Out of Control

Perfectly planned.

I had our move timed out to the second.

Close on our house.

Close on the new house.

Move out.

Move in.

Painters in the new house.

Cleaners in the old.

Done.

Perfect.

But occasionally God lets us know he’s in control, and we’re not.

We’re missing an IRS form, and the mortgage company has to have it before we can close on our new house. That’s a potential delay.

One thing I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, was that we were closing on the sale of our house, on time.

Uh no, not exactly.

We found out our buyers couldn’t close on time because the buyers of their house had an issue.

My perfectly planned move unraveled.

And my prayers intensified.

One of God’s repeat messages in the Bible is he is in control, and we aren’t.

He seeks to direct our paths.

He desires to set the agenda.

He wants us to stand down, so he can fight our battles for us.

King Jehoshaphat had a huge battle ahead of him. As found in 2 Chronicles 20, The Israelites archenemies, the Moabites and Ammonites, waged war against him. Yes, the Israelites sharpened their swords, but in their case, they sharpened their Swords of the Spirit, because they were outnumbered, and it was a potential slaughter.

So they came together and prayed.

They praised God that he could win this battle for them against a vast army.

“Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you,” they proclaimed.

“If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.”

They were confident in God’s ability to defeat their enemies.

Do you praise him before he delivers you from a situation, out of your control?

In Jehoshaphat’s case, after soaking in the people’s praises, the Spirit of the Lord told the Israelites, “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

What battle are you facing? If it’s larger than what you can handle, God probably wants you to give it over to him.

And that’s what Jehoshaphat and the Israelites did. They didn’t hurl rocks, or shoot fiery arrows. They didn’t shake in their boots as their enemies approached.

Instead they sang and praised God for his splendor, his holiness, believing he cared for them, saying,

“Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever” (2 Chronicles 20:21).

And as they began to sing and praise God, the LORD set ambushes against the Israelites enemies, and they were defeated.

Is there a situation you are facing, beyond your control?

Then acknowledge God’s greatness, praise him for the victory, and watch him work.

I realized the Lord knows my son is coming from out of town to help us move. He knows we have three different movers scheduled because we have a piano, and a pool table that require special care. He knows we have painters coming to the new house on Monday. He knows we need that IRS form.

So I am praising him for being the only one who can work all the details out. I have acknowledged he is in control, and I am not. I have thanked him for loving me with an eternal love, and because of that, he is going to take care of me, and our family’s move.

And since I began to do this, and to let go of the control, our buyer has worked things out, and should close this week. Pending receipt of the form we need, we could potentially close on our new house right after that, and still miraculously keep our moving schedule.

Today, just as King Jehoshaphat did, I am praising God for what he’s going to do, before he does it.

God does not want to cause calamity, but he does occasionally want us to recognize he is in charge.

I don’t know what you are facing, but if it’s more than you can handle, it’s time to stop worrying.

Instead, God wants you to praise him for the victory before he provides it.

Thank him for his love,

And acknowledge he is in control.