Why Won’t I Let God Take Control?
By Rick Warren
“Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. . . . Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God” (Romans 6:12-13 NLT).
Every day you are controlled by something. You may be controlled by your ego or by the expectations of other people. You may be controlled by fear, guilt, resentment, or bitterness. You may be controlled by a substance or a habit. But you are controlled by something every day.
Freedom comes when you choose what’s going to control you. If God is not number one in your life, something else is, and it will control you to a negative degree. When Christ is in control of your life, he always moves you in the right direction.
Romans 6:12-13 says, “Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. . . . Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God” (NLT).
What are the steps in this choice to let Christ have control?
- Admit that you’ve been trying to play God.
- Admit that you can’t change on your own.
- Humbly ask God to change you.
- Be honest with someone else about the things that need to change in your life.
- Give Jesus Christ total ownership of your life.
Do you really want to change? You may say, “I’m so tired of trying and failing.” Stop trying. Instead, start trusting. God gives you the option to either depend on him or depend on yourself. The result is either freedom or frustration.
Why not give it all to Christ? What do you have to lose?
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Develop an Attitude of Gratitude—and Change Everything!
If you’ve ever noticed that the more grateful someone is, the happier they are, it’s not a coincidence. Experts have discovered that gratitude reduces stress and leads to greater life satisfaction and overall happiness. It makes you healthier than any other emotion!
The Bible agrees—and God has a lot to say about developing an attitude of gratitude in your life. That’s why Pastor Rick developed a brand-new Bible study called The Power of Gratitude.
Through this innovative new study, you’ll discover how to defeat discouragement, conquer complaining, stay in God’s will, and experience his blessings—as you develop a lifelong habit of expressing your gratitude to God.
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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