Well, hello everyone; it’s been awhile. I have been MIA for awhile-and without going into a long story, let’s just say that I’m happy to be back to a somewhat normal state of mind.(if I can be called normal)
A lesson I just had in my small group really touched me and I wanted to share it. It helped me gain a bit of my spiritual strength back, along with lots of prayers and tears. (Thank you to those of you who have been checking on me. )
If someone were to ask you if God was in control of the future, what would you say? Of course we would all say YES. But do we live like we really believe that? I know for me, I try so hard sometimes to be in control of my life; most of the time I do not even realize I’m doing it.
But what about when God asks you to do something hard, or out of your comfort zone? Is your automatic response peace, because God is in control of the future? I can’t say that for myself, I analyze EVERYTHING!!! To my own defense I like to say that I analyze things because I want to be sure it is God’s will, but I admit that sometimes it is just my own mind trying to control my life.
I encourage anyone that finds these notes meaningful to go watch the lesson; it was awesome. Just go to http://www.lifechurch.tv/. Click on blue box that says “I want to watch Messages”. Then click on Search Videos. Search for the series called You Don’t Have What It Takes, then click on Part 4. The lessons are all about 20 minutes long.
YOU DON’T HAVE WHAT IT TAKES
“YOU CAN’T CONTROL THE FUTURE”
1. Achieving greatness will require you to leave.
“The LORD has said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. Genesis 12:1-4
In Abram’s case, leaving was a physical leaving from his home. But a life of faith is always a life of leaving. You might need to leave your old life behind, and give your heart to Christ. You might need to leave your habit of trying to control your life. Are you stuck spiritually? Do you need to leave a great pain behind? Do you need to leave a big sin behind?
3 Reason People Don’t Leave
** People live by sight and not by faith.
The Lord said to Abram, “leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” Genesis 12:1
Abram did not know where God was leading him, but he went-living by faith. He was not living by sight. Leave where you are and let God take you where He wants you to go. Listen to God and leave in faith!! The enemy is always trying to tell us to live by sight, not by faith.
By faith, Abraham, when called to go to a place he would receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. Hebrews 11:8
**People have a fear of failure.
We all understand this one. Fear of failure is such a mighty tool the enemy uses, I get hit with it all the time. The enemy tells us “you don’t have what it takes”. He is right, our future is in God’s hands, not our own capabilities. Do you trust that God is in control of your life? Do you fear failure too much? We can also fear leaving our comfort zone, but remember Abram didn’t let that paralyze him.
**People don’t trust God with their future.
Ok, here is the big one. Do you really trust God with your future???? Are you seeking His kingdom and righteousness????
“Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’. For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:25-33
I put myself through a lot of worry lately, and this lesson made me realize that if I’m seeking God’s will and truly want to glorify Him with my life-then that’s all I can do. God knows my heart’s true desire, and He IS in control of my life. Remember the song that says “Lord, keep me in your will so I won’t be in your way”? I have been thinking about that a lot lately. I know God is in control of my life, but I want to be yielded to His control.
2. When God says leave He always gives you a promise.
Look back up at Genesis 12:1-4. Notice that God gave Abram one command, but 7 promises. No matter what you need to leave behind, God is there with you as you go forward. God also promises us eternal life, when we accept Christ as our Savior. But in your own personal “command” that God gives you, there could be other promises as well.
Are you aware of God’s promise to you?
Have you forgotten God’s promises to you?
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