Trust in the Lord with all you heart. - Proverbs 3:5

Do you load the dishwasher better than anyone in your house?

Are you the only one who folds the laundry correctly? … and have you ever re-folded someone else’s pile?

Do you often think that if others would just listen to your advice, their lives would go much more smoothly?

While driving, do you ignore Google Maps and bypass traffic by making your own route?

At the airport, do you switch security screening lines when yours starts to slow down a bit? (Never ever, according to my husband, get behind a family with a stroller!)

If you answered “YES, of course” to most of these questions, then you, like me, are probably a Control Freak!

As my nineteen year-old daughter, Abby was packing up for the second part of her gap year immersion program in South Africa, I did all her laundry, reviewed and revised her packing list, and scheduled her “goodbye meals” with family and friends. Why, when she’s traveled abroad a half of dozen times, would I need to intervene and tell her what to do?

Simple. I won’t be able to directly impact her life for the next 169 days, so I’m doing everything I can to control today.

What are you attempting to control in your life? Who’s life are you attempting to change? What situation feels so out of control that you’re micro-managing the other things spinning in its vortex?

God doesn’t tell us to control all we can. He says, “Trust me with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to me, and I will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6 (personalized)

Many of us don’t like the word submit, because it makes us sound like we’re weak, or oppressed. But its definition: to accept or yield to a superior authority, in the context of relationship with God, makes it easy to understand and accept. As the creator of the earth and sustainer of our lives God is certainly superior to us and is definitely worthy yielding to. He calls on us to give up control. He calls on us to trust.

What does trust look like when we can’t control others? It looks like praying for them, placing them in God’s care, and thanking Him that He loves them even more than we do.

Practice with me. Think of one person or situation you’re desperately trying to control. Place their name in on the line and repeat this prayer several times.

Heavenly Father, I admit I’ve been trying to control _________ . I think I know best, but today, I yield to your holy authority. I give you all I’ve been grabbing to control. Help me trust you with all my heart and mind. In Jesus’ powerful name I pray, Amen.

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Call Movement

#trust #patience #encouragement #prayer #hope