“… Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” (Luke 22:42)
Submission is tested when we want something different than what another wants. Who gets their way? When we are dealing with God the only right position is: “Lord, whatever You want is more important to me than what I want. I’m okay with whatever You decide.”
God has created us with desires. There are things we want and things we don’t want. Before we do what God wants does He have to change our desires to align with His? That would be nice; but Jesus simply submitted. “I do want this, but what You want is more important to me than what I want; therefore, I submit to You.”
This is not something which is done grudgingly. We submit to God because we love Him and know He is worthy to receive power. What does this mean? We acknowledge His right to be in charge of all things, including our lives, and we give Him the right to make the call concerning everything in our life.
Submission is an act of true worship. When we submit from a heart of love to our beloved Lord it is a sweet-smelling savor unto Him. We are telling Him that He means more to us than anything else, even our own deepest desires.