Surrender Control

August 26th 2016
Scripture Matthew 26:39 (NIV)

Surrender Control

"Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.'”

 

I don’t know about you but I like to be in control. I am very happy when things turn out very closely or exactly how I planned. But in the ideal world I have an unlimited amount of energy and strength. This however is not the ideal world… We have hick ups, we make mistakes, we cling towards being self absorbed and when things don’t go our way, we come to the stone hard truth that we aren’t in control.

I really love the superhero Superman. Not only is his character solid, doing good, expecting no reward, but I love that he is SUPER. He has super speed, he has super strength, he has super hearing, he can fly into outer space. He practically has no limits. What can’t he do? Right?

But there is one problem... I’m not superman, and there are things that no amount of "will power" can overcome… They say, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” I don’t necessarily think that is true in every case. In some cases no matter how much you "will" something and try to make it happen, it doesn’t… because some things are simply out of your control.

For me when I face things that I can’t control, I react in one of two ways. I have anxiety and try to hyper-control my surroundings trying to force my will to feel like I have control of something. OR I get discouraged and give up and I invite myself to a party…my pity party. You can come too, but let me tell you, no one ever has fun at a pity party. Neither of these ways are a good way to deal with the things you cannot control.

But Jesus gave us a third option, which is better than the other two, by far: Surrender.

when Jesus is in the garden right before his crucifixion praying his heart out to God. He was so troubled that He sweat drops of blood (Luke 22:44). This guy was distressed. He prayed that God would take the cup that He was to bear away, asking for any other way… But then He says a phrase that is remarkable. "Yet, not as I will, but as You will." Jesus let the Father know His human preference, but was still willing to surrender His will for the Lord's will, which are one and the same.

So my question is "Who is really in The Chair of your life?" Does God's will and plan for your life trump your own? I came across this book titled “God’s my co-pilot” You know what I have to say to that? "Buddy, if to you God is really just a co-pilot you need to switch seats. Because there can only be one person in control, it’s either you, or its Jesus."

 God has given me control over one person; Me, Myself, and I. I am in control of my actions and my attitudes. So all I really should do is Try my best, and Trust God with the Rest. Because I can't control those things anyways. 

"Lord Jesus, I know that You have a great plan for my life with a purpose. Help me to let go of the things I cannot change and trust that You will work all things for the good of those who love You. I give it over to You to do as You will. I trust Your judgement over mine. Amen."

An Unexpected Journey

July 17 2016
Scripture: Romans 8:28 (NIV)

An Unexpected Journey

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

The last two weeks have been a whirlwind for me. I have moved to a new location, taken on a new Youth Ministry position, started renting my first apartment, and on top of it all I wound up finding myself in the hospital. The doctors discovered that I have a form of epilepsy and I have been having blank-out seizures that make my brain "reboot" so to speak. So for the safety of myself and those around me, my drivers license was revoked, until I have been 6 months seizure-free. I was supposed to drive the teens of my new youth group to Youth Camp, but now am unable to even attend to make sure things will be alright with me. But in the midst of all this there was something I didn't know.

During the hospital visit, I was supposed to preach at my first night of youth group as the new Youth Pastor. I was going to talk about how we need to be found trustworthy with the little given to us, before we can be trusted with more. Little did I know that God wanted me to preach that to myself as I sat in my hospital bed, groaning over the loss of my license. The senior pastor covered me and did a great job leading the teens. 

Meanwhile my father and mother both were prompted by the Holy Spirit with the verse Romans 8:28, and my dad emailed my senior pastor about it. He was also thinking about preaching on this passage, and after opening the email, it was confirmed... "In all things God works for the good of those who love him." ... Even the bad things. Even when I don't see how He may be able to use it. The only thing I can do is trust that God will bring me through this and that somehow He will use it to bring good. God will never leave nor forsake me. 

"Lord Jesus, I know that You can work all things this life throws at me for Your good, and for mine. I trust you and I know that you love me. Help me to see the truth in the midst of the fog. Let Your light shine bright through this situation to help encourage others in their walk as well. Amen."

Walk In It

May 17 2016
Scripture: Isaiah 30:21 (ESV)

Walk In It

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'"

Personally for me this verse stuck out like stepping on a sharp jagged Lego piece barefoot in the middle of the night. I know the fact that I cannot change anything about my future by worrying and I'm better off trusting God with it, but it's still a struggle to practice daily. I am genuinely excited about the possibilities the future holds, but at the same time I am paralyzed by the unknown. 

As I was sitting down to breakfast this morning I continued my conversation with Isaiah, God's prophet, by reading his account written in the Old Testament. Normally in my Devotional Time, I like to preference the context of the passage, so that I don't take Scripture and form it into what I want it to say. Yet I do believe that this verse spoke to me about what is true when it comes to the future. 

Though Isaiah was speaking to those who lived in Zion, I believe that Christians today have an everlasting guide in the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is "the voice behind you" who guides us in the way to go. This was so encouraging to me, for I sometimes fear that I may mess up and take a wrong turn, but if I seek the Holy Spirit's leading, he will confirm the way and encourage me to "walk in it". 

"Lord Jesus, thank You for the comfort of Your Word that reminds me not to worry so much and to believe that You have counted all my days. Help me to listen carefully for Your Spirit's voice directing me. Give me ears to hear and eyes to see. Amen."

Peace of Mind

May 2 2016
Scripture: Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV)

Peace of Mind

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord is an everlasting rock."

Peace of mind must have been harder to come by back then, than it is today. Big intimidating nations like the ruthless Moab were always before the Israelites. Isaiah prophesies of the great day when God will make all things right, and the Song of Judah would be one of peace. Perfect peace will come to the one whose mind is fixed on God rather than the present circumstances. God is an everlasting rock who is trust-worthy forever. All people will pass away and will eventually be forgotten by the living, but God is everlasting, the Beginning and the End (Rev 22:13). When trust is placed in this amazing God, He promises a peace beyond all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

I remember a giant rock at my summer youth camp that we called the "Rock of Ages", because it was so large and unmovable that it must have been there for ages. Every year I returned to camp, I would sit on, stand on, jump off of, the Rock of Ages. I depended on it being there, because it was a great spot for spending quiet time with God. I remember spending tranquil moments of peace with God, surrounded by the beauty of nature, sitting on the Rock of Ages.  

God is my Rock of Ages, never moving or changing in character (Malachi 3:6). He is perfectly dependable, and when I focus on Him, I have peace. But sometimes I lose that peace because my mind wanders from my Rock of Ages and forgets His dependability. It's up to me to keep my mind fixed on the Rock, and God will grant the peace.

"Lord Jesus, thank You that You are my Rock that is everlasting. Help me to keep focused on You instead of my circumstances. You have perfect peace, let me find it in You. Amen."

(Rock of Ages - Riverside Bible Camp)

The Weak, The Called, and The Qualified

April 9th 2016
Scripture 1 Corinthians 1:28-29 (ESV)

The Weak, The Called, & The Qualified

"God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God."

When I was called to serve as a pastor in ministry, I didn't have a lot going for me. I wasn't the most popular charismatic person among my peers. I struggled with some form of social anxiety in front of groups in all situations, except playing my guitar on the worship team at church. In fact, in high school I worked in the kitchen at Pizza Hut, where I was glad I didn't have to deal with people. And trust me, in ministry you have to deal with people a lot! 

All this to say, I didn't seem very qualified for the ministry. When I felt called to be a Youth Pastor, I am pretty sure a few members at my Dad's church scratched their heads, wondering how that would work out. I would have too. I wasn't qualified, or so I thought. The truth of the matter is that I wasn't qualified because of my great skills, but just maybe because of my lack of skills. God, more often then not, chose the weak to work though rather than the strongest or the wisest. As Henry Blackaby said once, "The Lord never calls the qualified, He qualifies the called." This way we humans don't get a fat head. I cannot boast about me, because it's not about me, but God who works through me. He deserves the glory, because He helped me do things I didn't believe I could do. 

So next time I view myself as weak and unqualified, I can claim the promise that "His power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor. 12:9). When I am weak, He is strong. 

"Lord Jesus, thank You that You take my weakness and turn it into Your strength. Help me to give all the glory back to You, so that I do not boast in myself. Let Your power be made perfect in my weakness. Amen."

Why Anxiety?

March 10th 2016
Scripture: Luke 12:25-26 (ESV)

Why Anxiety?

"And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?"

I love to be in control. It makes me happy when things end up close to or exactly like I planned. But this is not always the case. Sometimes, most times, a "monkey wrench" will be thrown into the mix and my perfect plan becomes useless and in need of instant readjustment. For me, worry comes out in the form of frustration. I hate giving up on my plans, because it feels like I somehow failed. Jesus tells His disciples though not to be anxious about their life. He asks a rhetorical question, "Who can add a single hour to his life by worrying?" The funny thing is, the more you worry, the more time slips away, which can cause you to worry even more, and the vicious cycle continues. 

The fear is rooted in control. I get anxious when things happen that are beyond my control. But Jesus says, "you aren't in control anyways!" The most fearful thought can be the most freeing if you reverse the way you view it. Later on in the passage it says that the world runs after their needs, but God already knows everything you need; and it can free you to know that you may not be in control, but God is and He values you and will provide for you. 

To become free of anxiety, I must learn to relinquish the control I think I have, and trust God's timing, rather than fretting through each stressful situation that rocks my boat. It is well said in the old Hymn, "Trust and Obey":

"Trust and obey, for there's no other way

to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey"

"Lord Jesus, I know you created me and that you know all my needs. Help me to realize that You are in control. When I feel the urge to be frustrated, let me respond in grace and love, trusting that Your will is being done. Let that be enough for me. Amen."