“I don’t need God; I’m in control of my own life”. I’ve heard this phrase, or different versions of this phrase thrown around a lot. No one wants to feel out of control or unable to change the negative things in life. And we do have a certain measure of control over our lives. If I don’t like where I’m living I can move. If someone doesn’t like their job they have the option to look for a new job.

Of course life circumstances make even simple decisions like these hard for some people. Someone may want to move but feel obligated to stay due to family ties, or lack of financial means. What country you live in also makes a difference as to how much freedom over your life you actually have. An impoverished child in a third world country has far fewer choices than a child in the United States.

But even in an ideal situation, the range of choices and ability to control our lives is still limited. For instance, we don’t have control over our bodies. Yes we can make choices to become healthier, but we can’t always get rid of disease or illness. We don’t have control over our internal organs, over our daily bodily functions, etc. We can’t stop the aging process.

Not only can we not control our own bodies, but we can’t control other people. Some are master manipulators and they feel a sense of power when they are able to get others to do their bidding, but as soon as the manipulator is exposed, the control is over. What about the weather? …..We can’t control that… Natural Disasters? That’s completely out of our hands. Even warnings systems can’t stop the damage.

Are we able to control our own decisions? Absolutely. We all have the ability to choose one thing over another. We are even held accountable for our own choices. But our sphere of control is very limited, and actually very fragile. So why do people still insist they are in control?

I believe that people insist they are in control for two reasons.

1) People don’t like being told what to do.

2) People are afraid that they won’t be able to do what they want to do if they are controlled by someone else.

The idea that God is in control and has the power to control our lives, and even our eternal destiny makes people angry. I was browsing yahoo answers and found a few quotes that represent many people’s thoughts on this subject, such as , “Do what you want to do”, “It’s all up to you and what you think is right for yourself”, “No one else’s opinion matters; this is your life”.

I’ve also heard the conversation go something like this…“How dare God make me do something I don’t want to do. In fact if I want to do it, that must mean he made me want to do it.” “How dare God say it’s wrong to do that”. “So that must mean He is evil, because a good God wouldn’t make me or others be under His control”. “Who does He think He is….God?” oops…oh yeah

When people feel that their control is taken away, they begin to hate God. They become bitter that anyone who believes in God would even suggest that they are not able to do the things that they want to do, should they feel like it.

What’s at the root of all of this? Pride. Pride says, “I am the master of my destiny…I am in control”. And it’s a lie….or an illusion at best.

Proverbs 16: 18 says “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.”

Lucifer (the devil) had the same idea. He thought He could rise up against God and rebel against Him. Isaiah 14: 12-15 is believed to be a prophetic passage about a King, but also about Lucifer.

“How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You have weakened the nations! But you said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my thrown above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High. Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, to the recesses of the pit.”

5 times it says, “I will”.

I will ascend
I will raise
I will sit
I will ascend
I will make myself

There were five “I’s” but it took only one time to be thrust down.

So what is the biblical attitude to have?

1) Humble yourself. This begins with the heart attitude.

1 Peter 5:6 says “Humble yourselves, therefore,under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time”.

2) Follow the example of Jesus. He had every right to lift Himself up, yet He humbled Himself.

Philippians 2:5-8 “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

3) Surrender control to Jesus Christ

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my load is light”.

If you want to learn more about Jesus, read “Who is Jesus?”

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