Isaiah Pauley
  • Home
  • Bio
  • BLOG
  • Some Sermons
  • Home
  • Bio
  • BLOG
  • Some Sermons

Hold nothing back

9/9/2017

Comments

 
Picture
The vast majority of Americans are Christians, but very few appear to truly follow Jesus. Why? Many are control freaks.

I’m a control freak. With people? Sometimes. With God? Quite often.
​
It’s hard to completely trust God with my life.
The Bible says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT).

I claim to be a Christian, and I go to church. But I don’t always surrender my life to His control. Rather, I like to control things myself. I’m a control freak.

Maybe you are, too.

Today, I’m writing about “using” God. I feel as if I sometimes use God instead of allowing Him to use me. I’ve been trusting in my own strength, placing His greater strength on the back burner. I’ve been trying to make myself into who I think I should be instead of allowing God to make me into who He has created me to be.

And that’s exactly where many Christians are stranded.

We go to church, come home, and try our hardest to be in control of our lives. We benefit from the salvation. It’s nice to claim Jesus as Savior and Lord. But when it comes to actually following His lead, we have some trust issues.

“Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the LORD protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones” (Psalm 127:1-2 NLT).

Figuratively speaking, a “house” can refer to many different things. The most important house is you—that’s right, you’re a house. So am I. Ask yourself a question: “Is God building my house, or am I using God to build my house?”

The Bible is telling me that I’m wasting my time if I choose to build my own life.

God knows me better than I know myself. He comprehends my true heart, and His plans are always better than my own. Sure, I don’t always understand His ways, but that’s where trust enters.

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28 NLT).

Additionally, Solomon tells me that I’m using unnecessary anxiety when I choose to build my own life.

Man, it’s hard to lead your own life. There’s enough stress in this world without the added stress of being in control of your own life.

Trust releases some major burdens.

I don’t know about you, but I want God to build my life. I desire to be fully surrendered to following Jesus Christ. Not only does He know how to truly exceed my expectations, He can better handle the stresses that come with control.

“Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall” (Psalm 55:22 NLT).

“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light’” (Matthew 11:28-30 NLT).
​
My prayer, my vision, is to see a Church willing and ready to surrender it all for the glory of His name. Hold nothing back.
Comments

    Categories

    All
    Calling
    Christmas2019
    Church
    Classics
    Colossians Series
    Confidence
    Direction
    Discipleship
    Discipleship Series
    Doubt
    Ephesians Series
    Esther Series
    Expectations
    Failure
    Faith
    Fear
    Forgiveness
    Grace
    Grief
    Hope
    Identity
    Joy
    Justice
    Life
    Love
    Marriage
    Origins Of Christ
    Passion
    Peace
    Perspective
    Philemon Series
    Prayer
    (Re ) Series
    Rest
    Sacrifice
    Salvation
    Sin
    Student Ministry
    Surrender
    Thanksgiving
    Trust
    Work
    Worry
    Worship

    Archives

    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014

Proclaiming the Word through writing since 2014.

© 2022 Isaiah Pauley