I’m having a series of days where God is continually bringing a topic to my attention. Have you ever had a time like that? From Sunday through today, be it in conversations, an article, or through scripture and devotions… the topics of submission and humility are ever present.
And I want to share the thoughts that have been churning in my head on this… but camp life and ministry here is in high gear and I ran out of hours in a day to write… I’ve been sitting at the laptop for a while tonight, trying to wrangle my thoughts into a coherent post… but it isn’t happening. So as it doesn’t seem to be MY time to share with you… maybe it is YOUR time to share with me?
I’ve linked the article here that got me pondering.
I’ve linked scripture here and here, here, and here that had us discussing.
Take a gander at those if you are interested… come back to the blog and share what God is placing on your heart about what submission to Him means, how humility comes into play, and what specifically this looks like in action in daily living.
Because that’s where it matters…
So would you walk along with me as we (continue to) dive into this topic? It would be great to have you join in the process. We’ll use the comments below to share, ask questions, and reflect on how God is speaking to us through scripture.
Dive in…
~Jillene
Thin Moments 
Here is one part of the article that really got me thinking:
Compliance says “You have my behavior. You don’t have my heart.”
Submission says “You have my heart. What kind of behavior can I offer?”
Compliance says “Do what you’re told to avoid negative consequences.”
Submission says “Do what is necessary to honor the authority.”
Compliance says “If I find a loophole, I have a way out.”
Submission says “I desire to exceed expectations for the benefit of others.”
Compliance says “I better be rewarded for my extra effort.”
Submission says “I am delighted to give of a little extra, and I know my authority will protect my time and my heart.”
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A thought from our staff devotional that had us in deep discussion, “A close friend can empathize to some degree with how we’re feeling, but God knows it all intimately and perfectly. Ultimately we need to take our troubles and feelings to the Lord. Peter tells us to unburden ourselves on Him. Lay it all out before God- the good, the bad, the ugly. He already knows it all anyhow. And He is the only one who can do anything about any of it. He alone can give strength when you’re weary. He alone can give wisdom to resolve conflict. He alone can give grace in temptation. He alone can make the hurts go away.”
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I have often thought of submission versus compliance as a matter of the heart. As I ponder the article and think about my season of life, I look at the areas I am compliant and the areas I am submissive. The areas in which I am compliant, there is something that I am trying to do through my own power and not that of the Lord. I appreciate Anthony’s comment that “a broken person responds in broken ways.” I have fallen short in this area time and time again. I think the question “Where am I compliant in life?” will help me to see potential areas of growth and molding. I feel like 1 Peter 5 helps to give a good picture of what compliance versus submission looks like. I appreciate the tie in of Scripture to a thought provoking article.
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