What is submitting to God?
(Psalms 37:23-29; Matthew 6:32-34)
Why should we submit?
As children of God, we live in complete dependence upon the promise of the Scriptures that God will be for us. The Scriptures is our swords and our faith in that word is our shield to fend off the attacks of Lucifer. God has many ways of providing for his people. They can be depended upon at all times. In order for us to be able or qualified to use any of the weapons that God has provided for our defense, we must be willing to submit to the Will of God. We must be willing to submit our mind, body, and soul to doing His will.
Submission is obedience to and compliance with the will of God. The Scriptures says that obedience is better than sacrifice. When we come to God, we must remember that He is Lord of the heavens and earth. This means that we must come to him with respect as the sovereign Lord. Yet, we must also have confidence in his capability to defend us from evil and supply us with all of our needs.
The Scriptures declares that God has given to Jesus all power, authority, and judgment. Jesus invites us that labor and are heavy-laden, to come to him. Each of us must pay attention to the call of Jesus because our lives are filled with the useless pursuits of material goods, recognition, and enjoyment. We are heavy-laden with guilt and sin. Nevertheless, Christ invites us to come to Him for help. Whosoever will let him come.
However, when we come to Jesus, we must submit to his authority. We must be obedient to him in all things. He will help us even if we are imperfect. Submission is self-denial. God told Solomon in 2nd Chronicles that if we would humble ourselves. Humble is a state of thinking. It simply means not to think too highly of oneself. This was the reason that Lucifer was thrown out of heaven. He thought that he was more than he actually was. When we think too highly of ourselves, we tend to miss the mark of God. When we think too highly of ourselves, we become filled with self-pride. The Scriptures state that pride comes before a fall.
Our pride traps so many of us in our sins and addictions. Although we know that we are stuck on stupid and left standing on Crack Street, our pride will not let us come to someone for help. Although we know that we have offended someone, pride convinces us that we did nothing wrong. Although, we know that we have messed up, but our pride will not let us admit it.
Our submission to the will of God is important because it permits us to see ourselves as God sees us. In our own eyes, we are always right, even if that is not the case. When caught red handed in the wrong, we can come up with various reasons why we were right for doing the wrong thing. On the other hand, when we look at ourselves according to the Laws of God, we will see that many of our actions are more than just mere sins. We shall see them as atrocities toward God.
The Laws of God reveal the sinful side of man. They permit us to become aware of our sins, and think humbly of ourselves. The battle for our recovery from our assorted dependencies and failings is a spiritual conflict with spiritual opponents, and with spiritual intentions. The weapons of our warfare are very powerful and convincing. However, we cannot use these weapons for our defense if we have not cleared ourselves with God. In order to clear ourselves with God, we must approach the throne of God. In order to approach the throne of God, we must first submit to the will of God and Scriptures.
How do we submit?
In order for us to submit to God, it is essential for us to repent of those things that are outside the will of God. We must recognize that we are His unrepented children. We must acknowledge that we deserve to be dealt with according to the Scriptures. We must submit to God’s justice, and have faith in His mercy. True repentance is not only for sin, but also from sin. As the rebellious children of God, we bring grief to God. Nevertheless, God will grant us mercy if we confess our sins and ask for His forgiveness. If we throw ourselves on the mercy of God, humble ourselves, seek delivery from the powers of Lucifer, separate ourselves from sin, and wait on the Lord’s timing, we will, without doubt, receive the mercy of God.
When do we submit?
For the child of God submitting to the will of God is an everyday occurrence. We are to submit to the will of God for our lives in all things. Matthew 6:32-34 states, ‘Your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.’
The Scriptures tell us we should not worry about the thing of this life. Rather we are to leave these things for God to handle. Since God can feed the animals and make the sunrise and set, then God can take care of us. Nevertheless, we must take care of some things ourselves. We must work out our soul salvation and we must work to earn a living. Even these things must be submitted to the will of God. We are to take no consideration for our lives. God will take care of us. We are in His hands, and they are good hands to be in.
God has promised to provide us with food and clothing therefore we can expect God to do it. David wrote in Psalms 37:23-29, ‘ The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delights in his way. Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholds him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; and his seed is blessed. Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore, for the Lord loves judgment, and forsakes not his saints; they are preserved forever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.’
God has given us life, and has given us a body. What else can he not do for us since he did that? We can trust in God, leave it to God to provide for us, forgive our sins, and help fight our spiritual battles. We must reconcile ourselves to God. Therefore, we must submit to Him. Seek first the kingdom of God; this is the way to be well provided for. We can be strengthened and armed against the temptations of Lucifer by prayer and fellowship with God.
