Adopt a Different Posture

by Jono Peatman

Do you think Scripture says without reason that He jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud
    but shows favour to the humble.”

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 4:5-7

I remember recently going for a meal in a pub.

By the bar was a roaring fire, and sat on a stool by the fire was a couple,  and on the floor was their dog. A big golden Labrador.

What made this memorable was that the dog was lying on its back, completely content and at peace. It’s guard was completely down, and it clearly was completely trusting of its owners, its environment and felt it could completely just lose itself in the comfort and warmth of the pub floor!

Submission is a word that has all sorts of connotations attached to it. Some see it as weakness, some as quite a domineering or manipulative word, but as I’ve reflected on it, I’ve found this illustration of the dog so helpful.

The dog in that moment was willing to be completely vulnerable, to be undignified at its owners feet. It held nothing back, because it had a relationship with them and a trust built with them, and it knew it was in a safe space.

For us in our relationship with God, this can be a real challenge. By submitting to God and saying yes to him, means by default saying no to other things. The dog was not sniffing food on the table, because it had decided it was just going to lie down and be present in that moment.

I wonder what it is that’s holding you back from being completely submissive to God.

What holds you back from offering him everything you own, everything you dream, everything you have and aspire to have?

I know for me there have been times with my time and my money when I’ve feared that I might not get it back! Can God really take what I have and multiply it? There have also been times where I have been selfish and just decided that I want to hold on and do things my own way.

However, God invites us to adopt a different posture.

Not one of reluctant submission in a domineering way, but joyful submission. One that says “of course I give you everything, because I know you hold every part of me in the palm of your hand and you want what is best for me, and I trust that resisting the temptations that pull me away will draw me closer to you, God.”