Is God in control? Is He?
It depends on if you think He is in control or if you think He’s not in control.
I had just sent out the CJED email about the beauty of waiting on God and allowing Him to produce His supernatural patience in our lives. Next thing I knew, I was getting spiritually attacked (6-10-21). I could tell because, through a series of events, I started thinking defeating, self-pity thoughts about how my life’s gone. I was feeling bad about all the things Annie and I’d missed out on due to so many circumstances and situations. My faith began to wane. That’s when I began praising God. Suddenly, the darkness broke and I began having some revelations about this particular spiritual attack (and test of my emergency faith backup system :)) and thanked God He was taking control of my thoughts at that moment.
I don’t mean to be unkind, but Christians need to stop saying God’s in control of this but not in control of that. Now, I must admit, I lived the same way until I realized I was living a confused, see-saw, defeated, double-minded life.
In any given situation, you can be tempted to believe God’s not in control. That’s our choice which is exactly why I choose Jesus every day. This is precisely why we’re told to put on the whole armor of God. We have real battles and God wants us to win them in the Spirit.
You see, the thing that matters is what you’re thinking, you know, what’s going on between your ears. If I apply Romans 8:28, take all thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5), and praise and thank Him always in all things (Ephesians 5:20, and many other similar scriptures), He’s in control. In other words, I put God in control just like Paul and Silas (and so many others like King David, Esther, Ruth, and Joseph in the Old Testament) did while in prison. On the other hand, if I choose to fear, to doubt, to take on enemy thoughts, etc., I give my flesh or the enemy control, and I’m sunk. Next thing I know, I’m sidetracked or derailed. It’s honestly that simple.
I’m finding more and more that when I’m in a test or trial, God is showing me to focus on the victory, on the message He’s going to give me, the growth He’s planting in my life as a result of the trial, and it’s amazing how He’s coming through for me. He blesses our faithfulness to obey His commands. That’s why I encourage everyone to simply do the three kingdom keys in the above paragraph. Doing the three kingdom keys intercepts my own negative thinking and any enemy plots/schemes sent to defeat me during the day or night.
Concentrate on the victory, new insight or spiritual freedom (maybe all three) God will give you following any trial and do the three kingdom keys – Put God in control. Your life will change. I promise you. And, God’s Word is full of His promise to deliver anyone who will choose Him. Remember, He inhabits the praises of His people (Just ask the Apostle Paula and Silas) – He comes into the situation and into our minds to set us free with His triumphant thoughts. When God is in control of me, of my thought life, He’s in control. This is God in control!
God is good all the time and all the time, God is good. When He controls me, my thoughts, He’s in control – No matter what. Hallelujah!
Thanking and praising God in all things,
Mark