Spiritual Discipline // SUBMISSION
By Isaac Hovet
Oh man. Submission tends to be an ugly word to us. We like the phrase, “Don’t Tread on Me!” We like to be our own person, to be in control of our destiny. But, God calls us to submit.
If you are at all like me, you have trouble seeing how self-centered you can be.
When I was a freshman in high school, I had a great basketball coach. Mr. Morgan. Mr. Morgan was almost the spitting image of Gene Hackman in Hoosiers. (Coach Dale).
Both Mr. Morgan and Coach Dale demanded total submission to their rules and their ways. I learned how difficult submission was for me. And, I learned the hard way.
During one particular drill, I got upset. I don’t remember why I was upset, but I do remember kicking the basketball up into the rafters of the gym. I also remember Coach Morgan staring at me with a bit of a sneer. My first thought was that I was going to have to do extra running.
But, Coach Morgan knew what would help me to remember not to throw a fit.
I watched for the next 10 minutes as the rest of the team ran extra line drills. They weren’t happy with me a bit. I was humbled by a Coach who knew that if we were going to be a good team, we would have to submit.
Submission is hard.
Donia quoted Dr. AJ Swoboda (His book “AFTER DOUBT” is exceptional) on Sunday:
We know we’re worshipping God when our beliefs about God are subject TO GOD…The sign of true humility is that our faith can be broken around who God actually is, and not just who we want God to be.
To follow God means that we must trust God to be God. We are not. We must be taught, disciplined and exhorted.
The Psalmist writes:
33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, And I shall observe it to the end. 34 Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law And keep it with all my heart.
Psalm 119:33–34 (NASB)
To be taught, one must submit. There is no faith without submitting our hearts to God.
APPLICATION
- What spiritual or biblical topic makes you squirm? Write it down.
- Ask God to help you submit to him.
- Say a prayer in which you tell God that you will not allow this topic to get in the way of your relationship with God.