Control

We try to control things, don’t we?  We want a good outcome and think if we control things, it will be better. We try to control spouses, children, circumstances, employees, systems, and basically anything that touches our lives. We want things (or people) the way we want them. 

Is there anywhere that God gives us that kind of control?  I can’t find it. You might say, “But we’re to submit to one another—and children are to submit to parents.” Isn’t submission a choice of that other person? We’re certainly to train our children and teach them to obey—and sometimes that involves consequences. Discipling children is teaching them to obey God by learning to obey you. (I wish I’d used the term “discipling” in my head instead of “disciplining” when raising my children. That one switch-up makes a lot of difference in how you train your children!)

My point is the only thing God tells us to control is ourselves. Self-control. And the interesting thing is—it’s a fruit of the Spirit! WE CAN’T EVEN CONTROL OURSELVES WITHOUT THE HELP OF GOD!! Self-control is an outcome of abiding in the Spirit. 

Our eyes focus on everything and everyone around us. God intends for us to look upward. Why do we feel out of control and start grabbing at people and circumstances, trying to control outcomes? Because our focus may be on the bad behavior of others. We’ve forgotten God is in control. Fear has moved in where faith should reside. We need to walk in faith and abide in the Spirit and give Him complete control of us. 

And then—pray our hearts out for those we want to control.