Have you ever felt lost, adrift in a sea of choices and uncertainties, yearning for a connection to something larger than yourself? The question of how to truly submit to God is one that has resonated within the hearts of seekers for centuries. It's a journey of the spirit, a dance between free will and divine guidance, and a path that promises peace, purpose, and profound transformation.
Understanding how to submit to God isn't about blind obedience or relinquishing your individuality. It's about aligning your will with the divine will, fostering a deeper understanding of your purpose, and cultivating a relationship built on trust, love, and surrender. In a world often driven by ego and self-reliance, learning to submit can be a radical act of faith, opening the door to a life filled with grace, compassion, and unwavering hope. The ability to genuinely connect with the divine can bring solace, clarity, and the strength to navigate life's challenges with renewed purpose and resilience.
What Does Submitting to God Really Mean?
What does submitting to God practically look like in everyday choices?
Submitting to God in everyday choices means aligning your decisions, big and small, with His will and character as revealed through scripture, prayer, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It's about consciously choosing obedience over self-interest, trusting in God's wisdom even when you don't understand, and seeking to honor Him in all aspects of your life.
Practically, this translates into actively seeking God's perspective before making decisions. This might involve praying for guidance before accepting a new job, carefully considering how your spending aligns with biblical stewardship, or choosing to forgive someone who has wronged you, even when it's difficult. It's a continuous process of self-reflection, asking yourself, "What would God want me to do in this situation?" and then striving to follow through, even when it requires sacrifice or going against the grain of popular opinion. This isn't about earning God's favor, but rather responding to the love and grace He has already freely given.
Furthermore, submitting to God involves acknowledging His sovereignty over your life. This means recognizing that He ultimately knows what's best for you, even if it differs from your immediate desires or plans. It's about trusting that His path, though sometimes challenging, leads to ultimate fulfillment and purpose. This trust allows you to release control, surrender your anxieties, and find peace in knowing that you are held securely in His hands. It also means being open to changing course if He leads you in a different direction, demonstrating a willingness to prioritize His will above your own comfort or ambition.
How can I overcome my ego when trying to submit to God?
Overcoming ego in submission to God requires conscious effort to cultivate humility, selflessness, and a willingness to surrender your own will. This involves recognizing your limitations, acknowledging God's greater wisdom and power, and actively seeking to align your thoughts and actions with divine guidance through prayer, scripture study, and service to others.
The ego, by its nature, is self-centered and resists relinquishing control. It thrives on validation, achievement, and maintaining a sense of importance. Submission to God, conversely, necessitates acknowledging that you are not the ultimate authority or source of wisdom. A crucial step is to actively practice self-reflection and identify the ways in which your ego manifests – perhaps through defensiveness, pride, a need to be right, or a fear of vulnerability. Once you recognize these patterns, you can consciously challenge them by choosing humility and open-mindedness instead. Regularly engage in acts of service without expecting recognition, and strive to find gratitude in every situation, even difficult ones. Another helpful approach is to actively cultivate a deeper understanding of God's nature and your relationship to the divine. Regular prayer, meditation, or reflection on sacred texts can help shift your focus from self to something greater. Ask for guidance in surrendering your ego and aligning your will with God's. Focus on qualities like compassion, forgiveness, and unconditional love, reflecting on how these embody a spirit of selflessness and submission. Remember that the journey of overcoming ego is a lifelong process, requiring consistent intention and self-awareness.Is submission to God passive or does it require active effort?
Submission to God is not a passive state but an active and ongoing effort. It involves consciously choosing to align one's will, thoughts, and actions with God's guidance, requiring consistent intention and deliberate engagement.
Submission isn't simply about accepting whatever happens without resistance; it's about actively seeking to understand God's will for your life and then diligently working to embody that will in your daily choices. This active engagement necessitates prayer, study of scripture (if applicable to your faith), self-reflection, and a willingness to adjust your plans and desires according to divine direction. It's a continuous process of learning, growing, and refining oneself to be more aligned with God's purpose. Furthermore, active submission requires confronting personal ego, pride, and self-centered desires. It means choosing humility over arrogance, service over self-interest, and faith over fear. This often involves making difficult decisions, enduring trials with patience and trust, and persevering even when the path forward is unclear. Therefore, submission to God is not a one-time event but a lifelong journey of active participation and surrender.How do I know if I'm truly submitting to God's will?
Knowing if you're truly submitting to God's will is a lifelong journey of discernment marked by a deep sense of peace, alignment with scripture, confirmation through wise counsel, and evidence of bearing good fruit in your life and the lives of others. It's not a one-time event, but a continuous process of seeking and aligning your heart, mind, and actions with what you believe God is calling you to do.
Submitting to God's will involves actively seeking His guidance through prayer and studying His word. Reflect on the potential actions you are considering. Do they align with biblical principles? Do they promote love, justice, and righteousness? Are you motivated by self-serving desires, or are you genuinely seeking to honor God and serve others? Often, the answer will become clearer as you immerse yourself in scripture and allow God to speak to your heart. Furthermore, seek wise counsel from trusted Christian mentors, pastors, or friends who can provide objective feedback and spiritual discernment. Sharing your thoughts and seeking their perspectives can help you identify potential blind spots or biases that might be clouding your judgment. Their insights, combined with your own prayerful reflection, can offer valuable clarity. Ultimately, true submission manifests in a life that reflects God's character – a life marked by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.What if God's will conflicts with my own desires; how do I reconcile that?
Reconciling conflicting desires with God's will involves a process of discernment, prayer, and ultimately, surrender. It requires honestly examining your motivations, seeking guidance from trusted sources, and being willing to prioritize God's wisdom, even when it differs from your personal preferences. This is not always easy but leads to deeper peace and alignment with your purpose.
Navigating this conflict begins with honest self-reflection. Are your desires selfishly motivated, or are they aligned with biblical principles of love, service, and righteousness? Spend time in prayer, specifically asking for clarity and understanding of God's perspective. This involves more than simply asking for what *you* want; it means genuinely opening your heart and mind to receive God's guidance, even if it means letting go of your own plans. Consider seeking counsel from mature Christians, pastors, or mentors who can provide unbiased wisdom and spiritual insight. They can help you discern whether your desires are truly serving your best interests, both in this life and in eternity. Surrender doesn't mean becoming a passive robot, devoid of personal desires. Instead, it means trusting that God's plan for your life is ultimately better than anything you could devise on your own. It’s a process of actively choosing to believe in God's goodness and wisdom, even when you don't understand the reasoning behind His direction. This often involves a period of wrestling and questioning, which is perfectly normal. Remember that Jesus himself wrestled with God's will in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39), ultimately choosing to submit to the Father's plan. Embrace a posture of humility and open-mindedness, allowing God to mold and shape your desires to align with His perfect will. Finally, cultivate a heart of gratitude. Focusing on the blessings God has already bestowed upon you can shift your perspective and make it easier to trust Him, even when facing challenging circumstances or unmet desires. Recognizing God's faithfulness in the past can strengthen your faith and give you the courage to embrace His will for the future, trusting that He is working all things together for good (Romans 8:28), even when the path ahead seems unclear or undesirable.How does submitting to God relate to surrendering control in my life?
Submitting to God is fundamentally about surrendering the illusion of control you think you possess over your life and consciously acknowledging God's sovereignty and wisdom in all things. It's recognizing that your plans, desires, and understanding are limited, while God's plan is perfect and encompasses a perspective far beyond your own. Therefore, submission involves releasing your grip on managing every detail and trusting God to guide your path, even when it deviates from what you expect or desire.
Surrendering control doesn't mean becoming passive or neglecting your responsibilities. Instead, it's about shifting your focus from striving to manipulate circumstances to aligning your will with God's will. This requires a conscious effort to pray, seek His guidance through scripture and wise counsel, and cultivate a heart of obedience. It's about acting responsibly with the gifts and opportunities God provides, while simultaneously trusting Him with the outcomes. You actively participate in your life, but with the understanding that God is ultimately in charge and working all things together for good (Romans 8:28). The process of submitting to God and surrendering control can be challenging because it often involves letting go of things we hold dear: our ambitions, our sense of security, our relationships, and even our understanding of how things "should" be. However, the peace and freedom that comes from truly trusting God far outweigh the discomfort of relinquishing control. It's a continuous journey of faith, where we learn to rely on God's strength and wisdom, knowing that He is always working for our ultimate good, even when we don't understand His ways.Can I submit to God even when I doubt or question my faith?
Yes, absolutely. Submission to God isn't contingent on perfect faith or the absence of doubt. In fact, submitting amidst doubt can be a profound act of faith and a deepening of your relationship with God, demonstrating trust even when understanding is incomplete.
Doubt and questioning are a normal part of the human experience, especially when grappling with complex spiritual concepts. Many figures in the Bible, held up as examples of faith, wrestled with doubt and challenged God (think of Job, David, or even Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane). Submission, in this context, isn't about suppressing doubts but about choosing to align your will with what you believe is God's will, even when you don't fully understand or agree. It's about acknowledging God's authority and sovereignty, even as you seek clarity and understanding. Submitting to God while doubting can involve prayerful honesty, admitting your struggles and seeking guidance. It means continuing to live according to your understanding of God's principles, even as you grapple with questions. It may also involve seeking counsel from trusted spiritual mentors or engaging in theological study to explore your doubts and strengthen your understanding. The important thing is to maintain an open heart and a willingness to be guided by God, even through the difficult process of questioning. Ultimately, submission is about trust. It's trusting that God is bigger than your doubts, that He can handle your questions, and that He is working in your life even when you can't see it. Embracing this trust, even in the face of uncertainty, is a powerful form of submission.Well, there you have it – a few thoughts on how to submit to God. It's a journey, not a destination, so don't worry about getting it "perfect." Just keep seeking, keep listening, and keep opening your heart. Thanks for reading, and feel free to come back anytime you have more questions or just want to explore further!