Morning Sips: How to submit to God

I’m not a Bible scholar, and I’ve never had any formal theological teaching – so just take this for what it’s worth.  The morning musings of a 58-year old Christ follower.

“Therefore, submit to God.”

You know those days when you’re reading your Bible, and one verse (or segment of verses) reminds you of another verse in some other chapter or Book of the Bible?  I love those days!!!  They bring to mind imagery of what it might be like if Jesus Christ were sitting across from me at the dining table, chatting about the impeccable congruencies of His word.  Well, this morning I had one of those experiences and so off I ventured into James 4, and having satisfied my curiosity with verse 6, I continued to read a few other verses I’ve underlined and commented on during previous studies.

“Therefore, submit to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”   

James 4:7-8, 10 (NKJV)

And here’s what stands out to me (or what stands out to me this morning):

         Submit to God >>>>

                    Draw near to God >>>>

                                Humble yourself before God

In todays society, submission is often seen as a ‘dirty word’.  Is it???

      Merriam-Webster defines submit as:

• to yield to governance or authority
• to subject to a condition, treatment, operation
• to present or propose to another for review/consideration
• to put forward as an opinion

And I wonder if perhaps submitting to God could be as simple as drawing near to God.  I mean, if I draw near to God: as in spend time with Him, listen to Him, talk with Him, do things together with Him, perhaps even “affectionately scooch on over closer” just to be near Him …. well, wont I naturally find myself wanting to:

…. yield to His authority?
…. offer Him my concerns?
…. dialog and discuss with Him?

Maybe submitting is a lot easier than we think it is.  Maybe submitting is just the result of drawing near to God, taking in all of who He is, and then responding to it.

And as a reward for doing that … the enemy of my soul will flee!!!  Scram!  Stay far out of range!  Why?  Because I’m nestled up under the covering of my God, and their ain’t no devil in hell that wants to get within range of God’s jealous wrath for His beloved!!!!

And who , pray tell, is His beloved???   Well my friend, that’s you and me!! ❤

Hmm…. sounds like there are some excellent perks for practicing submitting to God today.   I hope you join me in the practicing.