Have you ever felt like you're constantly fighting against what you know is best for you? Like a stubborn puppy resisting its owner's protection, we often struggle against God's plans, thinking we know better. Today we'll explore what it means to experience true heart renewal through complete submission to God.

Renewal is defined as "resuming an activity or state after an interruption." This perfectly describes God's work in our lives. Originally, humanity lived in perfect harmony with God in the Garden of Eden. Sin interrupted that relationship, but God has been working throughout history to restore us to Himself through Jesus Christ.

Our hearts mirror this same pattern. They were designed to beat in rhythm with their Creator, which explains why all cultures throughout history share similar moral codes about murder, theft, and dishonor. However, since the fall, our hearts have become "deceitful above all things" and have drifted from God's design.

Why Do We Resist God's Protection?
Sometimes God views us like puppies who resist what's best for them. Just as a dog owner puts their pet in a safe pen at night for protection, God often places boundaries or opportunities in our lives to help us grow. Yet we resist with all our might, thinking our way is better.

We dig our heels in and clench our fists, fighting against God's plans while telling others we trust Him. Our actions reveal that we actually think our plans are superior to God's. We don't realize how often we're putting ourselves in unsafe situations by resisting His guidance.

Abraham's Struggle with Trust and Submission
Abraham, known as the "father of faith," provides a powerful example of someone who struggled with complete submission to God. Despite being called by God and leaving everything to follow Him, Abraham repeatedly relied on his own understanding rather than trusting God fully.

Abraham's Pattern of Self-Reliance
When famine struck the land God had given him, Abraham's first instinct was to leave for Egypt rather than trust God to provide. This decision led to a series of deceptive actions where he asked his wife, Sarah, to pretend to be his sister, putting her in danger to save his own life.

This pattern repeated throughout Abraham's life:

• Leaving the promised land during famine
• Deceiving Pharaoh about Sarah's identity
• Having a child with Sarah's servant instead of waiting for God's promise
• Laughing when God promised he and Sarah would have a child in their old age
• Repeating the deception about Sarah being his sister with another king

Abraham's transformation came gradually as he repeatedly witnessed God's faithfulness. The ultimate test came when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac, the son he had waited 100 years for. At this point, Abraham had experienced enough of God's faithfulness to trust completely, even in the unthinkable.

This radical submission showed that Abraham finally trusted God would work things out, even if he couldn't see how. His heart had been truly renewed.

What Does Complete Submission Look Like?
The Desert Fathers, early Christian monks, understood submission through a practice called asceticism - the denial of self. One monk described the narrow way as "to control your thoughts and to strip yourself of your own will for the sake of God."

Complete submission means:

• Trusting God with every area of our lives, not just salvation
• Allowing God to have control over our finances, careers, and relationships
• Recognizing that if we truly trusted God, submission would be natural

How Does God Renew Our Hearts?
God doesn't just patch up our broken hearts - He gives us completely new ones. When we become Christians, we undergo a process called sanctification, which is like refining silver.

The Refining Process
A silversmith heats silver in a pot and scrapes away impurities that rise to the surface. This process continues until the silversmith can see his reflection clearly in the metal. Similarly, God removes our imperfections over time until we clearly reflect Jesus to the world.
Some people experience this process quickly, others slowly. But the goal remains the same: becoming a clear reflection of Christ so that when people see us, they see Him.

The Power of Amazing Grace
John Newton's story illustrates the transformative power of God's grace. After a spiritual awakening during a storm at sea, Newton's heart was completely changed. He eventually became a minister and wrote "Amazing Grace," reflecting his gratitude for God's redemption.

Newton later became an abolitionist, writing pamphlets against slavery and testifying before Parliament. His radical change of heart led to a complete transformation in how he lived and what he stood for.

The first step toward submission is asking God for help. Psalm 51:10 provides the perfect prayer: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."
This should become a daily prayer - when you wake up, when you're cut off in traffic, when your day doesn't go as planned. Submission to God requires ongoing heart change that only He can provide.

This week, commit to praying Psalm 51:10 every morning: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Then identify one specific area where you've been resisting God's guidance and consciously choose to submit that area to Him.
Remember, God's grace is sufficient to transform even the most hardened hearts. Just as He changed John Newton from a slave trader to an abolitionist, and Abraham from a self-reliant man to the father of faith, He can renew your heart completely.

Ask yourself these questions:

• What areas of my life am I still trying to control instead of trusting God?
• How has God shown His faithfulness to me in the past, and how should that impact my trust in Him today?
• What would complete submission to God look like in my daily decisions and relationships?
• Am I fighting against God's protection like a stubborn puppy, or am I allowing Him to guide me for my own good?

Stop resisting God's work in your life. Allow Him to knock down the kingdoms you've built in your heart and place Himself on the throne. True renewal comes not from our efforts to change, but from surrendering completely to the One who loves us enough to die for us while we were still His enemies.