How Can I Release Control?

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
Psalm 143:10 NIV

What does this verse say to you? If this was your prayer, what would it be in reference to? What’s going on in your life right now that you feel and believe you need guidance in? And, last but not least, do you believe God can and will lead you through whatever it is through His Spirit?

I don’t typically open up with a flurry of questions, but I couldn’t help myself. Well, that’s not entirely true, I COULD’VE waited until the end, but I simply didn’t want to.

This past week at Celebrate Recovery our Assimilation Coach, Janie, led us through a lesson titled READY. The R in READY is easily one of my FAVORITE points we cover all year long…

RELEASE control

2 words. Simple. Profound. So freakin’ hard to do!!!

Personally, I’m constantly trying to wrestle back control of my life. HELLO! I KNOW God’s plans are greater than anything I could possibly come up with, yet I still try to bargain with Him. What’s up with that? Why can’t I let go? Why can’t I RELEASE CONTROL? Umm… let’s see… I’m human? Selfish? Yes. Somewhere wrapped up in my humanness you and I will discover the answer to this question because I KNOW I’m not the ONLY one who struggles with this.

I would like to suggest this verse provides some answers for HOW and WHY we can and should RELEASE CONTROL.

#1 God Is God And He Knows Best—simple as that. He is God. He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all that other stuff that involves the words all- and ever-. In Psalm 143:10 we ask God to TEACH US, or if we’re following Celebrate Recovery Guidelines and using “I” and “me” statements… teach ME to do your will. Part of learning to release control is discovering who God is and what He wants for our lives. He knows what’s best. He wants to give us what’s best. And to figure out what all that means we need to get in His face and ask Him, “What’s up? What do you want me to do? Where do you want me to go?” But here’s the deal, when he speaks, when he gives you direction, don’t keep asking; start MOVING!

#2 God Is Spirit And He Is With Me—God is not merely some old dude up in the clouds with a white beard long enough to wrap around the globe… NO!... he’s so much MORE! He is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He’s here. He’s there. He’s everywhere. He’s WITH US… He’s with ME! He’s leading and guiding and shaping me, my life, who I am, who I’ll become. Referring back to #1, if I believe God knows BEST and wants the BEST for me, it just makes sense to FOLLOW HIS LEAD. It may seem simple, but remember, our brains are SICK and don’t necessarily exist in the realm of “making sense” so we gotta convince ourselves that it’s the best possible choice to make and DO IT! That’s releasing control!

Reflect:

• In what area(s) of your life do you need to release control?
• What do you think will happen if you release control?
• Why haven’t you released control yet?
• What are the pros of releasing control? Cons?