John Michael Talbot (born May 8, 1954) is an American Roman Catholic singer… Read Full Bio ↴John Michael Talbot (born May 8, 1954) is an American Roman Catholic singer-songwriter-guitarist who is founder of a monastic community, the Brothers and Sisters of Charity

Biography:

Talbot was born into a Methodist family with a musical background in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and started learning to play the guitar at an early age. At age 15 he dropped out of school and was performing as a guitarist for Mason Proffit, a country folk-rock band formed with his older brother Terry.

Talbot embarked on a spiritual journey that led him through Native American religion and Buddhism to Christianity. At this point he and his brother, Terry, joined the Jesus Movement, recording the album Reborn which was re-released by Sparrow Records (originally released as The Talbot Brothers on the Warner Brothers label).

Two solo albums followed for Talbot: John Michael Talbot (1976) and The New Earth (1977). Both of these were produced by Billy Ray Hearn.

Reading the life of Saint Francis of Assisi, he was inspired to begin studying at a Franciscan center in Indianapolis. He became a Roman Catholic and joined the Secular Franciscan Order in 1978. He started a house of prayer, The Little Portion.

Talbot moved The Little Portion to Eureka Springs, Arkansas on land he had purchased during his Mason Proffit days. He founded his own community, the Brothers and Sisters of Charity, at Little Portion Hermitage as an "integrated monastic community" with celibate brothers and sisters, singles, and families. By 1989, Talbot had married Viola Pratka (with the permission of the Catholic Church). Pratka was a former Incarnate Word Sister who had come to the community in 1986.

Per the community's General Constitutions, Talbot's title is "General Minister and Spiritual Father". For many years, he has promoted the work of Mercy Corps.

The hermitage suffered a fire in April 2008 in which the chapel, library and many common areas were destroyed.

On April 10, 2010 the Bishop of Little Rock, Anthony Taylor, dedicated the new buildings. On October 2, 2010 the Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage celebrated the opening of the new monastery church and common center.

Surrender To Jesus
John Michael Talbot Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Take all my freedom
My liberty, my will
All that I have
You′ve given to me
So I offer it up to You

I surrender it all to Jesus
I surrender it all to God's will

I surrender it all for the kingdom of God
I surrender my life, my all

Your grace and Your love
Are wealth enough for me
Grant me these Lord Jesus
And I′ll ask for nothing more

I surrender it all to Jesus
I surrender it all to God's will
I surrender it all for the kingdom of God

I surrender my life, my all
I surrender my life, my all

Overall Meaning

In John Michael Talbot's "Surrender to Jesus," the singer is expressing a deep devotion to God and a willingness to give up everything in their life - their freedom, their will, their possessions - and offer it all up to God. This sense of surrender is a central theme in Christian theology, and Talbot beautifully captures the sentiment of giving oneself over to God completely. The singer recognizes that all they have has been given to them by God, and so it is only right to offer it back to Him.

The lyrics also touch on the idea of divine grace, acknowledging that God's love is enough for the singer. The repetition of the phrase "I surrender it all to Jesus" emphasizes the singer's commitment to giving everything over to God, and the final line - "I surrender my life, my all" - is a powerful statement of faith and devotion. The song's simple, repetitive structure reinforces the idea of surrender as a continuous, ongoing process.

Line by Line Meaning

Take all my freedom
Lord, I offer you the liberty and free will that you have already given to me

My liberty, my will
I give up my control over my own life

All that I have
Everything I possess

You′ve given to me
I recognize that everything I have is a gift from God

So I offer it up to You
I give it back to you willingly

Your grace and Your love
The love of Jesus Christ and the grace that He bestows upon me

Are wealth enough for me
They provide me with all I need

Grant me these Lord Jesus
I ask for nothing else except for Your grace and love

And I′ll ask for nothing more
I understand that Your grace and love are everything I need

I surrender it all to Jesus
I give up everything to follow Jesus

I surrender it all to God's will
I submit to God's plan for my life