Humility is needed for submission. Now it’s not just submission like being weak, or as a negative connotation has been associated with the word “submission”. Submission as, “yielding to the authority of another”, as Barbara Hughes mentions in her book. Disciplines of a Godly Woman. (hint hint, that’s my current read 🙂 – a great resource/bible study for anyone looking to strengthen their discipline as a woman called by God to live for Him.
When I think about humility, I think about the internal challenge to let go of pride, arrogance, and the “me me me” lifestyle. How easy it is to want to make everything about me, though. Is it just me?
James 4:7-10 and Hebrews 12:9 help us see that submission isn’t about us, but rather the relationship between us and God. We are given a choice to “submit to God” and have the freewill to choose to learn from discipline from earthy fathers (or parents). As I reflect on this as a 30-something, I recognize that any rebellious thought or act was rooted in pride and self. I wanted to do things MY way. With God covering me with His bountiful love and mercy, it would take Him drawing me near, to choose to submit to Him. At the end of the day, choosing His way would bring me closer to Him, and more at peace.
Let’s take choosing to stay out late for example. Yes, my mom set a curfew for me as a young adult (20s), and I would argue, we’ve had to negotiate that as I got older, (a story for another day). I was instructed to be home by 10:00pm, but what do I do? I get carried away with my friends or whatever it is I’m doing, and who I’m with. Internally, I know it’s going to bother my mom, knowing that she would be waiting on the couch for her daughter to make it home safely. Then I juggle the thoughts while being present with my friends, noticing the time passing, it’s after 10:00pm, but my mom would be ok with it… she’ll understand. Will she though? She told me one thing, and here I am, knowingly rebelling against the instruction and boundary set for me.
I arrive home closer to 11:00pm, and I anticipate a lecture as soon as the door opens (true story, it’s happened more than once…). I get the “you can’t be out after such and such time because good things don’t usually happen after a certain time” talk. Yeah, yeah, I know. I made it home though, can we just be thankful? Again, now that I’m older and have matured, I recognize that it was for my own good, and rooted in love. Notice the contrast: my rebellion was rooted in pride and self, my mom would be ok with it… she’ll understand, fully disregarding the fear or anxiety she would go through while waiting, versus where my mom was coming from, she just wanted me safe.
Submission is a choice and is not possible without humility. Thank God for a God who chooses to love me anyway. While some may argue that I’m old enough and shouldn’t have a curfew, I choose to love my parents, and big up to Ma who has had to learn to let go a little bit. Loving them comes with obedience because I love them and want to honor God through our relationship. Yeah, I may be 30-something, and yes my parents are retiring soon, but honoring them is and will be worship for as long as I live.
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” – Exodus 20:12
“Children [old and young, if you have a parent you’re a child], obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’ (this is the first commandment with a promise) ‘that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.’ – Ephesians 6:1, 2
I pray it’s not just me. If this post resonates with you, please share it and I encourage you to reflect and submit “that” situation to God. Pray for Him to see you through it, to search your heart and see if there be any wicked way in you, to lead you to the way everlasting ❤ (Psalm 139:23, 24). He sees you, He hears you, and most importantly, He loves you. Choose to submit out of love, not obligation, pressure, or force.
Blessings,
— LifeisaBeaut ❤
L I F E I S A B E A U T 