Submit - Battling with God, This Warrior is a child.

The song today is by Twilia Paris - The Warrior is a Child.
"They don't know that I go running home when I fall downThey don't know who picks me up when no one is around I drop my sword and and cry for just a while 'Cause deep inside this armor the warrior is a child"

Submit- Does this word make you cringe?

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? James 4:1 (NIV)

Like a child who has been told they are to do something they do not want to do, you can just see yourself standing there, putting your hands to your head, grabbing fistfuls of hair, crying out to your father in heaven and going, "NO!!!!!!!!!!!"

He's familiar with these temper tantrums, I'm sure.
James goes on to say throughout Chapter 4 (NIV)

"2.You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."

6"But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."

17 "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."

That last part is a real blow to the ego.
"Anyone who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."

Ok, everyone who is struggling with this issue of submission, you know you want to,
go ahead and take a deep breath and sigh deeply. (SIGH........)

The Bible tells all of us to submit first to God, and then to one another in reverence to Christ.
Job 22:21"Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you."
Ephesians 5:21 "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ"

What does Submit mean anyway? I looked it up.http://www.freedictionary.com/, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary
Submit- To yield or surrender (oneself) to the will or authority of another.Submission - the condition of being submissive, humble, or compliant
Submissive - Inclined or willing to submit,
Submission - showing quiet obedience

I did a word search for these three words on http://www.biblegateway.com/

The Word, "submit," came up 26 times, "submission," 8 times and, "submissive" 4 times

As a woman, the Bible is quite clear on the matter.
I'm sure many of you are very familiar with the following:

Ephesians 5:22 "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord."
Ephesians 5:24 "Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything."
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Oh boy, there are times when I really don’t want to do that.
It just doesn’t seem fair. Are we really suppose to obey, be compliant, humble ourselves to our husbands lead?
But what if we think he’s wrong in what he believes?
Keep reading ladies..... it's not all bad
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1 Peter 3:1" Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives,"

1 Peter 3:5 "For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands,"

Why do we struggle so much with this issue?
We're selfish.
Our sinful nature is a selfish nature. We all have sin, and in the center of sin is what? "I"

Philippians 1:21 (NIV) "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

If you are a Christian, then these words are true

Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

For us as women, the instructions seem to go on and on:
1 Timothy 2:11 "A woman should learn in quietness and full submission."
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I used to think Paul had a problem with women, but the more I read, the more grace I’m given to discern and gain in knowledge and wisdom.
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Throughout scripture everyone is told:

Proverbs 17:14 "Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out."

1 Timothy 2:8 "I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing."

Job 13:5 "If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom."
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There's a matter in my own life where this issue of submissiveness keeps coming up.
I just don't want to do it.
Here recently, the issue arose again.
In the past, I would have, like a child, kicked screamed, ranted and raved.
But now, compared to the past, I have committed myself to studying the scriptures, prayer and seeking wise counsel.
It makes all the difference in the world.

Hebrews 5:7 "During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission."

Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

Psalm 4:1 "Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer."

Psalm 102:17 "He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea." Romans 12:12 "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
Psalm 4:4 "In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. "

I tried my best, I wanted to do what is right, but in the end, remember, I am only still a child, maturing and growing daily in God’s word.

When I could stand it no longer, when I felt I had no one to turn to but God and desperately needed someone to talk to, I went to a friend whom I trust and sought wise counsel

Proverbs 19:20 "Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.
Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach"

We’ve had this same discussion 3 times now in 9 years,my friend and I, and once again I let my friend know, “I’m here again and I don’t know what to do. I messed up.”

James 5:16 "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

This friend is patient, probably losing patience with me, but still always there for me.

1Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

Hebrews 3:13 "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."

My friend listened to all I poured out and then, in love and wise counsel, gave me the same advice I’d been given twice before

“Submit – and pray like the dickens!”

But this time……..
“I was ready to listen.”

Isaiah 26:16 "LORD, they came to you in their distress; when you disciplined them, they could barely whisper a prayer."

Matthew 21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
Mark 9:29 He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer. "
Mark 11:24 "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

Philippians 1:9 "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight"

So, how did this end?

I knew and have known along what to do.
I submitted.
God is working and all is well.

I leave you today with the words of Paul in Philippians 1.
Words I’m beginning to appreciate more and more.
In His love,
Amy

Philippians 1 (NIV)
"Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have." (NIV)