Today, as we close out our focus on the illusion of control and the reality of God being in control, especially in the area of our parenting and connected relationships, a fair question for us to ask is this: “Okay, God, if You are in control, when will you take total control? Like take away all our false ideas and futile attempts to be in control for ourselves?”
Listen once again to Paul, this time in Philippians 3:20-21 … But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. (NLT) So we live in a time when God offers His control of our lives as a choice. One option among thousands. But when we choose Him, two things become a reality. First, we live on the earth, but our citizenship changes to Heaven. And second, we live for the day when the choices end and He takes everything over. Whether we die first or He comes back, we will witness Him “bringing everything under His control.” Meanwhile, today, right now, no matter how tough life gets, no matter how unfair life may seem, we can choose Him, choose His power, choose Heaven.
Listen to today’s passage in the Message Bible … But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He’ll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.
This week, how did your view of personal control change?
How did your view of God being in control change?
And, as always, the biggest question for any of us, what do you need to give up and give God for your best and your kids best?
Let’s pray together: “Heavenly Father, thank You for the hope and the promise, whether here or in Heaven, that the best is always yet to come. Please help me to remember that truth when everything seems to go wrong and I want to give up. Just help me to give it to You. As above, so below.”