It's Out Of My Hands

#12

Matthew 10:39 "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

I live life with an agenda. Everything I do has an agenda to it if I realize it or not. I work so I can be comfortable, have a home, eat good food, enjoy my spare time. I treat my wife how she wants to be treated because, didn't you know? - A happy wife means a happy life. I teach and discipline my children so that they will not hurt themselves and so they can be successful in life. I hang out with certain friends because they make me feel good. I do what my boss wants so I can keep my job, the list goes on and on. 

Life has become a giant formula. If I do "Task A" Plus "Task B" Minus "Bad Habit C" equals "Kevin is Happy" or A + B - C  = :)

So why am I a Christian? Is being a Christian just part of my agenda? Has it just become part of my magic formula?  If I put the mirror up to my life and look long and hard I have to say yes. 

I didn't have any real answers tonight, just this confession and lots of questions for myself.  I did know something though, that this is not how I want to live out my life. This is not the abundant life God has promised me. Having an agenda does not give me the freedom that God has promised me either. Living my faith within a formula isn't really faith at all, its just me trying to take back control of the life I gave to Christ.

But thankfully God brought me to this song tonight (please listen to it) and to this verse above.  I need to remember that its out of my hands and that I need to lay my life down to truly find it. It was God who lifted my head, It was Him who set me apart. It was out of my hands - RIGHT FROM THE START!

WOW what a great formula!! God - My Control = Freedom and the Abundant life!! He has already done it all for me. He saved me, He changed me, He loved me before I ever did anything. This is where I need to live, this is the truth I need to wait passionately on.

To give up control, to let go, to open up my hands I just need to trust my saviour and live my faith out in obedience to Him.  - Because its been out of my hands, right from the start!

"Lord forgive me for trying to take control of my life again after I gave it to you. You pursued me, you sought me out and found me. You set me apart and you lifted my head, not because of what I did, but simply because you love me. Help me to live in this truth daily, moment by moment and to trust and wait on you."