Submission...NO....NOT A Dirty Word"

Submission has never ever….. ever been my strong point. In fact I can confidently say that it is an area of my life that God has been challenging me to get on board with for a very long time.

In my journey through life, I have pushed the envelope and broken most of the rules. The question I have asked myself and want very much to ask my daughter when I see her breaking the rules is did I find the freedom, excitement, and fulfillment I was looking for? There were certainly some thrilling times, but freedom, fulfillment, success, happiness, life at it's best... not even close.

Yes….sin is like being lactose intolerant…eating a delicious scoop of Graeters Black Raspberry Chip Ice Cream and then promptly feeling it sour in your stomach 30 minutes later! It taste’s great going down but OMG don’t come too close afterwords. My lack of submission to God, my parents, those in leadership positions and even my former husband didn't bring any of the sweetness… just brokenness, frustration, anger, hurt, confusion, resentment, and a number of other consequences which I don’t even want to think about.

I have learned that my definition of submitting to authority and God’s definition is… SURPRISE….very different. God’s definition of submission is to voluntarily arrange yourself under authority. When we do that, we cooperate with that leader, we are to help carry the responsibility and the load. The goal is to ultimately accomplish a much larger work than you could do on your own.

I always viewed submission as being weak or somehow being in bondage to people or situations I did not want to be enslaved by. I have always been very independent and always thought I knew exactly what I wanted and always was under the distinct impression that I not GOD was in control. Thank goodness HE never gave up on me and put just the right people in my life at key times to speak the truth in love.

For example, I have the great privilege to work with followers of Christ everyday who are submitting to not just God’s authority over their lives but they are also submitting to one another to accomplish the goal of carrying out God’s orders regarding the poor, and children that have been abandoned and don’t have the same opportunities to just a high school education that most of us have had. I am in awe of the fine people that I work with every single day and the sacrifices that they make in order for our world to be a better place and to carry out God’s plan.

I am learning how to submit to authority every single day and am actively seeking out situations to submit by simply being an active listener to those in need and speaking God’s truth to them, by praying over those that need prayer at any given time, and by not rebelling when God is clearly trying to tell me something.

I have finally begun to realize that when I submit to God and live my life the way He intended, I get the best results and experience life in a way I couldn’t be more thankful for. As I continue to apply God's truth of submission to the other areas of my life I know I will find peace, excitement, love, joy, and all the things I've been wanting for my life all along. When I submit to authority I am under God’s covering….no better place to be!