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 4/5/2010 8:57 AM
 

Hi everyone,

Very much interested with spiritual disciplines and begin to use spiritual disciplines as part of my life.  One problem however is with submission.  As I read in "Imitation of Christ" and some other literatures, submission includes our submission to human authorities.  Based on my probably incomplete understanding of the scripture, Jesus submitted Himself totally to God.  If submission as a spiritual discipline means that we learn to be totally submit ourselves to the teaching and guidance of God, I then totally agree.  But if by submission means that I give myself wholly to the spiritual direction of my pastor or whoever was in charge in any organization, then I have my doubts.  I am probably wrong in this and I am open toward any input that can clarify my thought on this.  Pls tell me what you think.

Miekhie

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 4/29/2010 7:09 PM
 

I'm pretty new to this forum, but I have been struggling with the same question for quite a while.

At this point, unless I have a reason not to obey those set over me, I do what they ask. Most of the time I find they do not ask me to do anything wrong or call me away from what God is calling me to do. Most of the time they are just seem plain inconvenient. There are plenty of hypothetical situations that I can bring up as reasons to not submit, but mostly it's about my pride or laziness.

I have been trying to move not only into submission, but into honoring others by doing things they ask without complaining, promptly, well, and with a little extra. I want to teach this to my children, too, so the best way is to model it.

The joy of submission is that I have found myself working with God more in many situations I would not have if I had avoided submitting. I also have found less time to sin. . . idle hands are the Devil's workshop. I see my obedience to these leaders as obedience to God, since he has placed them over me.

I still have a long way to go. It is hard to be faithful when their eyes are not on me or when I find their requests meaningless or just plain silly. The practice has beat down my pride quite a bit, however, and made made me more available for God's work wherever he would have me.

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 1/15/2011 8:45 PM
 

Hello Friends,

A few thoughts that might give you some ways to think about submission. First, the very word and idea seems to be misunderstood in our time. When we put into practice submission as a spiritual discipline we are putting into practice activities that build holy habits or "soul-training exercises". Not everything we do is a spiritual discipline. Submission to human authorities is not always a spiritual discipline. So do make that distinction. With that understanding, when we practice submission as a discipline we learn to say yes and no with confidence that we are following God's way. We let go of having to always get our way or have the last word. We develop a kind regard for all people. If you have not read Richard Foster's chapter on submission in a long time you may find it to be encouraging and helpful (Celebration of Discipline).

I have found there are no short cuts when putting into practice submission or relinquishment. I fight hard to maintain control and not to release the outcome of things. I am learning to stay silent when it is right and good. To let others choose and then be content with the choice - whether it is a television show or what we eat for dinner. I have also found that yielding or relinquishing to Jesus all my hopes and dreams and ambitions brings great peace and joy.

The yielding is day by day and moment by moment, all of which is possible as we come to know that God is infinitely wise and good and able and near. Submission is really only possible when we see the beauty and wisdom and goodness of God and learn to put our confidence in Him.

Margaret

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