Trusting God's Will Above Your Own__ Art Of Submission #1
Introduction
Submission is one of the most important aspects of the Christian life, yet it is often misunderstood. Many people associate submission with weakness or loss of freedom. However, biblical submission is not about being forced to obey; it is about willingly trusting God and placing ourselves under His loving authority.
Submission is an act of faith. It is choosing to believe that God's plans, wisdom, and timing are better than our own.
What Does It Mean to Submit to God?
To submit to God means to surrender our lives to His leadership and choose His will above our own. It means trusting Him enough to follow His direction, even when we do not fully understand where He is leading us.
Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."
Submission begins with trust. The more we trust God's character, the easier it becomes to surrender control to Him.
Why Should We Submit to God?
1. God Knows What Is Best for Us
Our understanding is limited, but God sees the whole picture. He knows the beginning and the end, and His wisdom is far greater than ours.
Isaiah 55:8-9
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways."
Even when we do not understand God's plans, we can trust that He is leading us in the right direction.
2. God Loves Us Perfectly
God's commands are not meant to restrict us but to guide us. Everything He asks of us is rooted in His love and desire for our good.
Like a loving father guiding his child, God directs us toward what will help us grow and away from what can harm us.
3. Submission Produces Spiritual Growth
God uses submission to shape our character. Through surrender, He teaches us humility, patience, obedience, and faith.
Every time we choose God's will over our own, we become more like Christ.
4. Jesus Modeled Submission for Us
Jesus demonstrated perfect submission when He prayed:
Luke 22:42
"Not my will, but Yours be done."
Although He knew the suffering He would face, Jesus chose obedience to the Father. His example shows us that submission is trusting God even when the path is difficult.
How Do We Submit to God?
1. Through Prayer
Prayer is not just asking God for what we want; it is aligning our hearts with His will.
Jesus taught His disciples to pray:
Matthew 6:10
"Your kingdom come, Your will be done."
When we pray this way, we are surrendering our desires and seeking God's purposes above our own.
2. Through Obedience to God's Word
A submitted heart obeys God's Word, even when it is difficult or inconvenient.
James 1:22
"Do not merely listen to the word... Do what it says."
True submission is demonstrated not by what we know, but by how we obey.
3. Through Daily Surrender
Submission is not a one-time decision. It is a daily choice to trust God with our plans, relationships, careers, finances, and future.
Luke 9:23
"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."
Each day presents new opportunities to choose God's will over our own.
4. Through Letting Go of Control
Many struggles arise because we try to control situations that belong in God's hands. Submission means trusting God even when we do not have all the answers.
Rather than carrying every burden ourselves, we learn to place our concerns before God and trust Him to lead us.
The Blessings of Submission
When we submit to God, we experience His guidance, peace, and spiritual growth.
James 4:7
"Submit yourselves, then, to God."
Submission brings peace because we are no longer relying solely on our own strength. It strengthens our relationship with God and helps us grow in faith and maturity.
A submitted life is not a perfect life, but it is a life that continually trusts God's wisdom and direction.
Conclusion
The art of submission is learning to trust God completely. It is choosing His wisdom over our understanding, His timing over our impatience, and His will over our desires.
Submission is not weakness—it is faith in action. It is placing every area of our lives into the hands of a loving and faithful God.
As followers of Christ, may our daily prayer always be:
"Not my will, but Yours be done."
Reference:
1. The Power of Surrender - Letting Go of Control by Giving It All To God
2. The art of Submission