Giving Up Control - Girlfriends in God - December 8, 2015

December 8, 2015
Giving Up Control
Sharon Jaynes

Today’s Truth
“But he [God] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong,” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV).

Friend to Friend
The angels were hovering low in our church on this particular Sunday morning. It was a special day for a group of 10 “kids” known as the King’s Kids. They were leading worship by singing a special song – only many of the kids couldn’t carry a tune, walk on their own, or even control their limbs.

We sat in silence as the unlikely band of worship leaders stumbled onto the stage. Each of these children of God had a disability and visible handicap. The King’s Kids lined up on the stage, many with adults standing behind them to support them, both physically and emotionally. Kristen, a young lady with Down Syndrome appeared to be the leader. She stood out in front of the others with confidence, strength, and passion.

The sound track began and the King’s Kids began to “sing” with their hands in sign language. “Press on,” their hands proclaimed. With wide sweeping motions and uninhibited praise, Kristen sang with arms and hands to the One who loved her most.

There was one girl in particular who caught my eye. She was not able to do the signs by herself. Her limbs were much too weak and uncontrolled. I watched as this gal leaned into a woman standing behind her and surrendered her arms and hands. While the others signed the words to the song, the woman moved her young charge’s hands in tandem with the others. Beth simply leaned into her helper and relinquished control.

Then God spoke to my heart: That is what I want you to do. Lean into Me, relinquish control, and allow Me to move your life in a symphony of worship.

We all have disabilities. While the handicaps vary, God longs for each one of us to do as Beth did on that Sunday morning. Lean into Him. Relinquish control. Allow God to move us to His song.

There was not a dry eye in the 2000-seat sanctuary that morning. These precious kids had many wounds and scars in their young lives, but they encouraged each of us to “press on” through our own struggles and hardships. Their disabilities were visible, yet those of us who sat in the pews had disabilities that were not visible to the naked eye but just as real.

I wonder what God wants to accomplish through you. I wonder how long He’s been waiting for you to lean into Him and let Him take control.

If you are ready to give up control and lean into the Master, click over to my Facebook page and say, “I’m giving up control and leaning into God today!”

Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, thank You that when I am weak, You are strong. Take my hands and feet and move them to Your rhythm of life. I yield myself totally to You.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn
How would you describe your willingness to give up control of your life to God? Stubborn as a grease stain or submissive as a chalk mark?

What are some areas that you tend to hang onto and take control?

What do you think would happen if you gave control of your life totally to God?

If God does not have total control of your life, what’s stopping you from turning over the reins?

More From the Girlfriends
Today’s devotion was taken from my book, Your Scars are Beautiful to God: Finding Peace and Purpose from the Hurts of Your Past.To learn how to turn your greatest struggles into your most bodacious victories. Don’t waste what you’ve gone through. Let God turn your messes into ministry, your pain into purpose, and you hurt into hope. Click on the link and read a free chapter. The book also includes a Bible study guide that is perfect for small groups and women’s Bible studies.