In 1519, Hernán Cortés landed on the shores of the New World with just over 600 men. Their mission? Conquer the vast and powerful Aztec Empire. His men were afraid. They were outnumbered, in an unfamiliar land, and whispers of turning back spread through the ranks.
But Cortés made a decision that sealed their fate. He ordered the ships they arrived on to be destroyed. Some were burned, others scuttled, but the message was clear: there is no way back. The only way was forward. Victory or death. Success or nothing.
This wasn’t recklessness—it was commitment. Cortés knew that as long as the ships were there, there would always be the temptation of retreat. By burning them, he forced his men to fight with every ounce of resolve, and ultimately, they achieved what seemed impossible.
In Alcoholics Anonymous, we say something strikingly similar: “Half measures availed us nothing.” Recovery is not a halfway effort. It’s an all-in surrender. If we leave just one ship floating in the harbor—one hidden resentment, one secret escape, one unspoken justification—we’ve already paved the way back to our old destruction.
We ask in AA, “What had to change?” The answer is everything. Not just the drinking. Not just the obvious behaviors. But the entire way we think, live, and respond to life. Like Cortés, we must come to the point where we say: I’m willing to risk it all. There is no going back.
The same is true in following Jesus. He said,
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
Denying ourselves means destroying the escape routes that lead back to the old life. It means we stop bargaining with God and finally surrender fully. It’s an all-or-nothing choice: the comfort of the past—or the promise of new life.
Cortés was driven by the hope of gold and conquest. Our motivation is far greater—freedom, peace, and the love of God. But like him, we must be willing to say, “I will not go back. There is no other way.”
Today, God is inviting you to burn the boats. To let go of the backup plans, the secret sins, the pride, the fear. To step fully into the new life He has for you.
Because the truth is this: when you finally burn the boats, you step into the only place where real freedom lives.
Reflection
What “boats” are still sitting in the harbor of your heart?
Are you still holding onto a secret plan of retreat?
What does full surrender look like for you today?
Prayer
Father, I confess there are places in my life I’ve kept hidden, boats I’ve refused to burn. Give me the courage to surrender fully. Take away my desire for retreat and help me trust You completely. I choose to move forward with no turning back. Amen.
