What does it really mean when we talk about being "submissive to God's will?"
Upon what is it based?  In what way is its accomplished?  What will be its effects?

The word submissive implies a volitional, conscious, willful coming under authority.  Naturally, man has an independent spirit of self-sufficiency, and as a result, may have difficulty in submitting to those authorities that have been placed in their lives.  Children live under the authoritative protection of parents.  The laws of our land define the parameters of our actions, as citizens.  Employees fulfill the obligations of earning a paycheck by aligning themselves with the policies and protocol of the employer from whom those wages come.

As blood-bought believers, however, we additionally have a greater and higher privilege and responsibility to the One Who has reconciled us unto Himself.  It is simply submitting the human desires of the heart to the divine design of our Sovereign. Christ submitted Himself to the will of the Father, and to the extent that we imitate Him in that, we will see His plan for our lives come to fruition. We see the ultimate prayer of submission come from the lips of our Saviour, when He prayed  in the Garden of Gethsemane " ...Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." (Luke 22:42)

Every action word demands an object.  In the act of submission, the object is always the person of the sovereign God of Heaven.  If it is to be authentic, it must never be based on, or be in light of our feelings.  Rather, it must be based upon the clear revelation of God as declared in the Scriptures. What is the heart, mind, will and purpose of God, as demonstrated in the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ?  As that was clearly seen in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, so He admonished in Matthew 22:37-39 to "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." and to "love thy neighbour as thyself."  Those 2 great commandments are seen in the act of obedience to God, as the object of our obedience, and service to man, as the object of our ministry of service.

Biblical submission is accomplished as we yield our temporal will, following flesh desires, to the greater eternal will of the Father, Who has declared the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10).  When, upon making discerning assessment, we discover our thoughts to be centered more around ourselves than upon God and others, we can know we are paying homage to the flesh.  When our walk is fashioned to better our own situation, without respect to it's ripple effect on God's holy Name or the spiritual life of others, we are walking in the power of, and for the glory of the flesh.  When our talk would tend to elevate ourselves, rather than exalting God and edifying others, it is with certainty that we are falling short of the glory of God.

The effects of absolute submission to the perfect will of God are seen both in the matter of pleasing God and profiting people.   Whether we eat or drink,or whatsoever we do, it is to done to the glory of God,according to 1Corinthians 10:31.  Our steps  are to be ordered according to His Word, as seen in Psalm 119:133.  Christ's submission to the will of the Father secured the full availability of our salvation.  Our submission to the will of the Father evidences the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit and gives those in our world an opportunity to see Christ living us, and trust Him too. (Psalm 40:1-3)

-(c) 1993, 2012 N.A. Collins  Limited copy permission given for one file copy-

We live in a world that is given to an information overload on many levels.  Not only can we access myriads of facts from a few clicks on the world wide web, there is both the audiand visual media which gives opportunity for multi-processing  24/7.  

Amazingly,  long before the onset of this technological intrusiveness, the psalmist wrote that in the multitude of the thoughts within him, God's comforts delighted his soul (Psalm 94:19).  Although the external circumstances were different, the internal nature of man still experienced the same kind of thought struggles that we have today, thousands of years later, he heart of man is still the heart of man, regardless of the age in which he lives. But, praise the Lord, the heart of God is still the heart of God, and according to 1 John 4:4, we have the full assurance that He that is in the believer is greater than he that is in the world.  It is for that very reason that the  psalmist could find delight in the things of God when the things of the world overwhelmed him, and when he was afraid, in Psalm 56:3, he could trust the Lord.  in Psalm 45:3, he said that his downcast spirit was overturned by his confident in God, resulting in praise to Him.

So, what is biblical thought control?  2 Corinthians 10:3-5 give us a clear understanding of the spiritual warfare in which we are involved, as well as the  action which must be taken in order for us to have spiritual victory in this critical area.

We must anticipate spiritual warfare.  It is a promised fact for citizens of Heaven who are residents of planet earth.  Although we groan and long for that heavenly home, as spoken of in 2 Corinthians 5:2-4, we know that His Word gives us all that pertains to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), and that His grace is all-sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Therefore, according to verse 5 of the 2 Corinthian 10 passage, we must bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.  We are told that we think thousands of thoughts a day.  Every one of gives allegiance to the flesh or to the Spirit.  Our responsibility is to steward our thoughts by identifying them, examining them in the light of God's Word, confessing wrong thoughts, and replacing with righteous ones that are in agreement with the Word of God.

"What saith the Scripture?" is a question that the apostle Paul raised on more than one occasion in his life and ministry, and is one that we should ask, as well.  For example, when the thought of "I can't do this task God has given me", it should quickly be followed with what then Scripture says about that thought.  1Thessalonians 5:24 reminds us "faithful is he that calleth you who also will do it", and Philippians 4:13 gives confidence that "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me".

The list can go on and on with the biblical Truth declared by God, administered by His Spirit,that should override the unbiblical thoughts of the flesh.  I trust that each one of us will faithfully bring every thought into the obedience of Christ.

© 1993, 2012 NA Collins (limited copy permission for one personal file copy)

The question is often asked "How can I know the will of God?". Every question mankind asks must be answered with the Word of God, if we are to fulfill the will of God.  Therefore, we can search the Scriptures, as the Bereans did, to find the answer to every question.

We know, by clear statement, that salvation pleases God.  He has made full provision in the blood of His Son for all who believe, and 2 Peter 3:9 reminds us that God is not willing that any should perish.  We know that the sanctification of believers is God's will, seen in 1 Thessalonians 4:3.  Chapter 5, verse 18 of that same epistle declares that the will of God is for us to gives thanks in everything.  In Peter's first letter Peter reminded us that when Christians are submissive to the laws of the land, God's will is accomplished in that it silences the ignorance of foolish men (2:15) He then contrasts the will of God in direct opposition to the lusts of man in 4:2.

So, apart from these very clear directives, how are we to know the will of God?  My spiritual mentor, Dr. Wendell Heller, always taught me that the will of God and the Word of God were synonymous.  What a blessing that has been to me through the years!  I John 5:14 teaches me that I can have confidence if I pray according to the will of God, therefore, I find great blessing in praying according to the Word of God.

In light of these thoughts, it is clear that we can know the will of God by knowing the Word of God.  God is pleased (it is His will, it glorifies Him, if fulfills His purpose) when we become more and more like Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:28-29a give us the parameters for understanding God's working in our lives.  "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."  "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son. ".

In the light of those truths, we can well see that the will of God is defined by that which pleases Him, glorifies Him, reflects the character and nature of God in our lives as declared in His Word and as demonstrated by Jesus Christ, in the flesh.  Remember, according to Hebrews 1, He is the express image of the Father.  As we imitate the Son, through the power of the Spirit, we please the Father, and accomplish His will.

Understanding how to determine the will of God is critical in our making sure we think theologically (biblically) rather than emotionally (humanly).  It is critical in both our walk and talk in being careful that others see and hear Christ in us, not we, ourselves.  He has made us new creatures in Christ at the time of our salvation.  Positionally, we stand perfect before God, wrapped in the robes of righteousness.  Practically, old life-long sinful habit patterns become decreasingly faded away, and the things of God become increasingly vibrant in our thoughts, actions and words.

(c) 2007, 2012 N.A.Collins (Limited copy permission for 1 personal file copy)

Over the course of the last 40 years of Bible study, one overwhelming truth stands out - that is the simplicity of the gospel.  In all the complexities of life, seeing God's divine plan for man is such a blessing.

In a ministry of encouraging hearts in the midst of crisis, what greater joy than to bear the news of how God is at work to reconcile man to Himself.  The Scripture is abundantly clear regarding the means in which we can know peace with God.

Revelation 4:11 reminds us that we were created for God's pleasure, and yet the sinful choice of pleasing self, according to Isaiah 59:2, separated us from that sweet walk of fellowship, with no ability in ourselves to make that right, seen in Galatians 2:16.  But we know from John 3:16 that God loved us so much, He sent His Son to shed His blood to pay the penalty of our sin, dependent upon our response to Him in repentance and faith, according to Acts 20:21. It is then, that being wrapped in the righteousness of Christ (Isaiah 61:10), we know the peace with God that Romans 5:1 describes :

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"

The simplicity of the gospel is that God created us for His pleasure/fellowship.
Man's response was one of willfulness and rejection, separating us from Him.
God provided the payment for sin in the death, burial and resurrection of His Son.  
Man stands at the crossroads of decision, to respond in repentance and faith or to reject.

Consequences?  Every decision has consequences.  But if our desire is to know His peace here and eternity in His Presence, the choice is, of course, to respond to His grace, and receive Him, by faith, as Our Saviour.  To reject Him carries the opposing characteristics, lacking His peace here, and having an eternal future apart from the joy and glory of His very Person.

Is the good news of the gospel complicated?  Absolutely not.  It is of such simplicity, that even a little child can comprehend it and respond to Christ.  I trust you have, and if not, that you will do so right now.

  (c) 1988 N. S. Collins (Do not reproduce except for one personal copy)

Early in my Christian life,  the subject of prayer was a bit of a difficulty for me.  Many times I struggled as to whether or not God was hearing my prayers, or then, if they would be answered.  

I heard a variety of resolutions to my conflict from a myriad of individuals.  However, my struggle was only amplified when the answers I heard came into disagreement with each other.  I began, with serious intent, to seek God's heart in providing answers to those questions.

There was no question in my mind about the importance of prayer, from God's perspective.  It was clear to me that John 9:31 addressed the need of salvation in order for my prayers to be heard. (Of course, the prayer of repentance and faith unto salvation is always heard, according to Romans 10:13)  James talked about how asking for willful interests of the flesh interrupts the communication lines with Heaven.  In Psalm 66:18, David declared that resident willful sin in my heart results in my prayers not being heard.

I was very aware that the fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much, as seen in James 5:16.  I knew that the Apostle Paul had taught us to pray without ceasing in  1 Thessalonians 5:17.    Still the question continued to nag, wondering if it were truly possible to have confidence and assurance that the  prayers of my heart are heard by the heart of God?

The day God spoke to my heart from 1 John 5:14 continues to bring comfort and peace regarding that long-standing question that I had.  When I read "and this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, he heareth  us.". I had learned from my spiritual mentors that the Word of God and the will of God were synonymous.  Therefore, if I asked anything according to His Word, I could have confidence that He heard me.

I began praying the wisdom of God from James 1:5 for those who faced decisions; the joy of the Lord to be their strength from Nehemiah 8:10 when seemingly insurmountable difficulties lie ahead of them.  It was an encouragement as the faithful God promises that no trial will be greater than what His grace will be sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9 and 1 Corinthians 10:13).
In the matter of peace in perplexities, I quit asking God to give them peace, but rather asking Him to help them keep their mind stayed on Him, that they might avail themselves of His promised peace (Isaiah 26:3)

Heard? I can affirm with confidence.  Answered? Incredibly!  As I began to share what God had taught me to others, first to a few, then to the many, each individual responded as I have described.

What a privilege to be able to, according to Hebrews 4:10, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we my obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

  (c) 1992 N.A.Collins  DO NOT REPRODUCE except for 1 personal copy