SUBMISSION-a surprising path to FREEDOM

As I continue to make my spiritual recovery God has revealed one of the secrets of life to me. SUBMIT! I know, submission is a bad word in most places in the world today. And without a doubt, people have misinterpreted, misused, and misinformed about what submission is. Woman should submit to their husband (and in some cases men in general), congregations should submit to their pastors, children should submit to their parents, slaves to their masters, employees to their employer's...and on and on. I remember being in college when the debate on women and submission had taken over in my Christian circle of friends. Jokes abound as the men in our group would say, "Woman, bring me my food-submit!" "Woman, get in the bedroom-submit!" The jokes continued on until finally it would seem that it wasn't a joke anymore. To say the least the woman of the group weren't too pleased. I understand that the word SUBMIT is not taken lightly.

Despite the ugly denotation of the word, it is actually a freeing process when executed correctly. I am speaking of submission to God. As I stated in earlier post I have been disappointed with the general state of affairs my life is in. I have been disappointed that I didn't get my way. To be honest, I have had an attitude of entitlement. I have felt that I was owed something by God and by life. I have lived "right" done the "right" things, and worked hard...where's mine? That has been my juxtaposition. Although I may have lived "right" I have no "right" to demand anything of God. Isaiah 29:16 states:
You turn things upside down,
as if the potter were thought to be like the clay!
Shall what is formed say to him who formed it,
"He did not make me"?
Can the pot say of the potter,
"He knows nothing"?

I had lost site of the fact that I am God's creation. I had lost site that God is the potter and I am the clay. He orders my steps (Psalm 37). I was enlightened to this truth about a week ago while reading Richard Foster's, Celebration of Discipline. Foster writes in his book concerning submission, "Do you know the liberation that comes from giving up your rights? It means you are set free from the seething anger and bitterness you feel when someone doesn't act toward you the way you think they should."

I thought I was being submissive to God. I was going to church, giving regularly, serving, and the like. But much like a disgruntle employee, I was doing all the right things while my inner man was doing all the wrong things. I was giving an image of submission while holding a position of rebellion. I was willing to submit to God as long as things went my way. When they didn't I had beef. God knew what was going on inside of me. Even when I didn't. Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." I had been found out. Unfortunately, it took me a long time to figure out that I had been found out.


Now that I am aware of my heart's condition I am making an effort to SUBMIT to the Lord. I am looking forward to the freedom of a submitted heart and lifestyle. I'll be free from bitterness, free from anger over situations. Free to honor God in all I do without the pressure of doing things my way. This principle abounds in most other relationships-work, marriage, and friendships. When we submit we are free to defer to the other person's priorities. Make no mistake, submission to God will include submission to people. You may find this process difficult but it's worth the struggle. Freedom always is. So why not join me and be free-SUBMIT.