Why do we try SO HARD to be in Control

“I know, God, that mere mortals can’t run their own lives, That men and women don’t have what it takes to take charge of life.” Jeremiah 10:23 MSG

So, why do we try so hard to be the god of our own lives? Trying to control what we can’t control, trying to strive until striving ceases, trying to compete with others to be the best. Why do we immediately think we can pull ourselves up from the bootstraps to become successful in whatever we do. Or on the total opposite end of the spectrum, if we think we can’t do something, we don’t try at all, another sign of control?!

Because we are Human.

It’s been this way since the fall. It’s been like this since the serpent said…Did God really say that? When Adam and Eve questioned the truth, when they questioned their creator and closest friend, Satan knew He had them in his grip. Honestly, Satan sealed the deal when he said to the humans…. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:5

Adam and Eve fell to the temptation of power like God’s and so do we. Power, control…the temptation that makes each one of us fall into sin.

Years ago I laid my life down along with all the power, control, and competition within it. Laying my life down meant trusting God, who He says He is and who He says I am. No longer depending on myself, no longer trying to be in control of my life, letting Him lead me and whatever that looks like. But to let Him lead, there were daily tasks I took on of taking up my cross.

First, you must Seek His Way – Praying each day opens communication with the Lord to let Him know we want to hear from Him and grow with Him. This action lets God know we don’t want our own way, but His Way for our life.

Second, you must Walk in His Way – Reading God’s Word lays out a direct path to His Will. After reading the Word, if we don’t walk in the way we’ve read, it’s as though we have forgotten what we look like as we walk away from a mirror. (James 1:22-25) We know what we look like, just like we know what we just read, and we need to walk in it.

Third, you must Work at Everything as you are Working for the Lord and not the World. Many people love competition, they want to be better than others at whatever they do, and my natural God-given personality would put me in that same division. However, when I laid down my life and opened my hands to Jesus, I put aside all competition. My personality didn’t change, but my internal drive did. There is no race I want to win and I run a ton, there’s no person I want to be better than and I have many in my life; I truly want to be the best version of the person God created me to be so that I may Glorify Him in everything I do. Everyday we should wake up with our hands open and say, What do you have for me to do today, LORD? And then do THAT THING in the Best way for Him Alone.

Today, instead of trying Hard to be in control, powerful, or competitive, why not lay aside your selfish ambitions, your life, and open your hands to let God take control. Why not run with God and for God, instead of against God?

“For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Jesus (Matthew 11:30)