Embracing Faith: The Illusion of Control in Life

Devotional

Day 1: The Illusion of Control

We often believe we can control external factors like the weather, other people, and outcomes. However, these are beyond our control, and trying to manage them only leads to frustration and anxiety. Instead, we should focus on what we can control—our actions, words, and thoughts. [04:11]

In life, we frequently find ourselves trying to control things that are simply beyond our reach. Whether it's the weather, the actions of others, or the outcomes of certain situations, our attempts to manage these aspects often result in frustration and anxiety. This illusion of control can distract us from what truly matters and what we can actually influence—our own actions, words, and thoughts. By focusing on these, we can lead a more peaceful and fulfilling life, grounded in the reality of what we can change.

The Bible teaches us to let go of this illusion and trust in God's sovereignty. By surrendering our need to control everything, we can find peace and contentment in knowing that God is in control. This doesn't mean we become passive; rather, we actively choose to focus on what we can control—our responses, our attitudes, and our actions. This shift in focus can lead to a more balanced and spiritually fulfilling life.

Ecclesiastes 11:5 (ESV): "As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are trying to control the uncontrollable? How can you shift your focus to what you can control today?

Day 2: Free Will and Responsibility

God gave Adam and Eve free will, and He gives us the same. He doesn’t force us to make the right choices; instead, He provides guidance and consequences. Our responsibility is to make wise decisions and seek God’s will in our lives. [07:48]

From the very beginning, God has given humanity the gift of free will. Adam and Eve were given the freedom to make their own choices, and with that freedom came the responsibility to choose wisely. This principle still applies to us today. God does not force us to make the right decisions; instead, He provides us with guidance through His Word and the Holy Spirit, as well as the consequences of our actions to help us learn and grow.

Our responsibility is to seek God's will in our lives and make decisions that align with His teachings. This requires us to be intentional in our choices, to seek wisdom through prayer and scripture, and to be mindful of the impact our decisions have on ourselves and others. By doing so, we honor the gift of free will and fulfill our responsibility to live according to God's plan.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (ESV): "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them."

Reflection: What is one decision you are facing right now where you need to seek God's guidance? How can you ensure that your choice aligns with His will?

Day 3: Living by Faith

Walking by faith means trusting in God’s timing and His plans, even when they don’t align with our own. It involves seeing the world through God’s perspective and maintaining faith even when circumstances are challenging. [24:31]

Living by faith requires us to trust in God's timing and His plans, even when they don't align with our own desires or expectations. This can be challenging, especially when we face difficult circumstances or when things don't go as planned. However, walking by faith means seeing the world through God's perspective and believing that He has a greater plan for our lives.

Trusting in God's timing involves patience and surrender. It means letting go of our need for immediate answers and solutions and instead, relying on God's wisdom and timing. This trust is built through a relationship with God, nurtured by prayer, reading scripture, and seeking His presence in our daily lives. By maintaining faith, even in challenging times, we can experience peace and assurance that God is in control and that His plans are for our good.

Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Reflection: Think of a situation where you are struggling to trust God's timing. How can you surrender this situation to Him and trust in His greater plan?

Day 4: The Power of Love

True love is demonstrated through actions, not just words. The fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—are tangible expressions of love that we can control and should strive to exhibit in our daily lives. [22:54]

Love is more than just a feeling or words; it is demonstrated through our actions. The Bible teaches us that true love is shown through the fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These qualities are tangible expressions of love that we can control and should strive to exhibit in our daily lives.

By embodying these fruits of the Spirit, we reflect God's love to those around us. This requires intentionality and a commitment to living out our faith in practical ways. Whether it's showing kindness to a stranger, being patient with a loved one, or exercising self-control in a challenging situation, our actions can be a powerful testimony of God's love working through us.

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV): "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Reflection: Which fruit of the Spirit do you find most challenging to exhibit? How can you intentionally practice this quality in your interactions today?

Day 5: The Ultimate Choice

The most crucial decision we have control over is accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior. This choice leads to a transformation from spiritual death to new life and is entirely within our control. No one else can make this decision for us. [28:48]

The most significant decision we can make in our lives is to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. This choice is entirely within our control and leads to a profound transformation from spiritual death to new life. It is a personal decision that no one else can make for us, and it has eternal implications.

Accepting Jesus as our Savior involves repenting of our sins, placing our trust in Him, and committing to follow Him. This decision brings us into a relationship with God, where we experience His love, grace, and forgiveness. It is the foundation of our faith and the beginning of a lifelong journey of growing in our relationship with God and living out His purposes for our lives.

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 decision to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior? If not, what is holding you back? If you have, how can you deepen your relationship with Him today?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, everyone. Today, I want to talk about control—specifically, the illusion of control we often cling to in our lives. This topic hit home for me recently when my 15-year-old son started driving, reminding me of how little control I have over certain situations. We often think we can control things like the weather, other people, outcomes, God's timing, and even our future. However, the reality is that we have very little control over these aspects of life. Complaining about the weather or trying to change people’s beliefs and actions are futile efforts that only lead to frustration.

In the Bible, we see that even God doesn’t force control over us. He gave Adam and Eve free will, and He gives us the same. We have the freedom to make our own choices, and with that freedom comes the responsibility to control what we can—ourselves. We can control our actions, our words, our thoughts, and how we respond to others. We can choose to live a life of faith, love, and gratitude, and we can decide to follow Jesus Christ.

The most significant control we have is over our decision to accept Jesus as our Savior. This choice is entirely ours; no one else can make it for us. By repenting of our sins and trusting in Jesus, we move from spiritual death to new life. This transformation is a personal decision that leads to eternal life and a relationship with God.

###

Key Takeaways

1. The Illusion of Control: We often believe we can control external factors like the weather, other people, and outcomes. However, these are beyond our control, and trying to manage them only leads to frustration and anxiety. Instead, we should focus on what we can control—our actions, words, and thoughts. [04:11]
2. Free Will and Responsibility: God gave Adam and Eve free will, and He gives us the same. He doesn’t force us to make the right choices; instead, He provides guidance and consequences. Our responsibility is to make wise decisions and seek God’s will in our lives. [07:48]
3. Living by Faith: Walking by faith means trusting in God’s timing and His plans, even when they don’t align with our own. It involves seeing the world through God’s perspective and maintaining faith even when circumstances are challenging. [24:31]
4. The Power of Love: True love is demonstrated through actions, not just words. The fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—are tangible expressions of love that we can control and should strive to exhibit in our daily lives. [22:54]
5. The Ultimate Choice: The most crucial decision we have control over is accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior. This choice leads to a transformation from spiritual death to new life and is entirely within our control. No one else can make this decision for us. [28:48]
### [28:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:03] - The Driving Lesson
[02:11] - The Illusion of Control
[03:12] - Prayer and Introduction
[04:11] - Weather and Complaining
[05:04] - Controlling People
[06:38] - Beliefs and Free Will
[07:48] - Adam and Eve’s Choice
[09:21] - Outcomes and Accidents
[10:37] - God’s Timing
[12:09] - Waiting on the Lord
[13:41] - Future Plans
[15:13] - Family and Career
[16:32] - Life’s Uncertainty
[17:47] - What We Can Control
[19:20] - Actions and Words
[20:58] - Love in Action
[22:54] - Fruits of the Spirit
[24:31] - Living by Faith
[26:19] - Gratitude
[27:57] - The Ultimate Choice
[28:48] - Steps to Salvation
[30:46] - Becoming a Child of God
[32:04] - Invitation to Prayer
[32:43] - Rededication and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What command did God give Adam and Eve in Genesis 2:16-17, and what was the consequence of disobedience? How does this relate to the concept of free will discussed in the sermon? [07:48]
According to John 16:33, what does Jesus say about the tribulations we will face in this world? How does this align with the sermon’s message about the lack of control over certain outcomes? [10:37]
In Matthew 6:34, what does Jesus instruct us about worrying for the future? How does this verse support the sermon’s point about the illusion of control over our future? [16:32]

Interpretation Questions

How does the story of Adam and Eve illustrate the concept of free will and the illusion of control? Why do you think God allowed them to make their own choice? [07:48]
Jesus mentions that we will face tribulations in John 16:33. How should this understanding affect our approach to control and the challenges we face in life? [10:37]
Reflecting on Matthew 6:34, why do you think Jesus emphasizes not worrying about tomorrow? How can this perspective change the way we plan and live our daily lives? [16:32]

Application Questions

Think about a recent situation where you tried to control an outcome or another person. How did it turn out, and what could you have done differently to focus on what you can control—your actions, words, and thoughts? [05:55]
The sermon mentioned that God doesn’t force us to make the right choices but provides guidance and consequences. How can you apply this principle in your relationships, especially when you want someone to change? [07:48]
Walking by faith means trusting in God’s timing and plans. Can you identify a current situation where you are struggling to trust God’s timing? What steps can you take to strengthen your faith in this area? [12:09]
The fruits of the Spirit are tangible expressions of love. 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 will you take to cultivate it in your interactions? [20:58]
The sermon emphasized the ultimate choice of accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior. If you have already made this decision, how can you share this message with someone who hasn’t? If you haven’t, what is holding you back from making this choice today? [28:48]
Reflect on a time when you were anxious about the future. How did it affect your daily life and decisions? What practical steps can you take to live more in the present, as Jesus instructs in Matthew 6:34? [16:32]
Gratitude was highlighted as something we can control. List three things you are grateful for today. How can practicing gratitude daily change your perspective and reduce your need to control external factors? [26:19]

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." [03:12] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Complaining never fixes anything. And when we complain, basically what we're doing is we're saying that we don't have control over that situation. So we're just going to complain about it. Another thing that we like to control, and this is a big one. People. We think that we have control over people. And we want to have control over people." [05:04] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "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." [05:55] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "God never showed up to change Eve's mind. He was never there to change Adam's mind. God wasn't, he's not in the business of changing people. He, it's called free will. Here's the command, here's the consequence, go figure it out. The only way that God will change us, I believe this, 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." [07:48] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We don't have control over some outcomes. Some other people in our lives may get some bad news and we don't have no control about. Now, here's a couple that are smaller. Who owns a house? We got homeowners whose head stuff break down in your house, washers and dryers and you know, whatever house appliances break down. Do we have control over that all the time? No." [10:37] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "We want control over God's timing. We just want that. 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." [12:09] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "We can make some great plans, but really at the end of the day, we don't have control over our future. But here, now I've talked about some things that we can't control. Now I want to switch it to some things that we can control because this is the most important part is how I live my life. I can control it. I can control that. How I respond to people, I can control that." [17:47] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "The only thing that we can control is us. So if you've been sleeping all the way up to this point and you haven't been paying attention this morning, just remember that the only thing that you can control is you, your actions. And your actions are going to affect you and your actions are going to affect your thoughts, your words, your attitude." [19:20] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "We have control over being thankful. First 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." [26:19] (30 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 to 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." [30:46] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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