Willing Surrender

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Ephesians 5:21

For many people, the idea of submitting themselves to someone else carries negative connotations. Submitting implies inferiority, subservience, or blink obedience. Nothing could be farther from God's truth. Submission as described in the Bible is a mutual commitment between two equals whose goal is to foster unity and cooperation. The ancient Greek word used in the Bible to describe submission is a military command telling troops to get in order according to their rank. By following this structure of authority, soldiers can work together more efficiently to accomplish their own individual duties. A company with too many generals and not enough privates has little chance of winning a war.

In the Bible, several verses ask wives to submit to their husbands, servants to submit to their masters, and citizens to submit to the government. Ephesians 5:2 lays the groundwork for them all. It makes absolutely clear that submission is expected of every follower of Jesus, not just a few specific groups of people. One way that Jesus showed his love was by willingly setting his rights aside to better serve others. Every time you follow his example, you honor him.

In daily life, submitting to one another looks a lot like respect, humility, and love. It means that demanding your own way, flaunting your authority, or nurturing a superiority complex are things of the past. It means that your life is beginning to look more like Jesus's.

Before mutual submission is evident in your actions, it needs to take root in your attitude. That process begins the moment you submit your own personal agenda for life to God's.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God for healing when it comes to how we view the act of submission. Ask Him to transform your broken heart that was created trying to please MAN with one of a heart centered on Him. Ask him for guidance and sustainability thus His work, His will, will become yours. In doing so submission transforms into an act of worship. When we worship our Lord we are healed and saved eternally. ~ MME Team

Battle Plan

Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

James 4:7

The devil is referred to by many names throughout the Bible - accuser, tempter, deceiver, slanderer, enemy, Satan. One thing the Bible never calls him is a mythical creature. He is as real as God himself. There's no point in resisting someone who isn't there.

You need to know more, however, than that Satan exists. You need to know exactly what to do to defeat Satan. On the same day you aligned yourself with God, you gained this "adversary," which is what the word Satan literally means. Satan has no personal interest in you. His only aim is to hurt God. One way he tries to do that is by trying to hurt the ones whom God loves. Satan is only a prideful, fallen angel. He isn't all-knowing or all-powerful. Yet he can still wreak havoc, causing you to doubt God's love or tempting you to go down the wrong road.

But you can stop Satan in his tracks. First, submit to God. In the original language, submit is a military command that means "to get your proper rank." That's accomplished by humbly putting every aspect of your life under God's loving authority. Only then are you prepared to defeat the devil. Resist is also a military command that means "to stand bravely against." Stand against your adversary by recalling the biblical truths. Strengthen your resolve through prayer. Turn your back on anything that entices you to turn away from God. Satan will flee from the battle before it has even begun.

Satan has no future. Jesus assured Satan's ultimate defeat by dying on the cross. The potential skirmishes that James alludes to are nothing more than diversionary tactics from an opponent who is destined to lose.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God for courage and strength to fight the good fight until your last breath. ~ MME Team