Biggest Loser: Losing Control

Some people really like to have control. Not just self-control in the sense of managing themselves like normal citizens, but to be able to have all the say in their life.  To have someone else responsible for things in one's life takes a lot of willingness to submit.  Too often, even when forced, we just cannot do it.  Ever known a parent that leaves their child(ren) with a babysitter and is either calling the sitter or wondering how the child(ren) is/are doing?  They've given up control physically, but can't mentally.

One area I wish I could control is the highway and other drivers.  I hate to be in slow moving traffic, being stuck behind semi trucks, construction zones, bad weather and anything else that interferes with my travel time.  I hate to be trying to get home with drive-thru and not have the ability to just pull out from the restaurant or be stuck behind a driver that won't "go" when there is plenty of time to make a turn.  Those are all things that get under my skin.  You may not be bothered by those things, but there are probably things you are bothered by.  That is us trying to be in control.  I've tried to learn to seek God in those "slow" situations - but I can't say I've never lost focus back on my irritation.

As we try to have all the control, God has probably reminded us several times that we're not in control, but He is in control.  As much as I try, there always seems to be something to remind me that I am not.  It may not always be a "God-thing" but just that I'm not in control.  Yesterday, as we continued on our series about the "Biggest Loser" we talked about how we sometimes need to lose the weight of "control".  As we think about that message from Daniel 4, dealing with Nebuchadnezzar, here are some applications to choose from to use this week...

1. Think about an area you may struggle for control:
• food (buffet or sweets)
• driving
• kids
• spouse
• money spending in your household
• workplace
• sports team
• time management
• Other:______________
• Pick one to pray about this week.
2. Do you know of an area to pray about for someone else this week? (if not, pray for me)
3. Reflect on why you may struggle with control and what do you gain from trying to control it.
4. Tragedies tend to humble us very quickly.  Imagine if the area that you tried to control was taken away, how important would it be then?  I am thinking about the book "The Shack" as I write that question.
5. Are there areas you need to lose to be a "healthier" person (control, priorities, yourself, fear)?  Are you struggling to give up control so that you can give up the area that you are trying to shed?

If I were a delivery person, I would have be so focused on the driving aspect of control it would test me continually. To give up the control that I would be aspiring to have would be so freeing.  I would not be so concerned with the other drivers, in the area of selfishness or control.

You too, my friend, would do well to lose the "weight" of control that is keeping you unhealthy and slowed down.  Will you join in with me on this quest to be a "Biggest Loser"?

 

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Life Under Control

I don't know how many times I said something like "Well, Chris's mom and dad let him go". Then my parents would respond, "We're not concerned with Chris, we're concerned with you." Ugh! My life was temporarily ruined! I didn't get what I wanted and I had a fight with a parent that "didn't understand me" anyway. Or, there were the times that someone else made me do something, be it a dare, being called a degrading name, or some other "reason" for causing me to go through with an action. It was "out of my control" to do it, right? That might have been what I thought, but it isn't what was actual.

Oh, those were the days! Learning who is in control of your life and following through with it. Even adults like to make excuses for why things go the way they do. That brings us to this week's quote...

Everyone's life is under someone's control - it might as well be under your own so that you can direct your destiny. ~ Harry Tucker

Whose control are you under? Have you had your temporary "peer pressure" moments when you caved to someone else, essentially being under their control? Had those "can't say no" moments? We've all been there.

The valuable lesson to learn is to understand when we need to be under the control of someone else and when we need to decide things for ourselves. I am not speaking of being under the control of God, that is a given. I am simply talking about the control we're under in different situations here, on earth.

Sometimes we need to get a backbone and stand up for what we believe in, in any given situation. Understand when you need to say no and when you can agree to something. Don't let people govern your life (guidance in life is OK).

Live your life under your control, where you decide the outcome and are pleased with the choices.

Gaining control...