Freedom in Submission?

I know. The title seems to be an oxymoron, doesn't it? But those are the words that best describe what the Lord has been showing me for the past 14 months of my life. Why 14 months? Well, because 14 months ago is when my first child was born, thus the beginning of many lessons. I wish I had been smart enough and diligent enough to write down all of the lessons that the Lord has had for me over the last year. But I know that He will always have a new lesson and most often He uses my son and my own words to teach me.

So the other day I was in the store with my son, Noah and I had him in his stroller. He was locked down as locked down can get, shoulder straps and all, and this was the source of much frustration for him. His main joy in life at this point is to touch every single thing that we pass and unfortunately I am usually too slow to catch him in the act before he has grabbed, dropped and/or manhandled the object of his desire.  So as he sat their fighting and trying to figure out how those dreaded straps were keeping him from his aspiration I proclaimed, “You know Noah, if you were obedient when Mommy says something you would have much more freedom.” 

And here is where the words of Pastor Voddie Baucham come into play, “If you can’t say Amen, you gotta say ouch!”

Ouch.

Why is it that my words condemn me? Maybe it’s because those times when I feel heavy burdened and I can’t handle one more bit of drama in my life I know the reason I’m feeling that way is because I have refused to submit to the Lord. I have held back from Him, kept to myself, tried to make it on my own. I’ve decided in my heart that my ways are best and God is unable to handle the “impossible” situation that I am in. 

Now, I would never say that out loud, but that is precisely what I’m doing and exactly why I feel in bondage. The reason I feel like I have no freedom and those shoulder straps are awfully tight. The plain fact is that true freedom comes when we finally give up our “right” to it. 

If I want my son to obey me because I know “what is best” for him then why would I withhold my obedience from my risen Savior who knows so much more than my finite mind can fathom?  “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” - Matthew 7:11

Let us choose today to no longer be a slave to the sin of self worship but rather submit to the beautiful freedom that is found only in Christ Jesus.