Many times the word submission gets a bad rap even causing some to cringe but, it’s really all in the way that you view the word. The Merriam Webster Online Dictionary’s definition of submission is “accept or yield to a superior force or to the authority or will of another person.” When we submit our lives to the Lord then we realize that there is always a positive outcome. Let’s look at three reasons why submission is not a dirty word.
God Is Pleased
The Lord is always pleased when we choose to do things His way. In fact His word even says, “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land (Isa 1:19 KJV). He promises us the reward of enjoying the good things in life” When we choose to do things our way without considering Him, pride, and rebellion are at play.
Trust Is Cultivated
Trust is developed when we realize how much our Heavenly Father truly loves us. Knowing that He will always lead us in the right direction makes it much easier to submit to Him. He always wants what’s best for us. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jer 29:11 NIV).
New Discoveries Are Made
Learning to submit to God is like a journey, a faith adventure if you will. As you submit to Him, He will begin to show you things that you have never experienced before which can bring greater fellowship with Him, more revelation, and can prove to be quite exciting. “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place” (2Cor 2:14 NASB).
The bottom line is that when we submit our lives to God we show Him that we are humble, teachable, willing to leave pride at the foot of the cross and totally follow Him. We are willing to take upon us His way of living in exchange for doing things our way. Let’s purpose in our heart to submit every area of our lives to the Lord. There is great reward in doing so. 2Cor 2:14 NASB
Reflections
- Are there any areas in your life that you have not submitted to the Lord?
- What can you do to make sure that you are doing things God’s way even in the small things?
God Bless,
Minister Kimberly L. Smith
When I initially thought of writing this particular blog I knew that I wanted to write about steps to take in preparing for the New Year. As I pondered the steps that should be taken in preparing for something new I strongly felt in my spirit that the Lord wanted me to talk about preparation from a totally different angle.
Most of the time when we think of preparing for a new event, change in life, adventure, or goal setting we think of steps that we need to take to make sure that the things we are preparing for turn out successfully. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact, there’s a quote that I love which states, “Success always comes when preparation meets opportunity.”
Let’s look at preparation another way. The Lord wants us to make our hearts ready on a daily basis so that He can work through vessels that long to please Him. He wants us to have hearts that are honest, sincere, full of integrity, and that offer Him true worship.
We must check our motives in the things that we say and do. We have to be aware of how we treat others this includes our body language, and our tones when we answer people. We have to take an honest examination of ourselves and ask if what we’re doing is pleasing to God.
God is not standing over us waiting for us to mess up so that He can immediately punish us but, He does want us to live a holy lifestyle unto Him. So whatever issues we might have whether everyone knows about them or whether they are private it is vitally important that we give them to the Lord.
So many people have learned to shout, dance, and praise around their issues by pretending that certain negative things in their lives are non existent. The Lord clearly sees those things and is willing to fix them if we just be honest and open with Him. Don’t ignore the issues.
So this is a reminder that as we seek to allow the Lord to use us for His glory we must give Him everything that’s in our hearts the good as well as the bad. Seek His holiness, righteousness, His way of thinking, and doing things. We must be willing to ask our loving Heavenly Father to turn His searchlight on our souls and remove any impurities. For surely this too is preparation
Reflections
1. What do you do in order to make sure that your heart is pleasing to the Lord?
2. Are you willing to ask the Lord to search you and deal with those places that you have tried to hide?
3. What does the following scripture mean to you? “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psa 51:10 KJV
4. Be sure to incorporate these verses in your prayers (as well as Psa 51:10)
“Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24 AMP
God Bless,
Minister Kimberly L. Smith
Think about the blessings that the Lord gave you during 2014. Consider His love, grace, protection, guidance, and how He delights in blessing His children. Just as He loves us unconditionally and freely does things for us, He wants us to allow His goodness to be seen through us so that people will glorify Him (see Mt 5:16).
Take a little time to reminisce about how you may have impacted someone’s life this year. It really doesn’t matter how great or small the interaction was just recognize the fact that it made a difference in the person’s life. It could have been giving a friendly smile and hello to a lonely co-worker. You could have bought groceries for a family that was struggling financially. Perhaps you prayed on the spot for someone who asked you to pray for them.
It may have taken you out of your comfort zone to pray with someone immediately if you’ve only been used to praying in private but, your stepping out in faith caused another person to be blessed to experience the love and compassion of Christ.
We must be open to the Spirit of the Lord and allow Him to flow through us. As we do this we will quickly find that it is a win win situation. God is blessed by our obedience, the person that we show God’s love to is blessed, and we experience great joy because we realize that God chose us to help carry out His purpose. It echoes in our spirit that if we obey Him once we can do it over and over again.
Reflecting on how God uses us is by no means a reason to boast in what we have done but, rather to give us a closer look at the gifts that He’s given us as well as be grateful that He has chosen us to be a vessels used by Him
Reflections
1. Do you see any patterns of good things that you did for others in 2014?
2. What are some of the things that you do in which the light of Christ is obvious?
3. Are you open to God using you for His glory even more in 2015?
God Bless,
Minister Kimberly L. Smith
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