Who’s in Control?
Good Morning Friends,
Don’t assume you know it all. Listen to a voice in the wilderness of your life calling you to prepare to be forgiven so God can use your fruits for the purpose He intends for you in your daily living. Listen for God to direct your ways in a life that honors Him. That is the way to live well and to live in His kingdom that never ends. Like a child race to Him. Use your heart; your broken heart. Don’t try too hard to figure it all out in your head. Just be loyal and love His ways. Ask Him for help in this work and He will give it. He will make your path straight. What counts is your life. What must change is your life…. the potholes filled, the detours straightened out, the ruts paved over, every bump smoothed. So make your life count…. Let go and let God change you. During this summer prepare for God to warm your heart. Make a place for Him in your life so you can celebrate in the parade of God’s faithful on His road to salvation. Trust in Him. Acknowledge Him. Let Him be your answer to the question. Who’s in Control?
Scripture:
8 Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning, for in you I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
Psalm 143:8 (NRSV)
3My child, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;2 for length of days and years of life and abundant welfare they will give you. 3Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them round your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and of people. 5Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 3:1-6 (NRSV)
When he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes,* two demoniacs coming out of the tombs met him. They were so fierce that no one could pass that way. 29Suddenly they shouted, ‘What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?’ 30Now a large herd of swine was feeding at some distance from them. 31The demons begged him, ‘If you cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.’ 32And he said to them, ‘Go!’ So they came out and entered the swine; and suddenly, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and perished in the water. 33The swineherds ran off, and on going into the town, they told the whole story about what had happened to the demoniacs. 34Then the whole town came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood.
Matthew 8:28-34 (NRSV)
Message: God has a way of blessing those who trust in Him with their health, wealth and happiness. But sometimes tragedies happen. Life gets out of control. Sometimes life is beyond us and uncertain. But it is never beyond God. Learn that there is a treasure in trusting in His love. Be surprised by the joy of His severe mercy. Trust in the treasure of His provision, His knowledge, His security… Trust in His grace and peace, knowing that in all things that matter, God is in control. Our culture brings objections against submitting. It is popular to object to Christianity because sometimes the truth is painful…sometimes it is scary…sometimes it is unpleasant. It requires us to change. It requires us to give our best to God. So people claim, “that it may be true for you but it is not true for me,” and then rejecting the truth, some come to crazy conclusions. The love of money and income gets in the way of our experiencing Jesus. We see the fascination with death and demons and the desire for power, bound by evil. We see how Jesus trumps everything. Our choices still have consequences. There is right and wrong and we need to do the next right thing. But if we petition the Lord to provide us what we need, we have no need to enter the doorway for the demonic. Real freedom is only found in Jesus. We are to Invite Him to guide us in the fight. We are to find the truth by holding to His teachings and obeying them. When we choose Jesus, He is the only truth. When we choose Jesus God is in control. When we choose Jesus we see the complexity of the situation and also the simple solution. Let go and let God rebuild your life. Do not worry yourself sick trying to understand everything. God understands. Trust that he’s working all things together for your good.
Pray that we reject the myths that make us miserable. Pray that we commit to seek the truth. Pray that we commit to live the truth. Pray that we commit to believe the truth. Pray that we experience the uncommon freedom of grace. Pray that we realize that Jesus is in charge no matter what people believe. Pray that we realize He has authority over everything and will meet us wherever we are. Pray that we give our lives to the one who gave His life to us. Pray that we are never content to just hear the word. Pray that we see His word manifested. Pray that we give God the best, because when we do, His grace abounds and we become free indeed.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 