“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Revelation 4:11)
To be in submission to another is to give power to another. They, and not you, are in control. Their will, not yours, is being done. You are conforming to their wishes, they are not conforming to yours. When we submit to another, we put them first. If there is a contest, we let them win.
Surrender is different than submission. Surrender presupposes a fight. There is no fight, no resistance in submission. One is never beaten into submission. True submission is always voluntary, never forced. If one yields through oppression, against their will, such obedience is not submission. Submission is willing obedience; not obedience under threat or duress.
There is no true worship of God without submission. The Lord is worthy to receive power (Rev. 4:11). This means He deserves our submission. God doesn’t want us to obey Him because we’re going to be in big trouble if we don’t. He wants our willing obedience because He is worthy of our all.
Submission is not a dirty word. It is a beautiful word, and a glorious act of worship, made possible through Jesus Christ. Don’t just say empty words: “Not my will, but Thy will be done.” Live that life that Jesus lived – a life of submission to the Father, who is worthy to receive the power He is given.