Submission!

Hi friends!! I’m SO sorry I’m so behind on posting on the blog! I am in the middle of finals week and am been keeping up with my study but have had NO time to blog! But I’m finally finding some free time to tell y’all my thoughts on submission

Submission isn't just a discipline, it's a lifestyle. This hit me like a ton of bricks. I think I submit myself, my desires, and my will to God's will and His plan when it's convenient for me, when it's comfortable and easy and when I agree with where God is leading me. But God does not call us to be obedient under our conditions but calls us to submit to His plan daily, surrendering all our wants and plans to whatever He wants and wills for our lives. It's scary and exciting and terrifying thinking that God may want you to abandon everything you know and love in pursuit of Him. But He is faithful in all of His promises and his plans are greater and brighter than any of our wildest dreams. It reminds me of the song, "Come Away With Me," specifically the lines "I have a plan for you... It's gonna be WILD, It's gonna be GREAT, It's gonna be FULL OF ME!" what more could we want?

The verse that stuck out to me the most in this lesson was definitely 2 Corinthians 6:9-10 where it says that as a servant to Christ "we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything." God does not promise an easy life when we submit to His plan. It will most likely involve persecution and the world trying to convince us that this is not what we're supposed to do and to take the easy, more comfortable path... to in essence conform to the world and to turn away from God completely. But even though God doesn't promise an easy life in submission, He promises to always be with us, to never lead us somewhere and then abandon us, to guide us exactly where He wants us. And even though there will be times where we feel beaten down, poor, sorrowful... God promises us a life of joy and fulfillment for people who seek and follow after him, people who let everything us go and chase after him. 

After going to Quito, Ecuador for spring break, I was beginning to feel like the Lord was calling me to possibly teaching abroad or doing missions in a different country or something. He placed this longing in my heart to only want to be back in Quito with these kids which I was completely confused and scared by. I had NEVER seen myself going abroad... I only wanted to stay and teach in Nashville or CA. NEVER had I seen myself going to a different country. And it was scary that the Lord was potentially calling me to trust him with this huge life decision and submit to his plan. He was standing right in front of me, with His hand stretched out saying, "trust me, I know what I'm doing and you have nothing to fear." It took me some time to imagine leaving everything behind to follow the Lord to wherever He leads me but I finally, after a lot of prayer and quiet time, grabbed onto His hand and promised to never let it go. It was SO HARD, letting go of everything I had envision for my life. But i know the Lord's plan will be 130958239058x greater than mine and I trust Him. Some days it's easier to submit to Him than others and I am definitely still working on letting go of all of my plans each day. But I'm thankful for His grace and still loving me despite my moments of doubt and worry... calming every storm that comes my way. Dang.... how freaking awesome is Our God?! SO in awe of all HE does for us.... how can we not submit our lives to Him?