Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
INSIGHT
-Submit in Greek is written as hupotasso which means to put in subjection, obey, to submit to one’ s authority or to yield to one’s admonition or advice. The word submit has been used a multitude of times in the Bible including: – the angel told Hagar to submit to Sarai (Gen 16:8-10), submission to God yields peace and prosperity (Job 22:21-28), demons submitted to the seventy two disciples in the name of Jesus (Lk 10:17-20), minds governed by the flesh cannot submit to God (Rom 8:7), Israel often times did not submit to God (Ps 81:11-12), we are called to submit to the authorities (Rom 13:5), to one another (Eph 5:21), wives to husbands (Eph 5:22), servants to masters (1 Pet 2:18) and everyone to God (Jam 4:7).
-Faith builds up trust in God and submission is a precipitate, which develops through the help of the Holy Spirit. Often times we have ideas that we execute before consulting God. When something goes amiss then we remember to pray for Gods’ guidance. Many are the plans in our heart, but it is the Lord ’s purpose that prevail (Prov 19:21). Some of us are trusting God for job opportunities, business prosperity, marriage, children, healing, safety of their children and families, basic needs, education, freedom in many areas, salvation and other things. God reminds us to submit all our plans and hearts desires unto Him. To acknowledge Him as the giver of all things. To be still and completely trust in Him, and He will make our plans succeed.
PRAYER
Thank You Lord for this far that You have brought us, we have seen Your gracious hand in all things. We submit our plans and hearts desires unto You Jesus, take complete control of our lives. Many are the plans in our hearts but we humbly ask You Lord to ordain our steps. We cast all our burdens and cares unto You Jesus for You care for us. Thank You Jesus praise You Jesus. Help us to be still Jesus amid the anxieties that we face and heal all our wounds. Remember our children who are going back to school that You may protect them and guide them in all things. Remember also Lord our families, jobs, businesses, studies, church needs and leadership, national leaders, institutions and entire nation, that You may take control and direct us in the way we should go. You are the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last Lord. We praise You and honor Your name, now and forever. Amen
Genesis 16:8-10
And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered. Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.”
INSIGHT
-The angel of the Lord found Hagar when she was desolate and afflicted. Hagar had been mistreated by her mistress Sarai and she ran away from her. By the spring to Shur, Hagar found favor before Jesus when He rescued her and she called Him, the Lord who sees. She also named the well; Beer Lahai Roy which means the well of the one who sees me alive. Hagar was instructed to submit to her mistress Sarai with a promise of a blessing; to multiply her and her descendants. This is the same instruction according to 1 Peter 2:18; that servants should submit to their masters whether they are good and considerate or harsh; in the fear of God. Like humility comes before honor, submission comes before favour. Hagar bore Abraham a son Ishmael; and they were blessed together with their descendants. We are also reminded to submit to those in authority including the kings of the land and God; the King of kings. Like Hagar submitted to God even during times of affliction and obeyed His instructions, we are called to submit to God during both times of trial and favorable times and His blessings will always follow us.
PRAYER
How unsearchable are You Lord and how unfathomable Your ways. How deep are the riches of Your wisdom and knowledge Oh Father. How unsearchable are Your judgments and paths untraceable. We seek Your face always Lord in submission to Your wisdom and hold fast our salvation with fear and trembling. We humbly come at Your feet Jesus our Saviour asking for Your mercy and grace. Hear our cries, supplications and prayers, and answer us according to Your merciful love. Heal the sick among us merciful Jesus and feed all the homeless and poor. Remember also the debtors Lord that you may provide for them the financial resources to settle their dues and kindle their hearts with Your love. Guide all leaders in the government, private sector and churches merciful Father; that they may always follow Your statutes and purposes for the benefit of all people. Fill our hearts with humility Holy Spirit we humbly ask You; that we may submit to those in authority and most importantly; submit to Your holy will. You are the King of kings and Lord of lord; Shepherd us Jesus in the way we should go. Amen
Ephesians 5:21-26
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word.
INSIGHT
-God offers us guidance with regard to the marriage institution. Wives should submit to their husbands and husbands to their wives through love; in reverence for Christ. Sometimes these regulations are violated leading to the upsurge in divorce cases. According to research done by Julie posted on the tuko website on the main causes of divorce in Kenya, money issues, domestic violence, alcohol and drug abuse, infidelity, infertility and loneliness come out prominently in that order. The research also reveals that in the 2009 census; approximately 212,972 couples were divorcees and that divorce cases filed in court are on the rise. Unfortunately, these are the realities that we face in our society today. God tells us that He hates divorce for it covers ones garment with violence, therefore each one should take heed to their spirit not to deal treacherously (Mal 2:16). Married couples should therefore submit to one another in reverence to Christ holding fast love. Further, the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church and respect should take precedence. Preserving unity in the body of Christ giving preference to one another in marriage as opposed to self centerdness leading to separation. Having the same mind in Christ that His word may dwell richly in our hearts and we may become one flesh in Him (Mk 10:8). Lastly, inviting Christ to remain at the center of our marriages through prayer that He may become the sure Foundation and strong Pillar which cements together the marriage union in love; forever.
PRAYER
Salvation belongs to You Oh Lord, Your blessing is upon us Your people, we trust in You. Thank You for loving us with an everlasting kind of love Jesus. We humbly ask that You lift the light of Your countenance upon us and bless all married couples. Guide them in Your wisdom and be at the center of our families. Settle the hearts of all those who are separated and divorced Lord; that Your will may be done in their lives. Pour Your gladness Holy Spirit on the hearts of all those who yet to marry or get married so that in due season; Your divine blessings may never leave our door steps. Have mercy Lord on those who have embraced same sex marriages and other forms of marriages and sexual activities that go against Your holy will; that You may sanctify them by Your precious blood and offer Your divine council. Remember also Lord those who are believing You for babies that You may bless them like You blessed Sarah. Many others have young ones Lord, may You shower them with Your everlasting grace. You alone make us dwell in safety Jehovah, deliver us from all evil and grant us Your everlasting peace. Amen
Job 22:21-28
“Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you. Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart. If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored: If you remove wickedness far from your tent and assign your nuggets to the dust, your gold of Ophir to the rocks in the ravines, then the Almighty will be your gold, the choicest silver for you. Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your face to God. You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows. What you decide on will be done, and light will shine on your ways.
INSIGHT
-Eliphaz; was among those who came to console Job when he was nursing his wounds and mourning the loss of his children and property. He stated that submission to God yields peace and prosperity. Acquaintance with God begins at conversion not only knowing Him as the God of nature and providence, but as the God of grace and peace in Christ Jesus. By seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, we make God our gold and choicest silver and all other things follow us. By submitting to God, we resist the devil and draw near to God and He comes near us (Jam 4:7). God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life and gives us His Holy Spirit so that He may live in love (1 Thes 4:7-9). As it was in the Old Testament, following Gods’ laws yielded fruitfulness. Jesus gave us the law of love and the Holy Spirit guides us in these purposes. Submission to God also leads to answered prayers and prosperity.
PRAYER
Thank You Holy Spirit for Your love and mercy upon us. We humbly ask You to always dwell in our hearts so that we may walk in submission to You with love. Shine Your light on our ways that we may always obtain favour before You and among men and women. May Your peace that surpasses all understanding dwell with the people of South Africa and on the whole world. Our Father who at in heaven hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from all evil. For thine is the kingdom the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen
Luke 10:17-20
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
INSIGHT
-Submission is a symbol of humility and pride parallels self exultation. Satan the leader of all demons exulted himself and fell like lightning from heaven. As Jesus gave the seventy-two disciples authority, He has given us the power to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy in His name. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus and He has given us the mandate to go into the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching them to obey His commandments (Mat 28:18-20). Jesus sovereign grace and salvation is completely from God and He has written our names in heaven for His divine purposes. This according to Jesus; should be our main cause for rejoicing and not other worldly things that are fleeting. Our mission is therefore evangelism as God has called each of us in various capacities, leading many to repentance causing rejoicing in heaven among the angels (Lk 15:7-10).
SUMMARY
Submission is the act of meekness and the meek will inherit the earth (Mat 5:5). It is in Gods’ will that His Kingdom comes and His will accomplished on earth as it in heaven. Through submission to God in repentance; He grants us the gift of salvation and writes our names in the book of life, so that no one may snatch us away from Him. In the call to humility; Jesus did not consider Himself equal to God but humbled Himself like a servant and became obedient to death; even death on cross and God exulted Him, so that in His name every knee shall bow in heaven and on earth and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord for the glory of God the Father (Phil 2:5-11). Pride is therefore the root of all vices and humility is the mother of all virtues. Before the crown came the cross, before honor comes humility and before favour comes submission. When we submit to God, demons submit to us in His name and we walk in dominion. God also calls us to submit to those in authority, submit to each other as brethren and each married couple to their own spouses in reverence to Christ. Most importantly, to submit to God and we will find peace and prosperity, and walk in His light. Since the just shall live by his faith (Habak 2:4), we are called to trust in the Lord in our thoughts, intentions, heart desires, businesses, careers, education, health, projects, churches, challenges, nation, world and all things, and He will make all the crooked paths straight. When we trust in God, He increases our faith and justifies us for eternal life with Him.
PRAYER
We exalt You our God and King; and tell of Your wonderful splendor in all the earth. We celebrate Your abundant goodness and rejoice of Your salvation in our lives. Every knee in heaven and on earth shall bow before You and everything tongue confess that You are the Lord of lords for the glory of God the Father. May Your salvation reach all tongues, people and nations we pray; for the glory of Your name. We submit our intentions, plans, heart desires, families, children, marriages, churches, businesses, careers, education, leadership, nation, the whole world and all things unto You Jesus, for You care for us. Increase our faith and shepherd us every day Jesus. You are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love, have mercy on us. When we are weak then we are strong for You are always with us Jesus, we thank You. Great are You Lord and most worthy of our praises, all power and salvation belongs to You; forever and ever. Amen