What % of our lives is actually under His control?
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5
This is one of the first verses God ever quickened to me. It deals with trusting God & not leaning to our own understanding. When we're going through something, are we really letting go of that problem & allowing God to handle it; or are we just seeking God's help to control that situation ourselves? Serving God on a purely physical plane is one of the most miserable forms of existence there is. When we approach the Bible, do we seek His guidance in understanding what we're reading @ all? Are our prayers merely gripe sessions where we end up telling God what we want Him to do in our lives? That's not serving God. That's trying to get God to serve us. The kingdom of God doesn't work that way. If God's not in control in any area of our lives, He's not involved in that area of our lives period. God's not about helping us to control our own lives. Many christians wonder why their lives are so miserable. That's why. They're still trying to control their own lives. Does it seem like your prayer life is getting nowhere fast? This might be the answer then;
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
1st John 3:22
When we're seeking God's will in our lives, when we're trying to please Him in every area of our lives, our desires begin to line up with His will. When that happens, our prayers begin to line up with His will as well, & when that happens,
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
1st John 5:14-15
When this happens, our lives begin to be less drudgery, & more joy & peace. We can have the joy of the LORD no matter what we're going through, if we really know that God is in control of that situation.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27
Peace according to the world's standards depends on everything being perfect in our lives, but the peace Jesus promises lasts no matter what we're going through because we're trusting God & not leaning to our own understanding.