Who do you submit to? Who do you love?

Have you ever NOT wanted to do what the Lord is asking of you b/c it's going to be hard, but you know you need to b/c it's going to be really good for you? That's been me for the last week or two. At first I didn't want to do it b/c I thought it might just be me thinking these things, and I had to pray about it a lott. When God confirmed to me that it was Him and not me, I still didn't want to do it. I knew I would, but I knew that it would be really hard for me. I had to write out to God that I promise to do what He is asking of me, and every word hurt, but it was such a good hurt. We don't always want to do what He is asking, but we have to anyways. "This is where you CHOOSE  to do so because of obedience, not off of what you're feeling," (Claudia Rios). We may not always feel like doing something that the Lord wants us to do, but we still must choose to b/c of obedience. We are to live in submission to God. Out of our love for God we should be desiring to submit to Him, but if we don't truly love Him then why should we desire to submit to Him and His will? It's just like a marriage, if a woman loves her husband then she will want to submit to him. The husband see's what is right and what is wrong, whereas the woman doesn't always see this. A wife must submit to her husband so that he can help her to see and choose the right  choice, just like we as Christians must all submit to the Lord so that He can direct us to the right choices. But if the wife doesn't love her husband, then she will not desire to submit to him. Likewise, if we don't love the Jesus, then we as His bride will not wish to submit to Him. Also, if the husband loves his wife then he will give her wise counsel and Godly direction. God loves us and will therefore direct us according to His purpose and His will. If a man does not love his wife, and also love the Lord first, then He will not give wise and Godly advice to his wife. (Bottom line, God needs to be the center of your marriage if it's going to work.)

Look at the Israelites, some of the time they praised God and served Him, but they would often then decide that they love themselves more and therefore would submit to no one and each would do as they pleased. (Judges 21:25). When we do as we please and not as the Lord pleases, we cause ruin in our own lives.

We use the word "agape" to express our unconditional love, but what many don't realize is that this word doesn't not specify that it is unconditional love for another person outside of ourselves. You can agape yourself; you can unconditionally love yourself. But the word "philadelphia" specifies unconditional love for someone outside yourself. The Israelites expressed agape love, but do not appear to have understood philadelphia love. Do you understand philadelphia love? Do you truly love others unconditionally, and most important, do you love God unconditionally? Or are you still so wrapped up in yourself and your desires that agape is the only level of love you have experienced? We need to look beyond ourselves and see what God desires. Our decisions affect not only ourself, but also our relationship with God, God Himself, our friends, our family, everyone that we come in contact with, and our relationships with all these people. If you have true philadelphia then you will put all these people before you, and will make sure that your choices affect them in a way that will bring glory to our King. Do you agape yourself and therefore submit only to yourself? Or do you philadelphia the Lord and therefore submit to Him and those He has placed in authority over you?

We often see one clear way for things to be done, and when God has a different way of doing things we generally freak out to some degree. Jeremiah 29:11"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." His ways are always good but our ways generally aren't, even if we may think they are. He has known you since before you were conceived, so He definitely knows what you should do. He always makes the right choice, but sometimes, often in fact, we don't. God has only good in store for us. (Matt 7:11 & Luke 11:13). He desires good for us, not harm, and will bless us, never hurt us. Jesus=Love

Check your heart, see what kind of love you are offering. Have you been able to experience philadelphia, or are you only using agape? Make sure that love is the most important thing to you. God is Love.