Submitting ourselves to God is a common topic throughout the Bible. In the New Testament, James tells us, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Submitting ourselves to God can be difficult, but never fear — we are going to discover what it means to submit ourselves to God.
Submit Ourselves to God
There is great importance in submitting ourselves to God. When we submit ourselves to God, we can better resist the devil and he will flee from us. Submitting ourselves to God means that we listen to Him, obey Him, and follow Him.
When we submit ourselves to God, we acknowledge His Lordship in our lives. We must give up our own desires, hopes, and wants and choose to follow Jesus wherever He leads. It can be hard to submit to God at times, but it is what we must do.
It is easier to listen to our sinful nature and follow after it rather than submit to Christ. It is more difficult to submit to God, but it is the right thing to do. As Christians, the Holy Spirit can help us submit to God. Since the Holy Spirit is the Third Member of the Trinity, He is God.
The Holy Spirit can help us submit to God by obeying Him and following Him. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can cultivate the fruits of the Spirit in our lives. The fruits consist of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
Cultivating these fruits of the Spirit can help us better submit to God. By submitting ourselves to God, we are letting God know that He is the Lord of our life and that we love Him more than anyone or anything else.
We often think we are capable on our own to fight our battles, but we need God’s help. It is not possible to fight our battles without the Lord. We need His help, guidance, and strength.
The Lord loves to help us in our battles and to give us relief. The battle is the Lord’s, and He can help us no matter what we are facing.
Giving Up Everything for God
Submitting ourselves to God means that we must be willing to give up everything for Him and to follow Him. Jesus tells us, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).
Denying ourselves can be hard in a “me” focused world; however, with God’s help, we can. Submitting ourselves to God does not mean that we have one foot in the door of following Jesus and one foot out of the door following ourselves. It is vital that we go all in and follow Jesus completely.
This is the only way that we can submit to God fully. Denying ourselves and following Him both must be done to submit to God. Without these two aspects, we are not truly submitting ourselves to God. Think about all of the things that take up your time each day.
Are they focused on God? Are you doing your daily activities to the glory of God? Are you choosing to follow Him with all your heart even when it is hard? Most of us would say no to at least one of these questions.
It is important that we truly submit ourselves to God by giving up our own wants, choosing to intentionally follow Him, and living our lives in the knowledge of Jesus. The more we focus on God, follow Him, and serve Him, the better we will be at submitting ourselves to God.
Focusing on God means we try to see God in every circumstance we are facing. Whether the circumstance is a sad or joyful occasion, we need to focus on God and His great love. The author of Hebrews tells us,
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Just as the author of Hebrews tells us, we need to fix our eyes on Jesus and focus on Him. Following Jesus is also crucial to submitting ourselves to God. When we follow Jesus, we are truly obeying His teachings.
Following Jesus means we obey Him and put what He said into practice. The Lord tells us, “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15). In the same way, serving God is equally important to submit ourselves to God.
By serving God in our actions, choices, and lives, we are demonstrating that Jesus is the true Lord of our lives. Acts of service to God attest to the truth that God is worthy of all of our worship, praise, and adoration.
Submitting ourselves to God needs to be done each day. Submission to God cannot occur only once in a while or when we “feel like it.” Rather, submitting ourselves to God needs to be done daily and with every fiber of our being.
A Joyful Life
When we submit ourselves to God, we will live a much more joyful life. God is the Creator of our souls, and we are going to be the most joyful when we are serving Him, following Him, and obeying Him. A life of hopelessness stems from a life that is not focusing on God.
In addition to a more joyful life, submitting ourselves to God also helps us to resist the devil (James 4:7). Resisting the devil means turning away from the things of the world and resisting them. The Bible is clear that Satan is the “god” of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4).
The Bible is also clear that we cannot be friends with both the world and God (James 4:4). If we are friends with the world, then we are enemies of God. This is why it is vital that we resist the devil and the temptations of the world.
The Bible promises us that if we submit ourselves to God and resist the devil, the devil will flee from us (James 4:7). Therefore, by submitting ourselves to God through following Him, focusing on Him, serving Him, and obeying Him, we can resist the devil and live a life to the glory of God.
You can choose today to resist the devil and no longer listen to his lies. Instead of listening to Satan and the world, choose to listen to God and submit yourself to Him. God loves you unconditionally and that will never change.
With God, there is only light, love, and mercy. Submitting ourselves to God will lead to a life of pure devotion to God and a joyful life in worship to the Savior of our souls. If you are finding it difficult to submit to God, pray to Him and ask for His help.
The Lord hears every prayer, and He answers in accordance with His divine Will (1 Peter 3:12; Romans 8:28). God can give help through the Holy Spirit’s work in your life. Submitting ourselves to God can be hard, but when we do submit ourselves to God, we will live a life to the glory of God.
For further reading:
What Is the Biblical View of Submission?
Why Do We Need to Put God First in Our Lives?
What Does it Mean to Seek God’s Face?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/AndreyPopov
