(Psalms 83:18)
As much as we know this to be true, we live so much of our lives forgetting this basic fact, God is in control. We plan our days, we take care of our business at work or school, we shop, we do all those things a person does in the course of a normal day. Because we decide to do this or that, we sometimes get a false sense of security that we are in total control of our lives. Successful people are most susceptible to this erroneous thought process. They spend their days“producing” results, seeing things happen, and shaping events to the extent they get a real sense that they have total control. But then, normally in a very subtle way, God nudges us and gently reminds us that it is not us but only Him that is in complete control.
Yesterday morning, I arrived at my office at a little after 5 a.m. as I do every day. In prayer as I drove in, the Lord and I had a planning meeting on what that day’s Devotional would be about. As I opened the door to my office, I smelled a strange odor like something was burning. This concerned me, of course, so I started to look around the office to see what the problem was. After a little investigative work, I soon realized that the power supply in my CPU had burned up sometime during the night. It was dead.
Of course, the natural reaction was one of panic. I quickly became very concerned that the hard drive may have been affected. All kinds of thoughts were running through my head. I had a very full day scheduled and part of the reason I get in so early is to write the Devotional, answer 90-100 emails that I feel require my personal response, and several other things before the real day begins at 9 a.m. This was not good . . . potential loss of all of the important information on my hard drive (the last back-up I did was over a week ago) . . . this was a day that was now going to be totally upside down. I was not very happy.
Then it hit me. As much as I know it to be true, I often forget who is really in charge, who is really in control. Rather than worry about the problem that was before me, I took the next 30 minutes and spent that time in prayer. Recommitting myself that day to the Lord and what HE wanted to accomplish. I recommitted the work of Liveprayer to the Lord and asked Him to have HIS perfect way over our efforts every day. Now I realize that a burned-out power source on a CPU is not a major catastrophe. But the point is it greatly altered my daily routine. It was a totally unexpected event that changed all my plans for that day. Most of all though, it was a gentle nudge from the God who created the Universe to never forget He is in charge.
I love you and care about you so much. My prayer today is that you never lose sight of the fact that God is in control . . . total 100% complete control. We must never get so comfortable in our daily lives or routines to forget that fact. From time to time, events will occur in our life, some minor, some major to remind us of that fact. The prayer we need to never have far from our lips is the same prayer Jesus prayed in the Garden just hours before He faced death on the cross, “NOT MY WILL BUT THY WILL BE DONE.” Make that your prayer each morning as you awake. Remember, it is not our life any longer, it belongs to Him.
ADVERSITY
(1 Kings 22:19)
God is Still on the Throne
Probably one of the things that comforts me more than anything else during a problem or crisis, is the fact that God is still on His throne. He didn’t get off to take a nap, go watch sports, or hit the refrigerator. He is there, in total control of all that is going on. That, of course, begs the question, “Why does He allow terrible things to happen if He is really on the throne.”
Remember, God does not cause evil or encourage it but does allow it to happen as He did in the case of Job. It was only with God’s permission that the devil was able to do what he did to Job. Why does God allow bad things to happen? Men much wiser than I can argue that one but I do know one day God will wipe away all sin and evil from this world.
That leads me to the great verse that assures us God will not give us more than we can bear. He knows our breaking point. These two truths, God is in control at all times and He will never give me more than I can bear, get me through the difficult times in life.
Many of you are facing difficulties in your life today. Unexplained problems. Circumstances that seem to be out of hand. Pressures that are becoming intolerable. Now is the very time to make your faith real. Look to God and ask Him to strengthen you, to encourage you, and give you peace. He knows how to make the heavy burdens lighter and the crooked paths straight. Don’t become weak when the difficult times come. Be strengthened by them. Let them be times of testing, honing, and sharpening your faith.
I love you deeply and care about you. I realize that life can be difficult. I also realize that in those difficult times, we can grow in our faith, learn to depend on God, and become real people of faith. Let the difficult times help you to know God in a deeper, more intimate way. Learn to trust the Truth that He is on His throne in control of all things. Take to heart His promise that He will not give you more than you can bear. Learn how to walk through the storms of life victoriously. Be comforted that He will never leave you, never forsake you, and never let you down.
For those of you who are in need of a miracle, don’t forget to stop by our Miracle Center on my website at www.liveprayer.com. We have had incredible testimonies of healing, restored marriages, and financial blessings over the years. I will be praying for you today. Whatever you are facing, never forget this truth. God is on His throne . . . God is in Control!!!!!
