Power in Submission
In Christian communities we say things like: You need to have the mind of Christ, take your thoughts captive, learn to think like Jesus…”
To truly think like Jesus thought, it is important to observe how the Son was in constant prayer and communion with His Heavenly Father, always tapped into the direction God would have for Him, receiving instruction and power from God, every step of the way. That would be quite the goal for each of us, wouldn’t it?
Making submission a priority in my life took a very conscience effort. In my natural personality I am very independent, self-motivated and an over-achiever. But life has taught me the importance of being reliant on God for His instruction and His direction. I had to learn to be submitted to His will OR I would eventually pay some pretty heavy-duty consequences, such as: not being content or experiencing joy in my life, to feeling completely overwhelmed and overworked in my career, to suffering from anxiety and perfectionism. I reflect on my life as a younger adult and I could say: I was a Christian, I prayed, I had a heart to please God, but I had not yet discovered how to be fully submitted to God; in my mind, in my will and in my emotions. I eventually learned that it took a daily effort, a reminder to myself to NOT go back into the independent self-reliant mode that I knew so well, which was worldly teaching that said that was how healthy, successful people behaved.
Now, I will often pray throughout my day, “God, Your will not my own be done today. Keep me in step with You through the guidance of the Holy Spirit within me.” Prayer is the first step, but the second step is knowing the mind of Christ. I began using personal reflection questions in dealing with life’s issues, such as: “How would Jesus think about this? How would Jesus respond in this situation?”
I think the answers to those two questions would often be very different than if I’m left to my own human devices. I have learned to be reflective in daily life and constantlyadjust my mind-set, to think like God would want me to think. This is the basis for healthy thinking and making successful changes in our lives; it is to reflect on whether our thinking would be Christ-like and pleasing to God? If not, then we need to change it, bringing your mind back into alignment with Christ, and then our feelings and actions will follow our mind-set!
Jesus did not think, for one second that He could do life or ministry alone. As you read through the gospels you will see how submitted He was to doing His Father’s will without His own agenda! Jesus states in John 6:38, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (NASB).
One of the Kingdom principles that has brought me so much freedom in my mind and in my emotions was this concept of surrendering my life to God and making it about His will, not my own, here on this earth. After making this conscience choice of submission, everything in my life changed, for the better. Usually the more independent or controlling a person is, the harder this step can be, but when we submit, it always produces a beautiful result. Not only is God’s plan for our life so much better than our own, there is comfort and safety in submission. Jesus was fully confident that His Father in Heaven had his back. When Satan tried to tempt Jesus in the desert, Jesus always responded by quoting Scripture about the authority of Father God and His faithfulness to serve and be in submission to His Father.
So often God’s role in our lives is much like that of a parent in the natural. As parents we know that if our children submit to our guidance and wisdom they will have a more successful life with less pain. Understanding this concept, you would think it would be easy to trust God and submit to all of His ways…isn’t He the perfect parent? The Almighty One of the universe. And yet, like unwise teenagers, we think we know better and feel like we must make our own way, through our own efforts, lacking wisdom. Comical, isn’t it?
Like a rebellious or know-it-all teenager, we can find it difficult to submit to what God might ask us to do, not completely understanding His purpose, just like a stubborn child saying, “Why? I don’t understand! This is too hard, Lord!” But Jesus submitted to Father God even when He experienced human fear in the Garden of Gethsemane and cried out, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will”(Matthew 26:39 NASB).
We can feel compassion and camaraderie here as Jesus is crying out and fearful, but He also immediately declared His submission to God’s will, in the midst of these intense emotions. Oh, how many times I’ve been like-minded with Jesus, in this scenario. Things I know God has called me to, things I know will be scary, not really sure what the outcome will be, so I cry out, “Really God, this? Are you sure?” But then I re-align my mindset to that of Christ’s, by spending time at His feet and connecting with my Father God, and then, very quickly I can reply, “If You say the word Lord, I shall obey and be Your servant.”
In my experience as a professional counselor, there is no greater freedom and healing than being in the presence of God, in submission to Him. Your position of connectedness and submission will make the greatest impact on the lives of others and establish His power and authority here on the earth.
(This excerpt is taken from my book, “It’s Time for a Revolution”)