfulness, Mary DeMuth reminds readers that biblical surrender is the opposite of weakness or defeat. In each of the forty days of reflection, she encourages us to do the slow, hard but holy work of surrender so that we, too, can walk the path toward authentic freedom.”
— Missy Buchanan, writer-speaker and author of Feeling Your Way Through Grief
“Reading through this book exposes how we spend so much of our lives chasing control. Mary DeMuth writes like a close friend inviting you on the journey of surrender, while so lovingly sharing her own. She points you to a Jesus who is there in all your hurt, worry, sorrow, and grief, asking you to let go and lay hold of him. Pray these prayers.”
— Zach Pummill, senior pastor of Redeemer Rockwall
“In The Freedom of Surrender, Mary DeMuth reveals the paradox of liberation through letting go. Her vulnerable, raw, and insightful writing reminds the reader that letting go and finding freedom in the love of Christ is a journey we are called to daily. The prayer at the end of the daily devotion reminds us to let go of our need to control and hold onto situations out of our feeble power. She encourages readers to surrender every aspect of their lives, significant or insignificant, and rest in Christ.”
— E. L Sherene Joseph, writer and storyteller
“Yes and amen! The Freedom of Surrender is a must-read for every believer. Each devotional invites us to experience the joy that comes from surrendering every area, aspect, and moment of our lives to Christ. Mary DeMuth’s words not only encourage us but also teach and gently nudge us to lean more deeply into the spiritual discipline of surrender. She artfully presents surrender and trust in Christ as the antidote to life’s struggles, pains, and grief, ultimately leading us to greater joy, day by day.”
— Natasha Smith, author of Can You Just Sit with Me
“When your grip on life begins to slip, The Freedom of Surrender is the hand that steadies you. Mary DeMuth leads us through forty days of deep, honest, and transformative reflections that gently guide us toward letting go and leaning into God’s sovereignty.”
— Rachel Wojo, author of Desperate Prayers
“The Freedom of Surrender is confession, devotion, and contemplation all in one. With a focus on letting go and trusting God, this beautifully crafted devotional hits all the marks. You will find yourself pausing, reflecting, and releasing burdens you didn’t realize you were holding. I’ll be returning to these pages often.”
— Peace Amadi, psychology professor and author of Why Do I Feel Like This?
“Perhaps, like me, you can be slow to surrender your ways for God’s ways. And while we know we need to surrender our lives to the Lord, how does one take that spiritual truth and make it a concrete reality in our lives? Enter this beautiful book by Mary DeMuth that’s helpfully divided into sections about surrendering your inner life, your past, your relationships, your daily life, and your worries. In The Freedom to Surrender, Mary’s daily readings come together as a megaphone for the message our hearts need: when we surrender every aspect of our lives to God, we also surrender our fears when aspects of our lives don’t go as we hoped. If you’re looking for a spiritually meaty and personally relevant devotional that can be digested quickly, you’ve found it. As a bonus, this book will feed your creative loving soul in a way that adds color and connection to your devotional practice.”
— Kristen Strong, author of Girl Meets Change, Praying Through Loneliness, and Desperate Woman Seeks Friends
