The practical considerations of
taking control of our lives shouldn’t be thought of as thwarting God’s purposes
to the end of our disobedience. On the contrary, we ought to take control of
our lives, making out of them testimonies
of glory to God’s faithfulness. We do this by receiving our call and living it out as God’s workmanship, created
to do good works (Ephesians 2:10).
The opportunity, then, is to take
control of our lives; to not be swept along by the currents of ambivalence and indifference
(James 1:7-8).
That is, with courage, we wrest
control from the would-be thugs commanding our attention and dictating our
response. And we don’t underestimate the power we, also, exert over ourselves
to inflict a merciless level of thuggery to satisfy our own fear for
exposure—especially before others. Why would we be both master and slave, where
the slave is both abused and neglected? Why be master when we can, otherwise,
follow the perfect Master? Following the Master, Jesus, we are thankful slaves
and fully in control of the lives God now gives us. Following the Master is
about seeking and knowing our purpose.
Taking control of our lives is,
first, about knowing where we stand.
Knowing Where We Stand
Almost as important as being in control
of our lives is in knowing where we stand. If we are floundering it’s best to
know. It’s only when we acknowledge the issue we can do anything about it.
We can begin to plan; to schedule
an assault on the wresting of control.
Knowing where we stand is a
critical input in planning the better way; in knowing what needs to be done.
We have everything to live for; to
make the most of life. But we also know when to apply patience—to not lose
sight of the overall picture of what God’s doing in and through us. We keep the
faith regarding that vision.
Knowing where we stand is also
crucial in not getting ahead of ourselves.
We most probably have a humble
role to play—but we play it as well as we are able. This process of existence
from birth to death seems long, yet it doesn’t compare with the scope ahead for
eternity. Even in a life requiring less of us than we are prepared to give, we
give—and gratefully, to boot.
Making a Stand – Right Here, Right Now
Taking control of our lives is
probably most accurately about a repetitive
practice.
Over and again we will be required
to take the reins and rise in ascendancy. Upon each day, and many moments
throughout, is borne the opportunity. We prepare and we wait, for the time
comes unexpectedly and urgently.
Making a stand is the requirement.
Knowing when and how to make that stand is the key. Only we, guided by our
discernment of the will of God, can know these things.
Only we can choose.
God is with us, not against us.
***
When we take control of our lives—aligning
our thoughts, words and deeds to the will of God—our hearts pound with passion,
our minds are stimulated, and our souls are nourished. We live by faith in
accord with the truth. And, what’s more, we please God.
© 2012 S. J. Wickham.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.