What do you think of when you hear...

What do you think of when you hear the word submission? Does it bring a smile to your face or the thought of doing something while grimacing the entire time? Gutting your way through something even though you don't like it? Been reading "The Principle of the Path" by Andy Stanley and the current chapter is talking about submission. Can't say that is one of my favorite topics. If you asked me to pick something out of the Bible to talk about, submission probably wouldn't be on the top of my list, but that is where we need to start. Listen to these two familiar verses.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make you paths straight. (Proverbs 3: 5 - 6)

Trusting our hearts can be a risky thing. Ever have a conversation with someone who "feels" they should do something, but from your vantage point that doesn't look very wise? Ever wanted something with all of your heart and then come up with the reason to support that? Or am I the only one who does that? Trusting our hearts by themselves isn't very wise, but trusting God with all of our heart doesn't have a downside. Let me quote a small bit from the book. "Notice he didn't say, 'In most all of your ways.' He said 'all.' Solomon didn't leave any wiggle room. In all your ways means in your dating ways, your marriage ways, your entertainment ways, your morality ways, your education ways, your professional ways, your financial ways. In every arena of life, we are to acknowledge God. God will make the best path obvious. If we trust with all of our hearts, refuse to lean into our limited understanding, and submit every aspect of our lives to him, the best path will become unmistakably clear. Divine direction begins with unconditional submission. Not information."

So do you submit or trust your heart? Do you submit or gather more information? We have a tendency to try to feel our way through things or gather more knowledge, but really neither of these point us in the direction we need to be going by themselves. Until we submit to God, we will continue to choose paths that don't lead us in the right direction. Been looking at the paths that I am on and wondering where I need to stop and get on the right path. See good intentions and hoping for the best really don't change where I am heading. I have to change the direction I am heading. "Direction - not intention - determines our destination." Good intentions will keep you headed in the same direction. The results of those choices may be years down the road but that doesn't change where we are headed. So where are you headed on the paths you have chosen - relationally, financially, spiritually? A truthful look could be a little scary. The truth can be a little uncomfortable and awkward at times.