Beloved friends and seekers of truth,

Can you submit to Jesus?

submit
/səbˈmɪt/
verb
1.
accept or yield to a superior force or to the authority or will of another person.
"the original settlers were forced to submit to Bulgarian rule"

Can you submit to Jesus rules applying in and over your life? Taking away your independence? or is that too much?

a few minutes ago, I stumbled upon an article that stirred my spirit. It was from the BBC, an institution that stands as a vanguard of anti-Christian sentiment. This article was about christening and naming ceremonies in the UK.

In their worldly wisdom, they testified that non-Christians and atheists are having their children baptized and christened in churches just to secure spots in already oversubscribed Christian schools. This is true, but it also raises the question of why atheists who are desperately antichrist, want their children to attend Christian schools. Are secular schools not good enough? And why is the BBC testifying?

But what truly troubled me was the report that the Church of England is considering modifying its baptismal language. The powerful, soul-searching question, "Do you submit to Jesus?" is now seen as too inquisitorial or strongly worded. I will not discuss the doctrines of the Church of England.
But I will ask you the same question, ''Do you submit to Jesus?'' Are you also threatened by the question?

Christianity means total submission to Jesus as Lord, and Saviour, to surrender; to give him all as he gave all on the cross, surrendering your time, skill, attention, influence, resources, and everything you have for his will and glory. Surrender is a stronger word than submit, yet it doesn't describe accurately enough our total acquiescence to Jesus.

Here are more synonyms for surrender;
give in, give (oneself) up, yield, concede, submit, climb down, give way, defer, acquiesce, back down, cave in, relent, succumb, crumble, be beaten, be overcome, be overwhelmed, lay down one's arms, raise/show the white flag, throw in the towel/sponge, accept defeat, concede defeat, give up, relinquish, renounce, forgo, forswear, cede, abdicate, waive, forfeit, sacrifice, hand over, turn over, deliver (up), yield (up), capitulate


surrender
/səˈrɛndə/
verb
1.
stop resisting to an enemy or opponent and submit to their authority.
"over 140 rebels surrendered to the authorities"
2.
give up or hand over (a person, right, or possession), typically on compulsion or demand.
"in 1815 Denmark surrendered Norway to Sweden"

As you can see, ''surrender'' means to stop resisting an enemy and submit to their authority. The bible clearly says that we as sinners are enemies of God.




How do you submit/surrender?
1. Confessing the authority of Jesus aloud and believing it


2. Confessing and forsaking sins in prayer.


3. Guarding your thoughts and what you see/hear
This is an important step, you must avoid certain things, sit down, and write a list of people you spend time talking to, and things you spend time on. People and things that draw you back to where you don't want to be, have to be deleted and blocked from your life.
It is better to offend them than offend God and your destiny.



4. Daily prayer in faith, word study and meditation.
A bible verse a day is better than none. If you do not have a hardcover bible, you could get one from a bible believing church around you. Or you could download Bible offline app, I personally use the one by Mr Rocco on Appstore or Google Playstore, it is lightweight, doesn't need the internet and reminds you during the day to take some time off to pray or sends you a bible verse as a notification.
Open your bible, ask God to reveal himself to you, read a verse or chapter, study it, memorize a verse and say it aloud all day.



5. Ask God for wisdom for life - your job, health, family, education, marriage, finances, leisure, even apparently trivial things like shopping, deciding on which bus to take, what shirt to wear etc. No question is too trivial to ask your father.



Jesus is waiting for you. Shalom.