TOTALLY SUBMITTED | MY STORY

Welcome to our journey together through what I’ve termed the Big S….No, not that “Big S”, the other one…the one that seems to cause many consternation. The one that is widely misunderstood…you know the one, SUBMIT.

If you’re anything like me, you’re thinking, “Oh no, not that topic…again.” Wouldn’t we be better off if we just didn’t talk about it, you know, just let sleeping dogs lie? Well my friend, I tried to fight it. I tried to get through life without it. I thought I was happy remaining in control of my marriage, my career, my home, my friendships and even of my worship experience. However, like so many of my other LIFE lessons, I’m realizing that maintaining control over every aspect of my life only provides me a semblance of security. Because while I wasn’t experiencing any extreme lows or unpredictable moments; I also wasn’t experiencing any extreme highs. There were no exhilarating peaks, no cups overflowing with abundance joy, no miraculous moments, and no room for God to be glorified. And being in control isn’t realistic, anyway. We have no control. My hope is that you will learn this principle much faster than I did. I had to learn how to SUBMIT the hard way. My submission journey is one that found me kicking and screaming, but I wish I had just, well, had just let go and let God. Cliché I know, but true.

I want to live my life fully and completely for Christ. I want to go where He leads. I want to forsake all and follow Him. But how do I know where God wants me to go? How do I give up everything, while continuing to live comfortably in this world? God in His infinite wisdom has given us answers to every question we might have, every dilemma we may encounter, and every situation that we may experience.

This study will provide Biblical support for the six principles of submission and will examine these principles

This study will be a mix of my journey learning to submit in marriage, in eating, and in serving. The six principles of submission that we will explore are:

S – Surrender

U – Unconditional Love

B – Beholden

M – Motivate

I – Intimacy

T – Trust

I’m excited to begin this journey with you and I look forward to your experience of living a life submitted to Christ, reaping the abundant and exceedingly marvelous blessings of our Lord!

So let’s explore His Word together. And after having read and reflected upon God’s Story, I invite you to experience My Story as a reflection of God’s working in my life. Finally, engage in various reflective exercises to support the writing, re-writing and/or sharing of Your Story.

Please enjoy My Story in the light of God’s Story. From my heart to yours,
Davenia

Surrender 

Alabaster Box Mary of Bethany
36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” Luke 7:36-39

Unconditional Love

The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Luke 1:28

Beholden

Blessed and Highly Favored Mary, Mother of Jesus

“Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. There Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out…” Luke 8:1-2

Motivation

Standing By Til The End Mary of Clopas

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. John 19:25

Intimacy

At Jesus’ Feet Mary of Bethany 

38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lordʼs feet listening to what he said.40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, donʼt you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41“Martha, Martha,”the Lord answered,“you are worry and upset about many things,42but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[a]Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42

Trust

At Jesus’ Feet Mary of Bethany 

When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. John 12:12

After having read the aforementioned passages, journal the following:

  1. Reflect: Allow the passage(s) to speak to you by meditating on the words. Ask and answer the following SPACES questions: 
    1. Is there Sin to confess? 
    2. Is there a Promise to claim? 
    3. Is there an Attitude to change? 
    4. Is there a Command to obey? 
    5. Is there an Example to follow? 
    6. What do you See and how does it apply to your life?
  2. Record observations and application: Record your insights and questions as well as the ways you will apply what you’ve learned to your life.

From Pastor Damein Johnson, https://seabrooksda.org/about-us/