Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Therefore – James 4:7- Submit To God – Growing As Disciples

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  James 4:7 (NKJV)

Your Love

At one time I thought it would be a never-ending battle for me to submit myself to you. I thought it would be a white-knuckle affair that would require every ounce of my strength and energy in order for me to submit myself to you. I expected that I would constantly fail in even my best efforts to submit myself to you. Why have you held all these thoughts? Let me first start by saying that I know that I don’t perfectly submit myself to you. I do come up short. I do sin. I do make mistakes. I do fail to follow and obey you perfectly. But, I have much more to say about submitting myself to you. I am listening. I want to submit myself to you. Why do you want to submit yourself to me? Your love has changed me. I want to submit myself to you because you love me. I want to submit myself to you because I love you. That’s quite different than trying to submit myself to you because I should or must. That’s quite different than very reluctantly and slowly choosing to submit myself to you over the pleasures of sin. Now I want everything about me to be submitted to you. Like what? I want the thoughts of my mind to be submitted to you. I want to think thoughts that please you. I want the desires of my heart to be submitted to you. I want to want what you want. I want to know and do your will. I want to live and walk in your ways. I want you to both give and grant the desires of my heart. I want the words of my mouth to be submitted to you. I want to speak words that come from you. I want my words to build others up rather than tear them down. I want the deeds of my life to be submitted to you. I want to go where you guide me. I want to do what you ask of me. I want to accomplish everything that you have laid out in advance for me to do. I want to bear an abundance of fruit for your kingdom. I want to bring glory to your name. These are all desires of a heart and mind and life that is submitted to you. Yes, they are. I know that it will give me great joy to live my life in submission to you. Yes, It will.

There is something else that I know. There is something else that I have to say. What’s that? Evil can’t find a home in a heart and mind and life that is submitted to you. No, it cannot. As I submit myself to you I am also resisting evil. Yes, you are. As I submit myself to you the devil and all his evil must flee from me. That’s right. I will keep submitting myself to you because you love me and I love you. Yes, you will.

Lord, your love has changed me. Your love has passionately motivated my desire to submit myself to you. I want your thoughts on my mind and your desires on my heart. I will submit myself fully to you. I will resist the devil so he and all his evil will flee from me. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Therefore – James 4-7 – Submit To God – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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