Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Control-Part 3


Back to that control issue.

If you think about it, anytime we try to take control of any situation, we open the door for sin. We eat that fruit all over again. So much for doing better than Eve.

Check out this scripture. I Samuel 15:23: For rebellion (taking control) is like the sin of divination (witchcraft).

Man! God doesn’t take this lightly, does He?

We start taking the reigns, we think we’re in charge, but guess who we’ve invited on the scene? Yep. The one behind the spirit of witchcraft and sorcery. We’ve put out the welcome mat. Wow! That’s a hard thing to think about. We would never intentionally invite satan into our homes, into the lives of our friends or family members, or into our own hearts. But, when we step in the way of Jesus, that’s exactly what we’re doing.

Jesus is a gentleman. He’ll never push His way beyond our choices. So when we usher Him out of the way, there’s someone ever-ready to take over. And we’ve allowed it by giving in to our nature. By thinking that we know what is best.

And if we don’t recognize it and stop it, we’ll be headed for a fall.

Overcoming it? It’s really no different than any other sin in our lives. The solution is the daily choosing to give complete control of our hearts and minds over to the power of the Holy Spirit. Asking Him to show us in his gentle way when we have moved into His rightful place. Having a willing spirit and a desire to overcome our natural tendencies.

God will always meet a willing spirit.

Ready to trade in that controlling nature for a willing heart? I am!

E-mail me if you would like me to pray for you specifically in this area. Manymeadows @ yahoo.com (no spaces)

Do you see control as a sin? Or is it only a personality trait?

11 comments:

  1. oooh, good question at the end... I think some of us (me) have a natural tendency toward being controlling which makes it a personality trait. That 'tendency' isn't necessarily a sin... It is a sin when these 'traits' are surrendered to the Lordship of Christ.

    well, that made sense in my head...

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  2. That completely made sense, Kim. I was trying to separate those two things in my head and you did it for me. I guess one of my questions is where is the line between control and self-control. I mean God calls us to be self-controled and alert. How much does He want us to rely on Him and how much does he want us to muster up from inside ourselves?

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  3. Hmmmm, I think that the need for control can be a sin. We are not having faith in Christ to take care of something (which brings the need for us to control and make it happen). Sometimes God is asking us to be patient rather than handle it on our own so control could be a sign of disobedience (which is for sure a sin).

    I do think some people have more of a struggle with this than others. They may have grown up with added responsibility or circumstances where they felt they had to take care of themselves so they like to control.

    I struggle with control issues. I do feel I have come a long way from where I was, but it's still a battle for me. Some say it's insecurity or fear- whatever it is, I am fighting to not be rebellious anymore!!

    Thanks for this post :)

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  4. I read but stayed away from the commenting the last 2 days since it was more for the ladies but this talks to me. I am definitely trading in the control lately

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  5. This is gooooooooood stuff.

    Hmmm, I could be way off, but I see control as something that can be personality (you see it in young children without it being "learned" but I would say most of the time it is a learned thing. We grow up and things don't go our way and we learn to manipulate them until they do.

    I'm so ready for a willing heart!!!!

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  6. Some great questions and thoughts! You guys are GOOD!

    And thanks Roger...it's not JUST a woman thing.

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  7. I tend to think that it's a personality trait that can BECOME sin.

    I'd LOVE to already have a willing heart, but I CAN say honestly that I'm getting better at letting go of control. Slowly. Painfully.

    It's funny how every time God provides (instead of me controlling a situation until I get my way), it's like another "AHA!" moment. His way is better than my way any day. Some days I just forget...and that's when the control tries to creep in.

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  8. ooh man! i have been realizing i'm such a control freak! its hard alot of the times to just give it to God! i'm really trying to work on it.

    this is a cool lesson though! i've never though of it as a sin before, but i guess it really is!

    thanks! :)

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  9. Great post. I think the biggest controller is Jezebel. None of us want to be called that horrible name, but that is exactly what she did. She did anything in her power to controll the situation.

    This is why I am divorced - control!

    Thankfully, the Lord loves me and has redeemed the path and me completely!

    Anything that is ahead of God (that we put our trust in more) is sin.

    Love you! great post!

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  10. The control vs. self control issue is a hard one. The Lord has shown me lately that if I ask Him, oh yeah and LISTEN, to the boundaries He wants me to have, then control is a non issue and everything becomes a choice of obedience rather than an issue of control. I guess I am trying to say that His boundaries are directly connected to self control and if they are Holy Spirit lead boundaries then they aren't about us or anyone else, only about Him, so we are then out of control.

    Oh yeah, a friend pointed out to me once to apply Romans 11:36 to self control...so self control is from Him, and it is only through Him that I can walk in self control and it is For his glory that I am walking in self control.

    And doesn't it take a lot of self control not to try and be in control all the time! :)

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