We all want it. Power. Control. A sense of being the master of our fate. Whether we classify ourselves as a leader or a follower we all yearn for a semblance of control over our lives.
In my walk of faith with Christ I have found that many times people struggle with faith because it makes them feel like they are not in control of their life. I know at times I certainly did! From surface level observation it can seem true, but the deeper and deeper I walk in faith and the closer and closer I get to knowing the heartbeat of Jesus, the more I am convinced that only way to truly gain control over your life is by surrendering your life to Christ.
Let me explain.
Leadership is taking the skills, talents and resources at your disposal and empowering others who follow you to use their skills, talents and resources to the best of their ability and become successful. It also instills a culture of growth, prosperity and inner self-worth.
Having defined leadership, let’s define our stance.
We all follow someone or some form of ideology. Even those who claim to have no faith in anything will make statements like “believe in yourself” thereby stating that the leader they follow is in fact them self.
When I submit my life and will and power over to the Lord and lay down my ability, He takes the brokenness of my self and multiplies it by His grace. When the leadership of Christ becomes the lordship over my life I finally have power to control how I will live.
Case in point: a week ago when I wrote about “These Things I Know”, I had just gotten off the phone with my husband who had received some alarming news from the doctor following a routine physical. In order to rule out a potentially serious heart problem, he was referred to a cardiologist. In that moment I felt utterly helpless. Completely incapable of making the situation better, resolving his health issues, knowing enough information, etc.
As fear pounded on the door of my mind and heart I had a choice. Fear or Faith. Both required work.
If I am to believe I am the supreme leader of my life, moments like this make me shudder. Because I am rendered helpless and at the end of my ability. But because I know the leader of my life is a Supreme Being, all-loving, ever-good, etc. I am able to take the Words that He says to me in Scripture and turn my helplessness into power control.
I could have spent 2 weeks wrought with fear and anxiety over an outcome I have no power to control. Or I can activate the power I do have over my life (power employed to me by a holy God) and walk confidently. So I went to work. Praying Scriptures of peace, taking thoughts captive from fear and making them obedient to Christ, praying healing over my husband, and praying for wisdom and discernment in choosing doctors. I took my helplessness, laid it at the Cross, asked Him what I could do, and then obeyed.
The result: Faith triumphed over our fears. We walked into the cardiologists office this morning, confident that whatever results we were told would be wise, fearless of the future ahead, and at peace. Even better, we knew we had enjoyed the last week without fear of the future ahead.
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us- whatever we ask- we know that we have what he asked of him. 1 John 5:13-15
