Obtaining Freedom: Part 2 Relinquishing Control

This is part 2 of what I started yesterday. The premise of this series is that God wants us to experience complete freedom in Him, in our everyday lives. Yesterday, I discussed how God wants us completely freed from guilt and shame. Today I want to talk about the illusion of being in control and the need to release control to Him.

How often do you worry? (Take time to answer this question).

Worry is our way of trying to control things. We believe that if we think things over and over enough in our mind we will be able to work things out. I am starting to learn that God wants to pull us back a little and really show us who is in the driver's seat. When we realize who is really driving we will be able to set worry aside and enjoy the ride.

I think pregnancy is a wonderful example of what I am trying to say. Pregnancy to me is an awesome thing. The only participation that I really contributed towards the growth of my children was to eat, drink and sleep. I didn't have to tell my body to do anything. I didn't have to tell it when to start growing which part, how to divide cells, how to develop the eye or the nervous system, etc (Thank God!). A miracle took place inside of me and I barely had to participate. Even though I didn't have to develop my babies my participation was completely necessary. For example, if I had never chosen to eat, my babies would not have grown properly and perhaps would not have survived.

This brings me back to my point about understanding the significance of our role versus God's role. In our everyday lives there truly is not a lot that we can control. When we sleep our body is doing a million and one things that we are not a part of. Our friends and family are living their lives and events are happening which we do not have any control. Yet we obsess over stuff for hours a day and it really has no effect on the real events. The only effect it probably does have is perhaps a negative effect on our mental health. The Bible says, "Do not worry. Which of you can add even an hour to your life by worrying? Your Father in heaven knows what you need. But seek first His kingdom. (paraphrases from Luke 12:22-32)" We do have a role to play in our lives but we need to relinquish the control of our lives to our Heavenly Father because He really is the only one who can orchestrate things out for us and He does a beautiful job when we let Him. So what does God require of us ~ that we love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and that we love others. This sums up the law and the prophets. It sounds simple and I think it really was meant to be that simple. Just like in my pregnancies all I had to do was rest, eat and drink so in our everyday life all we need to do is rest in God, love Him well and love others. I guess the Lord's prayer really does sum it up well: Our Father, which are it heaven, hollowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven (relinquishing control), give us this day our daily bread (provide our needs and let us not worry) and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us (loving others well) and deliver us from the evil one.

Do you know how Jesus summed up the section on worry? Luke 12:32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom!"

So beloved of the Lord's ~ enjoy life, He has given us the kingdom. Let Him who truly is in control be in control of our lives.