Walking In Kingdom Alignment: The Blessing of Apostolic Submission

A Skewed Understanding of Submission

I grew up in an environment where submission meant unquestioning obedience. My caregiver would often say, “If I tell you to jump, you don’t ask how high—you just start jumping.” There was no space for discussion, no room for explanation—just an expectation of immediate compliance.

That kind of rigid authoritarianism wasn’t healthy. It wasn’t true biblical submission—it was control. But it was my frame of reference for what submission looked like.

Maybe your experience with authority was different. Maybe you grew up under a passive leader who never enforced any rules. Or maybe you had a leader who misused their authority, leaving you wounded and hesitant to trust leadership at all.

We all bring our past experiences into how we perceive biblical submission. But at the end of the day, our experiences don’t determine truth—God’s Word does.

Submission isn’t about blind obedience. It’s about trust. It’s about knowing that if God has placed a leader in my life, then my alignment under their authority is directly tied to my spiritual protection, growth, and Apostolic power.

The Struggle to Submit

We all want to be led by God. We want to think like Him, act like Him, and reflect His ways. But let’s be honest—most of the time, our carnal nature fights back.

Paul put it this way in Romans 7:17-19 (TPT):

“And now I realize that it is no longer my true self doing it, but the unwelcome intruder of sin in my humanity. For I know that nothing good lives within the flesh of my fallen humanity. The longings to do what is right are within me, but willpower is not enough to accomplish it. My lofty desires to do what is good are dashed when I do the things I want to avoid.”

Sound familiar? We wrestle. We argue. We struggle. Sometimes within ourselves, and sometimes against the very leadership God has placed in our lives to help us.

And why?

Because submission is hard. It requires us to die to our flesh, our opinions, and our need to be in control.

God’s Word, Not Our Opinions

In a world where personal opinions rule, it’s easy to justify rebellion against authority. But opinions don’t determine truth—God’s Word does.

“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” – Hebrews 13:17 (KJV)

Submission isn’t about whether we agree with our leader or not.

It’s about honoring the structure God put in place.

David understood this.

King Saul was wicked, jealous, and obsessed with killing David. If anyone had an excuse to disregard his leader, it was David. But even when Saul was at his weakest—literally standing vulnerable before him in a cave—David refused to harm him.

Why? Because Saul was still God’s anointed. And David knew that it wasn’t his place to remove God’s chosen leader—that was God’s job.

When we submit to the leaders God has placed over us, we aren’t just obeying a person—we are submitting to God’s divine order.

“Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.” – Psalm 105:15 (KJV)

Submission Is a Reflection of Trust

We love to quote “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

But we often skip the first part of that verse.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” – James 4:7 (KJV)

Submission comes before spiritual authority.

Apostolic power is directly connected to Apostolic alignment. You cannot walk in authority if you yourself are living in rebellion.

Reverend Raymond Woodward put it this way:

“Submission is not about control; it’s about covering. When you step out of alignment with God’s structure, you step out of His protection.” (Raymond Woodward - Teachings on Biblical Authority)

If I truly want God’s covering and protection in my life, I must, absolutely must, align myself with His anointed Word and the leadership He has placed in my life.

To do anything else is to live outside of God’s covering—and that is a dangerous place to be.

How to Align Yourself Under Apostolic Authority

If you want to grow in Apostolic power, anointing, and favor, submission must be a daily decision. Here’s how to align yourself with God’s structure:

1. Pray Scripture Over Your Life

• Meditate on Romans 13:1-2, Hebrews 13:17, and 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13.

• Ask God to give you a heart that submits easily to His anointed leadership.

2. Speak Submission Out Loud

• Say, “God, I submit to the authority You have placed in my life.”

• Remind yourself daily that submission is an act of trust, not control.

3. Pray for Your Leaders

• Lift up your pastor and spiritual leaders in prayer.

• Instead of criticizing, intercede for them.

4. Seek Accountability

• Find a spiritually mature mentor who can help you stay aligned.

• Be open to correction and embrace godly guidance.

5. Teach Honor in Your Home

• Your children will treat leadership the way you do.

• Speak well of your pastor and leaders—even when you don’t agree.

A Final Question for Reflection

Are you living under God’s covering, or have you stepped outside of alignment?

The greatest safety, favor, and anointing come when we are submitted, humble, and aligned with the leadership God has placed in our lives.

So Today, Take a Moment to Pray:

“God, align my heart with Yours. I submit myself afresh to you today in unreserved obedience. And I submit to the leadership You have placed over me. Let my words, my actions, and my spirit reflect honor and submission to You and Your Holy Word so that I may walk in the fullness of Your covering and favor.”

My Dear Friend, your safety, your power, and your Kingdom destiny are waiting for you—in your alignment.