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God is Teaching Me About… Who has Control?

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From giving Him my all to giving up control, join me this week as I share some things God has been teaching me lately.

 

Who has Control?

“Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.”
Isaiah 46:9-10, NLT

Pilgrimage_FRIDAY-300x252One of the battles I face as I try to live in relationship with Jesus is the concept of control. As much as I want to depend on Jesus, the illusion that I’m in control sneaks back into my life. I live like the responsibility lies on my shoulders. What if I make the wrong decision? What if I go the wrong direction? What if I step outside of God’s will?

It’s exhausting to believe it’s all up to me. And it puts me in the center—instead of God.

One of my favorite devotional books is My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. Chambers doesn’t mince words, and his words often challenge my comfortable, Christian life. Chambers points out that God is in control of everything, and we must develop an attitude of trust and rest.

“Nothing happens in any particular unless God’s will is behind it, therefore you can rest in perfect confidence in Him.” –Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
Proverbs 16:9, NIV 

It’s difficult for me to remove myself from the equation and “rest in perfect confidence” in Jesus. I want to believe that God is in control—even when I make mistakes. I must believe He is sovereign, regardless of my missteps. Otherwise, I make God too small.

God is the One in control. I can run around each day with a fretting and anxious heart trying to make the right decisions, or I can choose to rest in the confidence Scripture gives me.

He is faithful. He is big enough to redeem all things. He is worthy of my trust.

It’s about Him, not me. And even when I fail to trust Him, His sovereign plan is never in question.

Father, keep teaching us about You. Remind us that we are safe in Your capable hands. You are sovereign.

Humbly learning these lessons,

Allison

God is Teaching Me About…

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From giving Him my all to giving up control, join me this week as I share some things God has been teaching me lately.

Who is Holding Whom?

 

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10, HCSB 

There are verses in the Bible that mention clinging tightly to the Lord:

“Rather, cling tightly to the Lord your God as you have done until now.”
Joshua 23:8, NLT 
“I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.”
Psalm 63:8, NIV

bonding_THURSDAY-247x300I believe it’s important for us to cling to the Lord and seek Him as our Hope, Provider, and Father. At times in my life, my relationship with God has been the only thing left to get me through the day.

But I think it’s also important to recognize it’s not my own power holding me in His arms. Sometimes, I’m so busy managing everything in my life that I start believing I’m also in control of my relationship with God.

Just like a child, I’m clinging to my Father. But when a child lets go, does her Daddy drop her? Of course not.

Because it’s His power and strength holding her there, not hers.

I often forget who is holding whom. I cling desperately, thinking I’m the one keeping my relationship with Him intact and moving forward.

Just like most loving fathers, God must love when his children cling to Him. But even when we let go, He’s just as close. He’s still right there—holding us and loving us the same.

He doesn’t let go.

Heavenly Father, thank You for holding on to us, even when we let go.

Humbly learning these lessons,

Allison

God is Teaching Me About…

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From giving Him my all to giving up control, join me this week as I share some things God has been teaching me lately.

 

More than Three Letters

 

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
Deuteronomy 6:5, NIV

ALL_WEDNESDAY-300x238I’ve read today’s verse many times and thought, “Of course I should love God with all of myself. Sure, I am doing that. Check. Move on to the next verse.” While reading the verse, I sped through the little word all each time. But I’m learning that all is truly the key word here.

It’s easy to love God with part of my heart, part of my soul, and part of my strength. I’m beginning to understand the difficulty of what He is truly asking us to do. I’m beginning to see that all encompasses much more than three letters.

All means loving God when my world falls apart, when my plans are crushed, and when my dreams are shattered. When circumstances pull me deep into the dark place, where is my all? Buried in self-pity?

When I’m in the pit, do I reach my arms up to God? Or sit in the mud and feel sorry for myself? In the dark places, I usually put all my heart, soul and strength into surviving. When I take a piece of God’s all and keep it for myself, it gets ugly. I grasp onto that slice of self-sufficiency and hide in the corner trying to make myself feel better. Here’s the problem with taking part of God’s all into the corner with me—my hands are clenched tightly and my back is turned. I am not reaching up to God with open hands to accept all He is offering to me.

Jesus didn’t give just part of Himself as payment for our sins. He gave ALL of Himself.

Lord, we tend to hold back pieces of our hearts. We want to give You ALL of our hearts, souls, and strength. Teach us to let go of those pieces that we’re grasping tightly and find our ALL in You. Amen

Humbly learning these lessons,

Allison