God wants me to lose control

LOSE CONTROL

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

-Luke 9:23 (ESV)

Yesterday’s sermon made me want to cue the frozen theme…Let it go, let it go. You’re welcome! 

Pastor Aram continuously hits home with crucial words of wisdom from our Father. We have to submit to the Lord not just daily but moment by moment. We must ask ourselves are we fully surrendering to God? It is time we conform our way of living to Him and stop following the pattern of the world by transforming our minds. It is His will not our will. His desire in our life and not our own. 

“Losing control is uncomfortable.” - Pastor Aram

We have to lose the way we think about our life. What is it in your life that you just can’t seem to let go of? What are the blessings you keep waiting for and have you fully lost control and gave it all to God? When we allow God to step in is when increase begins. Maintaining control is what makes us blind to our blessing. 

If you are familiar with the story of the 2 fish and 5 loaves, you are reminded of exactly how the Lord works when we release what we have into the Masters hands. 

Let’s say this out loud, “Jesus, I give You full control!”

Pastor Aram uses his own example of his life before marriage to show how crucial losing control can be in any relationship. He spoke of his first house and how he made the rooms into his own with a walk in closet and media room. When he began his relationship with his wife he had to let go of the way he wanted it so the relationship would work fully. If we want Him to have full reign, then we have to start letting go of the way we want things to go in our life.

“It is not natural for us to automatically trust Him.” -Pastor Aram

In Judges 6, the Bible introduces us to a man named Gideon who is hiding in fear to protect his wheat. The angel of the Lord comes and tells him that he will use him to save Israel. This was very uncomfortable for Gideon to hear and it didn’t make a lot of sense to him. Out of everyone God could have picked, why would he pick me? Gideon saw himself as weak and unqualified for the task. After a conversation with the angel, Gideon responds by putting together an army of 32,000 men. What happens next is where things start to get more interesting and Gideon has to give up more control and not lean on his own understanding.

The Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’

-Judges 7:2 (ESV)

By paraphrasing a little, Gideon puts together 32,000 men to fight and God says that is too many. God tells Gideon that he does not want the men to think that they won the battle in their own strength. So then, after Gideon tells everyone who is fearful to go home, he is left with 10,000 men which God says is still too many. Finally, the end result was around 300 men. Gideon is given instruction from the Lord to have a jar in one hand, trumpet in other, and to smash them together and cry out, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” Can you imagine fighting a battle by doing only this? It doesn’t make any sense.

Losing control will not always make sense!

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.

We have to learn to trust Him even when it doesn’t all add up in our natural mind.

When Gideon and his 300 men follow the Lord’s instruction, the Midianite army ends up turning on each other and God gave Israel a great victory. By listening to God’s plan and not his own he was able to accomplish a lot with a little. Wouldn’t it be nice if we can stop putting together our own armies and allow God to direct us to our victories?

“Losing control is not a come what may attitude.”- Pastor Aram

By giving up control we must actively pursue His will for our life.  God will always have better for us than we have for ourselves. It will not always be the way we want it to be and we have to come to terms with that. We will never receive if we keep taking matters into our own hands. God will begin to weed out the bad, give us a game plan, and we must act on His word and guidance; not our own. His ways will not always make sense but they will work out for us if we just trust Him. 

Father,

Help us to lose control of everything that holds bondage to us and keeps us from pursuing Your will in our lives. Come into every room of our homes and lives and rearrange it so that we may receive blessing and increase beyond belief. Help our minds to be at peace in the uncomfortable zones as we give You the wheel to drive us where You need us. Thank You Lord for wanting us to lose control. 

In Jesus name,

Amen