RELINQUISH CONTROL!

RELINQUISH CONTROL. The Father spoke those two words to me a little over a week ago.

To RELINQUISH CONTROL is to simply SURRENDER.

When you choose to surrender you are choosing to completely give up your own will, subject your thoughts, ideas, and deeds to the will and teachings of God. It's choosing to surrender to the timing of God. It's choosing to surrender to the way He does things, and His direction.

We try to control the timing of what God promised, and the manner of how it should be carried out. We try and control our spouses and kids. We try and control the way and how we bring money into our homes. This list can go on and on.

The root issue to control is fear. Fear of things not happening in the manner we feel they should. Fear of lost. Fear of lack. Fear of how people see us, or their perception of us. You nor myself have the ability to change how someone sees us, so why worry? Only the Holy Spirit have the power to do such.

The only way to combat fear is to completely put our trust in Jesus. Believing His way is better, and His timing is perfect.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Trying to control people, timing, and things puts us in position for unnecessary setbacks, delays, pain, and lost. Why? Because we have misunderstood the timing, and the heart of God. When we know the Father's heart towards us we will trust His way and His timing. Knowing there is always purpose in what He do, or don't do.

Abraham and Sarah tried to control the timing of their promise, and produced an Ishmael. This caused unnecessary pain and lost. Why? Although Ishmael was not the promise he was still Abraham's son, and as a result of their hastiness he had to send his son away. Never to see him again. Pain and lost.

Depending on the calling on one's life there is a certain level of crushing you have to undergo to effectively fulfill the calling on your life. Although the Father may have given you a clear picture of an end result, you must remember its for an appointed time. God's appointed time, not yours.

Think about the life of Joseph. He had a dream how he would be put in a place of leadership, and quickly after his life looked the direct opposite. He had to undergo a certain level of crushing. That crushing prepared him to be a leader of humility and wisdom.

Suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character, and character produces hope. Hope in Jesus will not put you to shame. Romans 5:4-5

The question we should all ask is..."What are You doing in me while I wait? "What are You perfecting in me?" "What's being produced during the suffering?" Again, there is always purpose in what God do, or don't do. Nothing is wasted.

RELINQUISH CONTROL fully over to the Father. There is peace and rest for your soul when you choose His way.