Submit And Proceed

"Submit And Proceed"
By Zach Wood
James 4:7-8
Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Come near to God and he will come near to you.  Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.


We have been studying through the book of James for our weekly small group bible study.  I have kept coming back to this passage of Scripture dealing with submitting to God.  It's the section talking about how we need to be submitting ourselves to God.  As I read through this passage over and over again, I cannot help but ask myself, "What is my problem?" 

This question challenges me to think of why I continue to desire to submit to God's direction, but fail to proceed with action.  I do truly desire to submit myself to God, but following through is so much harder than I realize.  I have good intentions, I really do.  However, my flesh is weaker than the spirit inside that desires.  I find myself not wanting to give up certain habits that inhibit my growth.  I am so human and desire to do things my own way instead of letting God take control. 

James is very clear in saying that if we submit ourselves to God, He will come near to us.  If we keep choosing the path of sin and following evil ways, we will not grow closer to Him.  He wants us to not only submit to Him, but proceed with living a life that is glorifying to Him and turning away from sin.  If we want the devil to flee from us, we must take action to do things that will bring glory to Him and that will direct our path away from the path of sin.

Choosing to submit to God requires action to be taken further on.  We cannot submit to God and then live a life we desire on our own.  He just will not work that way with us.  Either we submit and proceed, or we do not submit at all.  We cannot be in between.  I know for myself, I struggle daily in this area of submission.  I fight the daily battle of temptation that wants to take me away from my walk with Christ.  This is the struggle each of us face daily.  However, we must make the choice that we are going to submit and proceed with the way He wants us to.  We must submit all we are and allow Him to lead.  Period. 

Have you submitted to Him today?  Shall we all submit and proceed?