“Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” (Matthew 4:8-9 NLT)
If you were given three wishes, what would you want? According to a study published by the Journal of Personality, the most common answers were: happiness, friends, money, success, health, self-improvement, to have a good marriage, and to help others. Most of these things represent our wish for more control over our circumstances and the people in our lives.
We often operate under the illusion that we are in control. Power makes us confident in our own abilities. The more control we have, the more control we seek. When we are unable to manage our environment, we become agitated. The desire for control thus leads to worry, anxiety, dissatisfaction, greed, corruption, fear, anger, frustration, and disappointment. Why do we imagine that we can fix or solve everyone’s issues when we don’t even have a firm grip on our own emotions and actions?
Acceptance of our powerlessness is difficult but necessary. Yet, it is only the first step. Acknowledge that God is in charge. He is all-sufficient. He is the center, and everything is under His gravitational influence. Don’t try to get ahead of God. This is disrespectful. It shows that you trust your own abilities more than you trust God. Instead, follow His lead in everything. Honor Him through your devotion. Revere Him in humility.
No comments:
Post a Comment