5 Keys to Submit to God in All Your Ways

Most of us, as humans don’t like the word submit. We resent the idea of someone else in control of our lives. Submitting to God is not like that. We are going to look at 5 Keys to submit to God in all your ways.

We have been looking at Proverbs 3:5-6. In the previous lessons, we’ve covered the first two lines,

• “Trust in the Lord with all your heart”: This is unwavering confidence in Jesus Christ.
• “Lean not on Your Own Understanding“: We can trust in God’s perfect wisdom because He is faithful. Our own understanding can be tainted with the world’s view.

This time we will look at the third line.

• “”In all your ways submit to Him.“

What does “submit to God in all your ways” mean?

In the original Hebrew, the word is acknowledge. Some translations use this word while others use submit.

Acknowledge: To declare that one recognizes the claims of a person or thing fully established. Both in Old Testament and New Testament expressed by various forms of the word “know”. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

To form a relationship with God, we have to acknowledge who He is and except His control of everything.

Knowing gives the idea of intimacy, more than a superficial understanding. When we depend on the Lord for His direction, it has been built on the foundation of trust.

Acknowledging who God is, you need to make a choice to submit to God in all your ways.

James 4:6

 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud
    but shows favor to the humble.”

Since “God opposes the proud” but helps “the humble,” believers should submit to him. Submission is not the same as obedience. Instead, it is the surrender of one’s will, which in turn leads to obedience. Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament.

• 5 Keys to Submit to God in All Your Ways

1. Acknowledgement of the Sovereignty of God

Easton’s Bible Dictionary – Sovereignty [N] of God, his absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure (Daniel 4:25 Daniel 4:35 ; Romans 9:15-23 ; 1 Timothy 6:15 ; Revelation 4:11 ).

Revelations 4:11

“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
    and by your will they were created
    and have their being.”

God has all credibility. If He didn’t, it would be useless to trust that He can help us.

2. Honoring Him as We Submit to God in All Our Ways

1 Corinthians 10:31

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

1 Corinthians 6:19

 “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.”

As Christians, sometimes we don’t consider God in certain areas of our life. Maybe we don’t think about it or maybe it’s on purpose. God wants to experience every part of our life. Life is much better when God is in control.

3. Praying as We Submit to God in All Our Ways

Matthew 6:9-13

“This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’

The disciples wanted Jesus to teach them how to pray. This passage is His answer to them and us.

This prayer is an example of how we are to pray. In verses 1-2, is how we should begin our prayers to a Holy God and Father. This is acknowledging He is supreme both on earth and in Heaven. We are submitting to His will in every area of our life.

4. Reading God’s Word as We submit to Him in All Our Ways

2 Timothy 3:16

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,”

The Bible was written for us to read and see what God wants us to do. It trains us to focus in the way He wants us to and see life through His eyes.

As the verse says, it’s good to train us in righteousness because we don’t know what that really is. As we read and study we are able to help others see as God sees.

To walk in God’s way, we have to read His Word closely enough to know what to do. A quick glance at verses will not tell us enough.

5. Applying His Will as We Submit to God in All Our Ways.

Psalm 119:1-2

“Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,
who walk according to the law of the Lord.
Blessed are those who keep his statutes
and seek him with all their heart—
they do no wrong but follow his ways.“

We can read God’s Word all day and pray but if we don’t take His advice, its fruitless. The purpose is to give the gift of His Word to others.

There are many people who have never read a page of the Bible. Many are disinterested, many reject it. We do not know who will accept and who will not.

We need to listen to what God is saying in everything. His Will is being expressed in His Word.

Abraham: A Biblical Example of Submitting to God in All Your Ways

Genesis 22:1-11

“Sometime later God tested Abraham. He said to him, ‘Abraham!‘

‘Here I am,’ he replied.

Then God said, ‘Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.’

 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.He said to his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.’

 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, ‘Father?’

‘Yes, my son?’ Abraham replied.

‘The fire and wood are here,’ Isaac said, ‘but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?’

 Abraham answered, ‘God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’ And the two of them went on together.

 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, ‘Abraham! Abraham!’

‘Here I am,’ he replied.

 ‘Do not lay a hand on the boy,’ he said. ‘Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.’

The Lord asked Abraham to submit to Him by sacrificing Issac. What did he do? Beg for Isaac’s life? Try to consider another way out?”

Let’s look again at verse 5. “Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.”

What faith Abraham had. He followed God’s instructions. Isaac is the son he and Sarah had waited many years for.

What was God doing? He had promised Abraham many sons.

He didn’t falter but continued right up until God told him to stop. Maybe he thought God would ask the ultimate and then bring Isaac back from the dead.

He trusted God’s wisdom in the situation, submitting to God in all his ways. Abraham’s gained his strength from God to follow through and God blessed him.

In Conclusion

We have looked at 5 keys to submit to God in All Your Ways.

1. Acknowledgement of the Sovereignty of God.
2. Honoring Him as We Submit to God in All Our Ways.
3. Praying as We Submit to God in All Our Ways.
4. Reading God’s Word as We submit to Him in All Our Ways.
5. Applying His Will as We Submit to God in All Our Ways.

Even though the word “submit” can be scary, it is not in the Lord. His way is not meant to be a burden . Instead it becomes a wonderful life with God as lead in our lives.