Seize Control – Of Your Life
Most
of us live a life that at times feels like it is spinning out of control. Now
this is going to sound bizarre but you can only regain control of your life by giving up control of your life. The Bible tells, “ He that will gain life must first give up their life”
What does this mean to you? How can you seize control of your life by giving
up control of you life?
Part of the Faithshaper program is in understanding that whatever you touch,
whatever you feel even what you think affects your physical as well as mental well-being.
What this simply means is that the more you try to fill your life with stuff or feelings the more you life is going
to feel like a never ending roller coaster ride.
God designed us with the need to have Him at the center of our lives, in
control and showing us what we need to do, not so He could enslave us but so that we do not harm ourselves. If you think about
it, everything God calls sin has a negative affect on us mentally, spiritually, emotionally and at times physically. God wants
the best for us and trying to control your own destiny robs you of the potential you would otherwise have through God.
What about your life? Do you
feel that you are making the most of life or are you living a life of chaos and pressure?
If you life is spinning out of control it is time to take some of the pressure
off and seize control of your life.
Seize Control – Change Is A Good Thing
Small changes in your life can make a big difference in reducing the pressure
and will go along way in helping you seize control of your life and getting it back on the narrow road which leads to God.
Paul states in Galatians 5:22 that one of the Fruits of the Spirit is self-control. This does not mean that we need to live our lives independently away from God it means
that we do not do those things that pull us away from God. Part of seizing control
of your life is to realize the world does not hold the answers to life’s questions only God does.
How can seize control when the pressure gets to be too much?
Read Mark 14:33-36
From these verses you can learn three things:
1. Pray to God for guidance
2. Hang out with other Christian
3. Focus on the will of God
Psalm 119:143 says that when the going gets tough we should “focus
on God’s commands’
This verse reminds us that letting God’s light shine in our lives will
go a long way in helping us to seize control of those unwanted thoughts, actions or habits.
Take the time to read Philippians 4: 6-7
These verses talk of giving our lives to God.
Can you say at this point in this course that your life is totally centered on God or is it centered on the things
of this world. Does you life look like Figure 1 or 2 below?
Life’s
Concerns
Figure 1
Figure 2
Seize Control – Become Clutter Free
You can see from the examples in Scripture that giving our lives to God is
one way we can become clutter free and live a life in which you can make clear God centered choices. It is kind of like a diet you have all of these choices in front of you so of which you know are not good
for you. The question is do you load up your plate and eat like the proverbial
pig or do you pick and choose those foods you know will help keep you healthy? The
choice is your.
Read 1 Peter 4:10
What does this verse tell you about being clutter free?
Let me give you a clue the keywords are gifts and manage.
If you want your life to be clutter free you must rid your life of those
things that take time away from God. I know many people who have hobbies. Now hobbies in and of themselves are not bad, but when that hobby takes precedence
over God then you must evaluate the time you are spending on the hobby in order to spend more time with God. Seize control, don’t let the clutter of the mind and heart consume you but know your limitations
and stop when you feel God calling you to stop.
I used to collect Garfield characters but I found I was spending more time with Garfield then God so I cut
back and sold my Garfield collection. Remember when the choice is between God and something else, God should always be the first choice.
I do not recommend keeping around anything that will clutter your mind and
take time away from God.
Seize Control – Pick A
Quiet Place
Part of seizing control of your life is finding a quiet place free of the
clutter this world. This is somewhere that you can go to commune and listen to
God. If you look at Matthew 26:36-39, you will see even Jesus went off to a quiet
place to pray to His Father.
“With God all thing are possible”, so even though God knows what
we want and what we really need it is still up to us to develop an attitude that is in reverence to God that we talk to God
in such a way that our minds and our hearts be free from clutter. This is why
a quiet place is so very important. If there is too much going on it is hard
to seize control of our thoughts and focus on God.
One final thought on your quiet place. Make
sure it is set up in such a way as to make is easy to fall on your knees in prayer.
Also make sure you have a Bible and a notebook handy, because as you read God’s Word you’ll want to write
down what God is telling you and how it pertains to your life. I write down as
much as possible because when I get back to my clutter world I easily forget what it was that God wanted me know.
Helpful Hint Faithshapers take lots of notes
Seize Control – To Sum It All Up
Seizing control means freeing your mind and heart from clutter
1.
Clutter is anything that takes your time and heart away from God
Exodus 20:5 and 34:14 tell us that
“God is a jealous (Protective) God”
This means that God only wants what is best for us, but if we clutter
our lives with other things we will not see what God wants for us.
2.
Do not procrastinate; read God’s Word daily, Pray Continuously and Seek God’s wisdom in all
decisions
3.
Give yourself the ability to seize control. This means do
not take on more than you can handle. Find one thing that you are good at and use that talent to serve the Lord. Remember self-control is in knowing your limitations and in understanding that you do not have to say yes
to everything that people ask you to do. Even Moses knew that he was not a good
speaker so he chose his brother Aaron to do the talking for him.
4.
Visualize your life with God. This will help you to keep
focus on the important things in life.
