Reflections, September 20, 2009

Sunday, September 20th, 2009

Reflections: Giving Up Control

“…Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:42

Scripture Reading For This Week: Genesis 37; Psalm 37; 68:1; Isaiah 60; 62; 65:17-25; Matthew 6:28-34; Luke 16; 18:1-8; Philippians 3:13-15; 4:4,6-8...

Control is a hard thing to give up. Most people feel better to know that they are in control. That things are going the way that they want them to go. Are you like that? Do you like to be in control? Don’t be so quick to say, no. There are some of us that don’t even realize that we have control issues. But God would say otherwise.

It is my sincerest prayer that this week’s Reflection, will be a source of encouragement and enlightenment for your heart and soul. Allow the light of God’s love to shine through you, and expose those parts of your character that need refinement by His holy touch. Let God do the driving this time.

Some of us seem to be wired this way—to be in control. We need things to be done a certain way, our way. (A learned behavior.) Unless we are managing everything and everyone that is around us, we feel out of sorts, and lost. We are the ones that need to be in charge all the time. We are the ones that may do well in managerial and executive positions, but may fail miserably at personal relationships; often becoming isolated.

What is it? What is it that drives us to need to be in control? What are we afraid of? I know for me, (I must confess that I have struggled with this issue), having control somewhat assured me that things would get done. But I soon realized that my issue with control, had a lot to do with trust. I was lacking trust in people. And it carried over into my personal relationship with God.

Many of us would be willing to say that we trust God. We would never categorize ourselves as saying that we want to control God. God forbid! But that is exactly what we are doing: trying to control God. Guess what? Not going to happen. The sooner we learn to relinquish all into the loving hands of God, and completely trust Him; the sooner we will be delivered and receive all that God has for us.

Psalm 37:5,7 “Commit thy way unto the Lord: trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass…Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way…”

The truth of the matter is, many of us are so use to evading what is going on inside of us that we don’t even realize that we are trying to control God. We micro-manage our entire lives, that we have allowed it to carry over into our relationship with our heavenly Father. We may not recognize it as such. But the truth still remains the same: we want to be in control. Without control, many of us feel lost, and as though we are free-falling.

God would desire us to lose control and give Him leadership in our lives. He would like us to sit beside Him, as He does the driving, since He knows exactly where we are going. But many of us would say: “I can’t. I don’t know where I’m going. What if I don’t like where I’m heading? What if things don’t work out? What if…what if…what if…”

In Jeremiah 29: 11, it states that God knows his plans for us; a plan of good and not of evil. That we have an expected end. So why do we fret? Why do we fear when God is the one who is in charge?

My personal belief is that we have placed God on man’s level. That we liken our heavenly Father, to that of our earthly counterparts. God is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man that he should repent (Numbers 23:19), so we can lay our lives on what He says. Because above all else, God can be trusted.

Did you ever find yourself praying, asking God for something specific, then adding at the end, Lord, let your will be done? How often did you believe what you were saying. Did you really want God’s will to be done? Or, did you really want what you asked for, hoping that it was the will of God?

The funny thing about us, is that we will pray, and we will ask God to bless us, save us, grant us what we ask for…but it is according to our will. Not God’s. We want God to answer our prayers based upon our own desires. We want God’s will to really be our will. Many of us do not trust God to take care of us. Many do not believe that God’s will is what is best for us. Oh sure, we say that with our mouths and our head. But in our heart?—we truly believe that we are right, and that unless we get what we truly desire, we will not be happy.

Many of us use Psalm 37:4 in the wrong context: “Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” We see this verse, and we preach on it, teach on it, quote it endlessly and say to God: See, I’m delighting in you, so you must give me what I want! We are so off base.

The person who has delighted themselves in the Lord, has also given control to God, over their lives. The person that has delighted themselves in the Lord, has uttered the same words as Jesus, from their hearts, Nevertheless, your will be done, not mine, and meant it with every fiber in their being. Because, the person who has truly delighted in the Lord, has found out, that when your heart is fashioned in the things and ways of God; when you have found delight in the heart of God; His (God) desires, have become their desire. They now understand, that to delight themselves in the Lord, is relinquishing their earthly desires, and taking within their hearts the desires of God. God’s desires have now become their desire. Because when you walk that close with the Father, you want nothing more than to please the heart of your Father. And you trust Him implicitly to do what is best for you, all the time. Not just some of the time.

I confess: I like things a certain way. I like things organized and done in a certain fashion, and on time. Many times I will find myself doing things all on my own. And in return I get nothing but exhaustion. As well, I realize that I have not only not trusted others, but I have not trusted God. Because, had I trusted God, He would have spoken to me, and directed my heart in whom I could trust, and even if I couldn’t trust anyone else, by placing my trust in Him, God would have honored that, and blessed me with not only the rest I needed, but also the peace of mind to accept that as long as I did my best, and did all I could do, that He would always bless the work of my hands.

Isaiah 65:23,24 “They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”

For those us that take the step towards trusting God, and relinquishing control into the Father’s most capable hands, we receive rest. We receive assurance that God is always there for us. That the things we do for the Lord; how we live our lives, pleasing to Him, are not in vain. That even before we call upon Him, He has already given us an answer. And while we are speaking, He has already heard us, and knows what we need.

How many of us are willing to give up control. To lose our control on things and allow God to be in charge? Are we willing to allow God be God in our lives, knowing that He has what is best for us? Sure, I know it’s hard for many because of all the hard times you have faced. Many feel abandoned by God. Many feel that they have trusted God, and they still got the short end of the stick. But the truth is: God knows all about you and what is best for you, and no matter what things appear to be; the heart that has decided the will of God is what is best, will find peace in the midst of every storm. They will find shelter from the sweltering heat. They will find safety in the arms and words of God.

Jesus knew what He was up against. He knew that the flesh part of Him wanted to bypass the excruciating pain of the cross and death. But He knew His Father had a plan; a greater purpose in His suffering. So He relinquished His control, and trusted the heavenly Father to do what was best. And because He did, you and I have a chance to live eternally, in the Father’s presence. There are many things which are impossible for men; but with God, all things are possible. (Luke 18:27) God knows what He’s doing. He’s the best that ever did it.

Aren’t you tired of that heavy load? Then release it, and give God control. I pray that the spirit of peace and prosperity find rest in your: spiritual, physical, emotional, mental, social, and financial lives. Allow God the opportunity to drive. You won’t regret it. For all the Father has for you is the very best. Be Blessed.

©2009. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.