Daily Devotional: Submitting

​The words "submit to God" have a heavy meaning. Today, I share some of the ways I have found that I must submit to God.

James 4:7

"Submit yourselves therefore to God."

We are told that if we submit to God, then the devil must flee. God will fight for us and deliver us from hell. But how do I submit to God? In my daily life, what am I doing to submit to Him? For me personally, I have found the following things.

• I bow.
  When coming into His presence, I bow, showing reverence and humility. I am acknowledging that He is my King and that I am beneath Him in all senses of the word beneath.
  
  
• I pray.
  I do not tell God what to think or how to act. I bring my supplications to Him. God will either accept, reject, or alter my request. I am totally submissive to His response. I do not argue with Him over His position. I may explain my position, but I leave the decision to Him.
  
  
• I obey.
  When God gives me a command, I do it. I do not try to make excuses, whine about the consequences, or even huff and puff as I do it. Acknowledging Him as King, I have no right to not do what He asks of me.
  
  
• I obey willingly.
  ​I Corinthians 13:4 says that charity (love) does not seek its own. Luke 6:35 states that loves gives expecting nothing in return. Philippians 2:17 shows that we are to be glad if we are poured out in service to Christ. II Corinthians 9:7 states that “God liveth a cheerful giver.” If I love God, I will obey His commands (John 14:15). Because I love God, I will desire to give to Him and not expect anything in return. I give to God because I love Him, not because I want to be in His favor, get blessings, or even make it to heaven. I serve Him simply because I love Him. I admit that I am not always thinking in this manner, but if I can remember the reason why I serve God, then the love of God will show through me to the world. I am submitting to Him in that I am giving without expecting Him to do anything for me. That is, I am requiring nothing of Him.

There is an amazing, beautiful consequence to submitting to God; when I freely give to God, God freely gives to me. My relationship to Christ becomes one of mutual service. I serve Him as my God and King, and He serves me as His faithful servant, comforting me and taking care of my needs. I am only truly submitting to and serving God if I am willing to serve Him joyfully even if it means living in rags and destitution. If Christ wishes to honor me with friends, family, and spiritual blessings, that is up to Him. I am content simply serving my Beloved.

• Reflection: Are you seeking your own, or are you content to be poured out for your God? Leave a comment below to share what God is doing in your life.