THE GIFT OF SUBMISSION

(First posted October 2017)

                                           

In today’s blog, I want to share with you an important gift given to us by our Father. It is a gift our Lord Jesus used over and over again during His journey on the earth. It is the most profound, yet simple gift, we can use which will ALWAYS fulfill the Father’s purposes in our lives. Did you hear what I just said? We can ALWAYS carry out our Father’s plans for our lives if we will just do this one thing, Submit. This word submit is not as easy as it sounds. Submit means to yield the right of way to, give up rights to, let go of power or will to, to be subject to, and come under the authority of. Submitting is difficult because the ‘flesh’ likes being in charge of our lives; the ‘flesh’ loves control.

 

It took me years to learn how to use the gift the Father has given to me. Remember, there are two WILLS living inside of us; our will and His WILL. In our Souls, our Father created us with a mind, emotions, personality, and will. He created us in His image to think, feel, express ourselves, and to make choices. Our will is not evil. However, when Adam sinned, the Soul took control of us, because our Spirit died and couldn’t lead and guide us as it was created to do. When we invited Jesus to come and live in our Spirit, our Spirit came alive again. The Spirit began to rule over the Soul as it was created by our Father to do from the beginning. Our Souls are not accustom to anyone bossing it around except the ‘flesh’ and ‘sin.’ With new masters on board, (Our Father, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit) there is this constant war between the ‘Spirit of God’ and ‘flesh and sin.’ The Soul sits in the middle making the choice of who it will submit to and obey. In order for us to grow and mature in our Souls and in our relationship with our Lord, circumstances, and difficulties in our lives come to break our confidence in the ‘flesh’ and teach us to turn to Christ and allow Him to handle our circumstances or trials. Herein, the gift of Submission is our teacher.

 

Have you ever prayed over and over for a certain situation in your life to change or go away and nothing happened? We want out! I have, millions of times. Just last year, I was suffering from tendonitis in my left arm that wouldn’t go away. I prayed, massaged it, and it wouldn’t get better. I had tendonitis in my right arm the previous year and because I didn’t go to the doctor, it turned into a ‘frozen shoulder’ that wasn’t fun. I could barely move my right arm. Finally, after seeking relief with no resolve, I went to a physical therapist which the Lord used to restore my arm. I didn’t want the same thing happening to my left arm, so I went back to physical therapy. But this time, I said, “Papa, I know you have a purpose why I have to return to physical therapy, I will not complain, but I CHOOSE TO SUBMIT TO YOUR WILL AND PURPOSES FOR MY ARM… NOT MY WILL, BUT YOUR WILL BE DONE IN THIS SITUATION.” And, guess what? I met my most precious and dearest sister, Karen, who was my physical therapist during my treatment. Papa used the circumstance for His glory and purpose and I am so grateful! He chose to use my hurting arm to encourage, love, and support my sweet and dearest sister, and she me for that season. My arm got better, but now it is hurting again and I have a frozen shoulder again, in my left arm. After four treatments, it is getting worse, I prayed, “Papa, I know you have plans and a purpose for OUR arm, NOT MY WILL BUT YOUR WILL BE DONE. I pray for my new physical therapist, may you use us to bring light into her darkness, Amen.” (Again, the year at my new physical therapy office in Florida turned out to be such a blessing for me and those who helped me get well.)

 

Where did I learn how to submit to the Father and where did I get this gift from? Our Lord Jesus who lives in me! Through various trials and circumstances, I finally allowed Jesus to be “the boss of me,” and no longer the ‘flesh.’ He alone has the ability to submit to the Father no matter what circumstances we encounter together. Let me share eight scriptures teaching us about this most precious gift given by the Father.

 

 

Matthew 26:39

And He (Jesus) went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”

 

Mark 14:36

And He (Jesus) was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.“

 

Luke 22:42

Saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”

 

John 5:30

“I can do nothing on My own initiative As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.“

 

John 6:38

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.“

 

John 4:34

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.”

 

Psalm 143:10

Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

 

Hebrews 10:9

Then He (Jesus) said, “Here I am, I have come to do Your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second.”

 

The TRUE us, In Christ, longs for just one WILL, the FATHER’S WILL. Our heart’s desire is always to be pleasing and obedient to our Father; He created us that way. When we talk to our Father about our desires, wills, and wants, He listens. But we must not leave the conversation there, we must come to a place in every decision and circumstance in our lives to leave the matter in His hands and willingly submit to His authority, wisdom, and Lordship in our lives. We do that by saying, “Not my will Papa, but YOUR WILL BE DONE.” This is the gift of Submission and the gift of Faith.

 

Prayer:  Thank you, Papa, You are all wise, all-knowing. Your plans and purposes for my life are infinitely good, sometimes I don’t see it. But I choose to trust you today with this circumstance in my body, in my mind, in my environment, my job, my husband, my wife, with my children, my grandchildren, etc. Not my will Father be done, but use it for your glory and purpose so that your Will and purposes are carried out in my life and that I not hinder Your Will and purposes in the life of those around me. Amen