A personal surrender to Jesus
The Two By Two Commitment
The story behind Bill and Vonette Bright's contract with God
A Shared Surrender
In the spring of 1951, Bill and Vonette Bright were a young married couple living in the Hollywood Hills. Bill had a business background and was accustomed to putting serious commitments into writing. Their decision grew out of prayer, a desire for a Christ-centered marriage, and a question larger than either of them: How could their lives count fully for God?
They went into separate rooms and each wrote a personal commitment. Bill wrote about offering his life and abilities fully to Christ. Vonette wrote honestly about her faith, her hopes as a wife, their future, and the material security she naturally desired for their home. When they came back together, they agreed to surrender their plans, possessions, ambitions, and future to Jesus, and they signed their commitments.
"From this day forward, I am a slave to Jesus Christ."
Bill later summarized the heart of his commitment in this one simple sentence. His written contract was more detailed, but these words captured its central meaning. Your own commitment does not have to be long or eloquent. What matters is that the words honestly express the surrender of your heart.
Vonette's Honest Courage
Vonette later acknowledged that the commitment felt radical and risky. She understood that surrender might mean releasing the comfortable future she had imagined. Yet her choice was personal, not merely an extension of her husband's decision. She wanted to follow Christ wholeheartedly and to walk with Bill in a shared life of obedience.
Surrender Before Direction
About twenty-four hours later, Bill said he experienced an overwhelming sense of God's presence and a vision to help reach the world for Christ. That vision became Campus Crusade for Christ, now known as Cru, which began at UCLA in 1951. The JESUS film later grew from that ministry and is estimated to have been watched by more than four billion people worldwide, carrying the message of Christ across nations, cultures, and languages.
The lesson is not that a signed paper guarantees a remarkable calling. The Brights surrendered before they knew where God would lead. The contract did not purchase God's favor; it gave written expression to a sincere decision to trust and obey Him together.
Sources: Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life, Day 10, "The Heart of Worship"; Bill and Vonette Bright interview, "Signing the Contract," Revive Our Hearts, August 12, 2004.
Before You Write
Take time to pray, listen, and respond freely
Is This Step for Me?
This personal surrender is intended for someone who has placed their faith in Jesus Christ and desires to deepen their trust, obedience, and relationship with Him. If you have not yet accepted Jesus as your Savior or publicly expressed your faith through baptism, consider speaking with a pastor or trusted Christian leader about those important steps.
Do not sign this because you feel pressured or inspired only for a moment. Take time to pray and listen. When you feel prepared in your heart, use these pages to express — in your own words — your desire to surrender every area of your life to Jesus and follow wherever He leads.
This Is an Expression of Faith
This is not a formula, a legal agreement, or a way to earn God's love. It is a personal expression of faith, gratitude, and willing surrender. Do not simply copy someone else's words. Pray. Be honest. Let your contract reflect what full surrender means in your life.
A Personal Commitment
Whether you are single, married, widowed, or walking through a season of life on your own, this commitment is personal between you and God. You may complete it privately or invite a trusted Christian friend, pastor, mentor, or family member to pray with you.
For Couples: Shared Surrender, Personal Commitments
The Brights prayed together, wrote separately, and then came back together. You may follow a similar rhythm: pray together, write individually, share what you feel comfortable sharing, pray over one another, and sign and date your personal commitments. Each surrender remains personal while becoming part of your shared journey with God.
What Their Example Shows
- Honesty before God
- Surrender can include hopes, fears, comfort, family, finances, health, and the future.
- Unity without pressure
- Two people can seek God together while each makes a sincere, personal commitment.
- Trust before clarity
- You do not need to know the entire plan before placing your next step in God's hands.
- A decision lived daily
- The signature marks a moment, but surrender is practiced through ongoing trust and obedience.
Preparing My Heart
What am I truly ready to place in Jesus' hands?
My life and future
Where am I asking Jesus to lead me?
My plans and ambitions
What outcomes or timelines do I need to release?
My marriage and family
How will I love, serve, forgive, and lead faithfully?
My career, gifts, and influence
How can these become instruments for God's purposes?
My money and possessions
What would faithful stewardship and generosity look like?
My health, fears, and uncertainty
What fears — especially about my health and future — do I need to surrender so I can trust God more fully?
My comfort and need for control
Where might obedience require trust or sacrifice?
My service to others
Who might God be asking me to notice, encourage, or walk beside?
My time and attention
What distractions are keeping me from prayer, growth, learning, and spiritual development?
My body and daily habits
How can I honor God through what I eat, drink, watch, listen to, and allow to shape my life?
Stewardship Over Our Lives
Scripture teaches that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Surrender includes caring for our bodies, minds, time, and attention. What we eat and drink, what we watch and listen to, the people who influence us, and the habits we practice can either strengthen or weaken us. Food, entertainment, technology, and other good things should remain in their proper place. When a habit becomes excessive or begins to control us, we should seek God's help, wise support, and renewed self-control.
A Simple Way to Begin
- 1Set aside unhurried time and begin with prayer.
- 2Read Scriptures about surrender and discipleship, such as Romans 12:1-2, Luke 9:23, Proverbs 16:9, and Galatians 2:20.
- 3Write in your own words. Name what you are giving to Jesus and how you desire to follow Him.
- 4Sign and date it only when the words truly express your heart.
- 5Keep it somewhere meaningful. Revisit it in prayer, not as a burden, but as a reminder of whom you belong to.
The Biblical Foundation
"After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go."
Luke 10:1 NIV
My Personal Contract With God
Written prayerfully, freely, and in my own words
Jesus, my life belongs to You. I surrender my plans, relationships, gifts, possessions, health, fears, time, attention, and future. Teach me to trust You, honor You with my choices, and use my life faithfully. Give me the wisdom, self-control, and courage to follow wherever You lead.
The words below are my personal expression of surrender:
Signature
Date
The paper is not what makes this sacred. The surrender behind the signature is what matters.
Scriptures for the Journey
"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Proverbs 16:3 NIV
"A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."
Proverbs 16:9 NKJV
"Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."
Psalm 37:4 NIV
Ready to write your own?
Preview the printable commitment below, then download it to complete it prayerfully in your own words.
Download the Two By Two CommitmentNo one should walk alone.