Life, In Control?

You are not in charge of fixing you. God is.

Proverbs 16:33 (NLT)

 We may throw the dice,
    but the Lord determines how they fall.

When we try to take control, things tend to get out of control  

(Read 2 Samuel 21:15-17).

There are people who are depending on you to depend upon God. 

1. Trying to remain in control of our lives, manifests itself in extreme behavior. 

Romans 1:28-32  (ERV)

28 People did not think it was important to have a true knowledge of God. So God left them and allowed them to have their own worthless thinking. And so they do what they should not do. 

29 They are filled with every kind of sin, evil, greed, and hatred. They are full of jealousy, murder, fighting, lying, and thinking the worst things about each other. They gossip 

30 and say evil things about each other. They hate God. They are rude, proud, and brag about themselves. They invent ways of doing evil. They don’t obey their parents, 

31 they are foolish, they don’t keep their promises, and they show no kindness or mercy to others.

32 They know God’s law says that anyone who lives like that should die. But they not only continue to do these things themselves, but they also encourage others who do them. 

2. Trying to remain in control of our lives, manifests itself in ignoring advice.  

Proverbs 17:10  (NKJV)

10 Rebuke is more effective for a wise man
Than a hundred blows on a fool.

Proverbs 9:8  (NKJV)

Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;
Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

3. Trying to remain in control of our lives, manifests itself in obsessive planning. 

Proverbs 16:9  (NKJV)

9 A man’s heart plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.

 

How to release to God the control of our lives. 

1. Transfer control by releasing the situation to God in prayer throughout the day. 

Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)

3 You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.

 

Proverbs 3:5-6  (ERV)

5 Trust the Lord completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge.6 With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way.

2. Yield to God in obedience to His will.

John 14:15 (ESV)

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

We can't separate our love of God from our obedience to God. If God is not LORD of all of your life, He is in reality not your LORD at all.

  

3.  Release the pressure of being in control, and embrace the joy of knowing that our Lord Jesus Christ is.

John 15:11 New Living Translation (NLT)

I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

Philippians 4:4 (ERV)

4 Always be filled with joy in the Lord. I will say it again. Be filled with joy.

1 Timothy 6:6 (ESV)

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain,

You can be in control, or you can be content. You can't be both.

Allen Pedram, Church of the Highlands