Becoming Her Takes Surrender

In this deeply honest episode of Round Table Conversations with Yolimar, Yolimar opens up about what it means to surrender your life to God, not perfectly, but daily.

Through personal testimony, scripture, and reflection, she shares how walking with Christ has required letting go of people-pleasing, old habits, unhealthy dependencies, and the version of herself that sought validation from the world instead of identity in God.

This conversation explores:

•  Spiritual transformation and renewing the mind 
•  The loneliness that can come with obedience 
•  Breaking free from worldly patterns 
•  Choosing peace over performance 
•  Why who you surround yourself with matters 

With scriptures from Romans 12, Titus 2, 2 Corinthians, and more, this episode is an invitation to stop conforming to the world and start allowing God to shape your heart, mind, and purpose.

If you’ve been in a season of pruning, wilderness, or spiritual growth, this conversation will remind you that surrender is not punishment, it’s preparation.

Thank you for spending this time with me. If this episode spoke to your heart, share it with someone who may need encouragement today. Don't forget to follow the podcast so you never miss a new episode.

If you're looking for deeper support, I offer one-on-one coaching where we walk through life, faith, and healing together. You can connect with me at coachedbyyolimar@gmail.com.

Until next time, stay rooted in truth, walk in grace, and trust God in every season.

Transcript

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Welcome to Roundtable Conversations with Yolimar, a space for real, faith-centered conversations about life. I'm Yolimar, and I invite you to come with an open heart and mind as we grow together in truth, healing, and God's love. For a little while now, I have been in a season of surrender. I have been shedding things that no longer align in my walk with Christ. And throughout this season, life has been quite hard. I have faced challenges and even some conflict. You see, when you walk with Christ, not everyone around you understands your changes, your growth, your decisions. They may still be seeing the O you, the you that was a people pleaser, the you that was down for whatever, the you that abandoned herself to put others first. If I'm being honest, this wilderness is exactly where I need to be, not as punishment, but for preparation, preparation for what's to come. I have realized the true meaning of surrender, and without any guilt I choose to walk in obedience to the one who saved me. I no longer aim to please the crowd. This time I'm choosing me. To surrender doesn't mean dying physically, it means spiritual formation, to live daily for God's purpose. And I want to live the rest of my life finding true life in God. Romans 12 1 says, And so dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice, the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Holy sacrifice, not just partial sacrifice, not just on Sundays sacrifice, but holy sacrifice that's acceptable to him. Romans twelve too goes even deeper. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Let God transform you. I look back at my life without Christ and what a mess that was. He has transformed my mind, my heart, my speech. Looking back at how often I used alcohol to numb my pain or as the only way I could have fun. At the many curse words I use in my vocabulary, at the many times I use sex as a way to feel loved, appreciated, wanted. I see now that I was simply copying the behaviors and customs of this world. I was living apart from God's design, the complete opposite of what Paul tells us in Romans 12.2. The NKJV version has the word conformed in place of copy. The word conform means to take the shape of something else. Allow God's character, teaching, and life to shape you. 2 Corinthians 6.14 reminds us, don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What Paul is saying is to not let the world influence your thinking. When we are being conformed to this world and are not being transformed by the renewing of our minds, as in the previous scripture, we join in with unbelievers in an ungodly way. Let me be mindful and remind you here that Paul is not suggesting that Christians never associate with unbelievers. We should be in the word, the world, not of the world. Reference 1 Corinthians 5 9 through 13 for more on this. Evil company corrupts good habits. Who you surround yourself with matters, be wise with severity to righteousness. What does that look like? Instead of reacting with anger or defensiveness when provoked, take a step back, clear your mind, and respond with understanding. Recognize environments or people that trigger old negative habits and choose to walk away to protect your peace and integrity. Don't seek physical gratification or pleasure outside of God's will. It's actively saying no to worldly things. Titus two twelve says and we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God. Devotion to God, not devotion to this world. The NKJV instructs us to deny, which means to reject, to not value or practice, or to send it away without giving it another thought. Both ungodliness and worldly desires go hand in hand. The practice ungodliness is to do the things which God disapproves of, to sin, which is the act outside of the will of God. And as I sat with this and looked back at my personal journey and growth, I can only feel compelled to share with you all how powerful surrender is. As my pastor says, I may not be where I want to be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be. So what does this mean for us? It means we stop people pleasing and turn to the one who matters. It means we fully surrender and recognize Him as our Lord and Savior. It means we start asking Him for His will to be done. Today I encourage you to sit with this. If obedience brings blessings and disobedience pain, what area of your life do you need to surrender to God? Let me pray. Jesus, thank you for your salvation. Thank you that no matter what, you are always there. Thank you for not holding any grudges. Yet, like a loving father, you gently move us back on the right path. Father, thank you that in a sinful, broken world we have the opportunity to repent and be transformed by you. Forgive us for the times we fall short, for the times we place ourselves or others above you. Teach us to depend on you fully, to turn our face towards you, and to solely depend on you. Lord, your word says you are a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Help us to never lose sight of that light, not just in our dark moments, but always. Align your will with our hearts. We only want what you want for us. In Jesus' name, amen. Thank you for joining me at the table today. If this conversation encourages you, share it with a friend who may need it too. Until next time, may God bless you, guide you, and remind you that you are never alone.