Embracing Control: Trusting God's Timing and Choices

Devotional

Day 1: The Illusion of Control

We often believe we can control various aspects of our lives, from the weather to the actions of others. However, the reality is that many things are beyond our control. Attempting to control these elements often leads to frustration and complaints, which are unproductive and displeasing to God. The Bible illustrates this in Numbers 11:1, where the Israelites' complaints angered the Lord. Instead of trying to control the uncontrollable, we should focus on our own actions and responses, trusting that God has a plan for everything. This acceptance can bring peace and reduce the stress that comes from trying to manage the unmanageable. [38:44]

Job 38:4-5 (ESV): "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?"

Reflection: Think of a situation where you tried to control an outcome or another person. How did it make you feel? Can you release that control to God today and trust in His plan?

Day 2: Trusting God's Timing

One of the most challenging aspects of faith is accepting God's timing. We often desire immediate answers to our prayers, but God operates on His own timeline, which is always perfect. David's advice in Psalm 27:14 to "wait for the Lord" emphasizes the importance of patience and trust. Waiting on God requires us to relinquish our desire for immediate gratification and trust that His timing is better than ours. This trust can deepen our faith and help us grow spiritually, as we learn to rely on God's wisdom rather than our own understanding. [43:46]

Habakkuk 2:3 (ESV): "For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay."

Reflection: Is there a prayer or desire in your life that you are impatiently waiting for God to answer? How can you practice patience and trust in His perfect timing today?

Day 3: Living Day by Day

Jesus advises us in Matthew 6:34 to focus on today rather than worry about the future. While planning is beneficial, life is unpredictable, and we should live each day fully, trusting that God will take care of tomorrow. This approach encourages us to be present in the moment, appreciating the blessings and opportunities each day brings. By focusing on today, we can reduce anxiety about the future and cultivate a deeper sense of gratitude and contentment in our daily lives. [48:41]

James 4:13-15 (ESV): "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit'—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.'"

Reflection: What is one thing you can do today to be more present and less anxious about the future? How can you trust God with your tomorrow?

Day 4: Personal Responsibility

We have control over our actions, thoughts, and words. As Christians, our behavior impacts not only ourselves but also our community. We should strive to live in a way that reflects the fruits of the Spirit, such as love, joy, peace, and kindness. By taking personal responsibility for our actions, we can positively influence those around us and demonstrate the love of Christ in practical ways. This responsibility also includes how we spend our time and the sources from which we seek wisdom. [49:37]

Galatians 6:4-5 (ESV): "But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load."

Reflection: Reflect on your recent actions, thoughts, and words. Are they reflecting the fruits of the Spirit? What is one specific change you can make today to better align with Christ's teachings?

Day 5: Decision to Follow Christ

The most important decision we have control over is whether to follow Jesus Christ. This choice leads to salvation and a new life in God. It's a personal decision that no one else can make for us, and it requires repentance and faith in Jesus. By choosing to follow Christ, we move from spiritual death to new life, experiencing the transformative power of God's love and grace. This decision is foundational to our faith and impacts every aspect of our lives. [59:17]

Romans 10:9-10 (ESV): "Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."

Reflection: Have you made the personal decision to follow Jesus Christ? If not, what is holding you back? If you have, how can you deepen your commitment to Him today?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, everyone. Today, I want to talk about control. We often think we have control over many aspects of our lives, but the truth is, there are many things we simply cannot control. For instance, we can't control the weather, other people, or even certain outcomes in our lives. We often find ourselves trying to control these things, and when we fail, we end up complaining, which doesn't solve anything. The Bible tells us that God doesn't like it when we complain, as seen in Numbers 11:1.

We also try to control people—how they act, feel, and what they believe. But even God, who gave Adam and Eve free will, doesn't force us to change. He allows us to make our own choices. Similarly, we can't control outcomes, whether it's the results of a medical test or the breakdown of household appliances. Jesus tells us in John 16:33 that we will face tribulations, and we can't control these events.

One of the hardest things to accept is that we can't control God's timing. We often want immediate answers to our prayers, but God operates on His own timeline. David reminds us in Psalm 27:14 to wait for the Lord, which requires patience and trust. We also can't control the future. While planning is good, we must remember that life is unpredictable, and we should focus on living day by day as Jesus advises in Matthew 6:34.

However, there are things we can control. We can control how we live our lives, how we respond to people, our thoughts, words, and actions. As Christians, our actions and words have a significant impact on our community. We can also control how we spend our time, whether we seek wisdom from God or from less reliable sources.

Most importantly, we have control over our decision to follow Jesus Christ. This is a personal choice that no one else can make for us. The Bible says that by repenting of our sins and trusting in Jesus, we can be saved and move from spiritual death to new life. This decision is entirely within our control.

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Key Takeaways

1. Control Over People and Outcomes: We often try to control others and the outcomes of various situations, but this is futile. Even God allows us free will, as seen with Adam and Eve. We must accept that we can't change others or control every outcome, and instead, focus on our own actions and responses. [38:44]
2. God's Timing: One of the most challenging aspects of faith is accepting God's timing. We often want immediate answers to our prayers, but God operates on His own timeline. David's advice in Psalm 27:14 to "wait for the Lord" teaches us the importance of patience and trust in God's perfect timing. [43:46]
3. Living Day by Day: Jesus advises us in Matthew 6:34 to focus on today rather than worry about the future. While planning is good, life is unpredictable, and we should live each day fully, trusting that God will take care of tomorrow. [48:41]
4. Personal Responsibility: We have control over our actions, thoughts, and words. As Christians, our behavior impacts not only ourselves but also our community. We should strive to live in a way that reflects the fruits of the Spirit, such as love, joy, peace, and kindness. [49:37]
5. Decision to Follow Christ: The most important decision we have control over is whether to follow Jesus Christ. This choice leads to salvation and a new life in God. It's a personal decision that no one else can make for us, and it requires repentance and faith in Jesus. [59:17]
### [59:17]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[31:39] - Introduction and Personal Story
[32:06] - The Illusion of Control
[33:22] - Are We in Control?
[34:55] - Control Over the Weather
[36:15] - Control Over People
[37:32] - Free Will and God's Commandments
[38:44] - Control Over Outcomes
[40:34] - God's Timing
[42:57] - Control Over the Future
[48:41] - Living Day by Day
[49:37] - Personal Responsibility
[51:36] - Control Over Our Actions
[52:36] - Fruits of the Spirit
[54:06] - Love in Action
[55:31] - Walking by Faith
[57:10] - Gratitude
[59:17] - Decision to Follow Christ
[62:40] - Invitation to Prayer and Salvation
[67:23] - Closing Announcements and Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to Numbers 11:1, how did God react to the complaints of the Israelites? What does this tell us about God's view on complaining? [34:55]
In Psalm 27:14, what does David advise us to do while waiting for the Lord? How does this relate to the concept of control over God's timing? [43:46]
What does Jesus say about worrying for the future in Matthew 6:34? How does this align with the sermon’s message about living day by day? [48:41]
What are some examples given in the sermon of things we try to control but cannot? [33:22]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God dislikes complaining, as mentioned in Numbers 11:1? How does complaining reflect our attitude towards God's sovereignty? [34:55]
How can waiting for the Lord, as advised in Psalm 27:14, strengthen our faith and trust in God's timing? [43:46]
What practical steps can we take to live day by day as Jesus advises in Matthew 6:34? How does this mindset help us deal with the unpredictability of life? [48:41]
The sermon mentions that we have control over our actions, thoughts, and words. How can this understanding impact our daily interactions and community life? [49:37]

Application Questions

Reflect on a recent situation where you found yourself complaining. How could you have responded differently, trusting in God's control instead? [34:55]
Think of a time when you were impatient with God's timing. How can Psalm 27:14 help you develop patience and trust in God's perfect timing? [43:46]
Identify one area of your life where you are overly concerned about the future. How can you apply Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:34 to reduce your anxiety and focus on the present? [48:41]
Consider a person in your life whom you have tried to control or change. How can you shift your focus to controlling your own actions and responses instead? [37:32]
Choose one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) to focus on this week. What specific action can you take to cultivate it in your interactions with others? [52:36]
Reflect on your decision to follow Jesus Christ. How can you reaffirm this commitment daily, and what steps can you take to grow deeper in your faith? [59:17]
Think of a specific way you can show gratitude this week, even in challenging circumstances. How can practicing gratitude change your perspective and attitude? [57:10]

Sermon Clips

1. "So one of the biggest problems that we have as humans is control. We want to be in control. I know that I want to be in control over some things, and we're going to go over some things that we don't have control over, and then we'll go over some things that we do have control over, and we're going to go through some pretty small things, like the weather." [34:55] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "As Christians, the things that we do and the actions and the words that we have and the thoughts that we have and the way we respond to people, it can affect the whole community. But you and I can control that. We have control over us." [50:37] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We have control over being thankful. 1 Thessalonians 5.18 says, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Jesus Christ. We have control to how thankful we are. Those house appliances that break down, when I've been working on the dryer that's broke down for a few weeks. Sometimes I don't have the patience, but I'm thankful I even have a dryer." [57:55] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The only way that God will change us, I believe, is when we ask God to change us. When we say, God, I'm ready to follow you. I'm ready to surrender my will to you. Change my heart. Change me. Now, if you're sitting here thinking, oh, I wish so-and-so was here to hear this message. This message is directly for you, right?" [39:44] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We have control over living our life in faith, even when it's hard. Sometimes it's hard to walk in faith because we're still waiting on God's timing as we're walking this life, and what we do is sometimes the tangible world looks real to us because we can see it, and we don't see God, but Paul's telling us that we still have to have faith in God even though you don't see it." [55:31] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "We want control over God's timing. We just want, that's how we are as humans. Until we learn that we can't control God's timing, we will lose a lot of sleep over God's timing. Here's the three answers that God will give us. Yes, that's our favorite one, right? We love that answer. not the answer I wanted, but at least I know it's a no. The third one we really hate and that's not yet." [43:46] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "We think that we have control over people. We can't control people. We can't control people's actions. We can't control people's words. And another thing we want to do is we want to control how people feel. Like, there's just some people that just feel different than you do. People grieve different. People go through things that are different, and we can't expect them to just suck it up sometimes and move on with it." [37:32] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "We have control over our faith. We have control over how we are going to, how we are going to walk out our faith. Paul says that walking by faith means that we see people with a heaven's perspective. That when we look at people, we take the lens of God and we look at them through God's lens, not our lens." [56:16] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "We have control over the fruits. We have control over that. Now, those are the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians. And Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians, do you really want to know what love looks like, guys? Do you really want to know the action of love that we have control over? 1 he says, love is kind. Love is patient, love and kind. Love does not envy or boast." [53:22] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "You have control to become a child of God. Think about that for a second. You have control make the decision to be a child of God. That is awesome. That is great news. But here's the thing. Nobody can do that for you. You have to make that decision. You have to make that choice." [01:01:53] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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