Top Ten? Maybe.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

Lately my heart has been learning what the word submission means. Submission… it’s not exactly on anyone’s top ten favorites, and I will not pretend to like the word. In my life, the word has been there floating around and entering the scene here or there, but I have mostly been able to happily avoid it, until recently. Good or bad, it’s my truth.

The world doesn't even try to pretend to like the word submit, and we as Christians do our best to try and to understand it.

I think about the word submit, and what it means. I think of a student submitting their paper or college application, or a person submitting a job application. They prepare it, and submit it. The person it’s submitted to then has authority to grade it, accept, decline, hire, interview or pass. Once it’s fully submitted, it’s up to someone else. A student can’t hold onto the paper with one hand and hold the teacher’s hand as they grade to make sure they talk over each step of the grading process. That wouldn’t have been fully submitted!

So I ask you and more so myself, what makes us think that we can submit our lives and all the details to God, but still hold on and think we know what’s best, or live how we want? It’s impossible, but we certainly try.

In a world where we are so entitled to play a part, weigh in, and control, we have acquired very little practice in the art of submitting, and even less of a grasp on it. Let us not fool ourselves into thinking we have got this and quickly dismiss this as something we have mastered. I am not only talking to our outward appearance of submission, but even more important is submitting what happens on the inside of us to Christ. It seems the older we get, the less we have to practice this art, we get comfortable in a marriage, job, house, pay scale - but when is the last time we had to practice it?  

When it’s not on my time line, when I don’t understand, when I want to get frustrated, when I am concerned, when I fear, when I stress, when I doubt. Am I fully submitted? Am I not Gods? Will He not work everything for good concerning me and my family? Does He not still sit on the throne? Is He or is He not my LORD?

I pray about situations or things. But then during the day, an emotion comes up or a thought comes across my mind and I start dwelling there. Living my own life, trying to figure it out in my own way, as if I did not just submit that over to God the same morning! Did I not just pray and entrust it to the Lord? I did! But on my own free time, I go away, and spend time thinking on it, in my own strength or knowledge- and it never leads to peace. This is not intentional, it just happens. I think this is what God means by taking every thought captive, making sure it is fully submitted and lined up to God’s word.

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5

(Now, this is getting good. We MAKE IT obedient to Christ. We submit each thought to Christ to see if it matches what he has said for us. This will be an entire other blog one day).

I find myself praying lately in my own heart, through so many situations, “I SUBMIT THIS TO YOU. Okay Lord, just another area, another level deeper, a new place of trust, another chapter, another emotion or thought that I am able to submit to YOU.” When something is not going my way, “Lord I am yours, I submit it to you.”

It is not avoiding responsibility; it is not washing our hands of any tough situation. We are still living this life, praying and using wisdom. But once submitted, I know in my heart that I don’t have to carry that anymore. I just have to train my mind to know it too.

I am convinced to fully find peace we must live a life fully submitted to Christ, inside and out.

Submission and releasing is something that takes place on the inside, that allows peace through the trial or storm. It is something that no one sees or knows about, something that I think or feel on the deepest level. Something that is every bit as much of me as the freckles on my nose. And it matters. It matters because it impacts my attitude, my actions, my words, it impacts peace. My level of peace impacts me, and even more so impacts others.

THANK THE LORD that we are called to submit to God in all things. It is for a purpose- for PEACE. If you are living without peace, I ask you to pray about what areas you need to submit in and submit to God.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

Submission. Just might make it on my top ten list for 2013...maybe.

Love, 

Bri