HELLO FRIENDS,
Sharon Lee copies Mike B's Posts in her forum and I can see why... they are inspiring. I am posting this because it directly applies to our prayer group. We had a blessed meeting again tonite, even had children singing! See you all in the next meeting on Saturday evening! :)
Thanks and God bless you all!
Carla :)
Lord, Take Control
Of the many articles, sermons, lectures and prayers, there would
probably be no more common theme than the prayer, “Lord, take control.”
I personally have prayed in times of decision and indecision. The
prayer has been prayed by me and many others during times of turmoil,
frustration and confusion. The prayer has been prayed in hospital
rooms, intensive care units, in business meetings, before, during and
after surgery, in times of fear, and times of great confidence. The
prayer has been prayed while standing next to a crib, while standing
next to a hospital bed, and while standing next to a casket. Perhaps
even by those standing side by side about to recite their wedding vows.
I've even prayed it many times of late while sitting at this computer
wondering if I will ever find gainful employment again.
Many times soon after praying the prayer, I have found a sense of peace
and serenity that seemed to blanket me. I'd be amiss if I didn't also
include those times that when the prayer was finished, I felt an
uncomfortable fear. Some say you should never make a decision based on
fear. Then there are those times when I just knew that God had taken
control of whatever the situation was. What about the times when I
reacted as human beings often do with the familiar question; "God, why
didn't You take control?"
Oddly, there are also times when I seemed to feel nothing at all. Blank!
How can the same prayer bring so many different responses?
If I really look deeply enough I can see that the discrepancies
have nothing at all to do with the prayer itself. Sooner or later I'll
get around to asking myself the question; "what was my attitude while
praying?" Did I pray believing God would hear me? Did I submit to Him
rather than insist on my own way?
“Lord, take control!” That alone isn't quite enough is it? I must
also pray, “I surrender my will to Yours, Father. I can't do this all
by myself."
If I pray, “Lord, take control!” over and over as one begging,
failing to submit to Him, I am only engaging in an exercise of
futility. "Lord, take control!" can be uttered with all sincerity and
still fail when surrender isn't a factor.
Submission to Him will bring His power into my life. Why is it
that I sometimes want to tell God what to do instead of humbly, in
submission, asking Him?
Once again, my questions are answered if I will only look for them
in the right places. What better place than the way He as chosen to
communicate with you and me? His Holy Word, the Bible reveals the
solutions.
“Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you” (Job 22:21, NIV).
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7, NIV).
This whole idea of surrender is foreign to society's messages.
Media floods me with phrases like; "you can have it all", or "have it
your way" and "you deserve all that the world has to offer."
Thanks to Tom Norvell for inspiring these thoughts through his "Norvell Notes", Vol. 10 No. 11, March 12, 2007
Lord, take control. I surrender.