13 And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, "Today
– at the latest, tomorrow - we're off to such and such a city for the year. We're
going to start a business and make a lot of money." 14 You don't know the first
thing about tomorrow. You're nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of
sun before disappearing. 15 Instead, make it a habit to say, "If the Master
wills it and we're still alive, we'll do this or that." 16 As it is, you are
full of your grandiose selves. All such vaunting self-importance is evil. 17 In
fact, if you know the right thing to do and don't do it, that, for you, is evil.
~ James 4:13-17 (The Message)
Who does not like the feeling of being in control whether at work
or at home, anywhere for that matter? When you feel in control you have a sense
of peace and security, when everything appears to be in its proper place and
everyone is doing what they are supposed to be doing then I can be at peace. The
problem is that I am not in control, not really in control; I may think I am
but in all reality, I am not. I can change things in my life in a way I think
they should be then life happens. Someone who I think is aligned with me who
changes his or her loyalty somewhere else. A position or job that you think is
going to last a long time suddenly loses is worth and is no longer part of the
plan. When will we learn that it is vain to pursue a feeling of being in
control? Just as youth pass into age and beauty fades, the feeling of control
soon dissolves into useless wasted energy.
By feeding our pride making us think we are behind the events and
happenings around us, seeking to be in control always results in controlling
us. We are not the principle facilitator, we are ambassadors for Jehovah
Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness), and we are to be used by God to promote
His outcomes. Humbleness holds out an open hand and trusts the hand of God to
present the opportunities that He sees fit for us. When we have to be in
control we are attempting to replace God’s wisdom with our extremely limited
understanding. We the creation look upon things as a baby who selfishly
attempts to hoard their positions allowing no one to interfere or help. Trying
to protect our kingdom may seem wise however rest assured that El Shaddai’s
(Lord God Almighty) kingdom is most definitely secure.
“12 Riches and glory come from you, you're ruler over all; You hold
strength and power in the palm of your hand to build up and strengthen all.” ~ 1
Chronicles 29:12 (The Message).
Our ability to control is a dream that will never come to light
however we can empower those around us. We can influence those around us with
wisdom building up team members treating them as valued gifts and trying to
control them as young children. If given the opportunity to choose, the right
person will make the right choice. When we reassurance and encourage personal
ownership of outcomes, there is a wholesome culture of trust and respect. We must
love those around us and trust that Christ is in control.
When we humble ourselves to plan according to God’s will and
submit to His plan a peace will be apparent because we are aligning with His
plan. If we trust from the heart our focus is on the gift of today and not
distracted by what may happen tomorrow, we cannot change, what has happened and
can not see what has not. Jesus is loud and clear on how He wants us to live
for the moment, present in the people and circumstances that are in front of
us. Yet, He has filtered out the future of where His road of our lives will
take us. We must make plans but not the outcome because that is in God’s hands
and we must accept that He is in control and knows what is best for us.
16 God's Message yet again: "Go stand at the crossroads and look
around. Ask for directions to the old road, The tried and true road. Then take it.
Discover the right route for your souls. But they said, 'Nothing doing. We aren't
going that way.' ~ Jeremiah 6:16 (the Message).
So the question is, are you going to be at peace and humble
yourself to take the old road, the tried and true road that has been chosen for
us by God or are you going to be stubborn and say “nothing doing, we aren't going that way and be in turmoil?
Father, Jehovah-Raah, give us the grace and faith to humble ourselves
and let go of the false feeling of control and trust in Christ knowing that He and
He alone is in control. Amen. <><
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