Thursday, October 24, 2024

Have you ever felt anxious about losing the sense of control over your life?

It’s easy to get stuck in the little world inside our heads, where we try to control all aspects of our lives. However, it’s dangerous to put ourselves at the center of our lives, forgetting that God should rightfully be there instead.

We do not want to fall into the trap of idolizing ourselves and the worldly aspects of our lives in place of worshiping God. Personally, I can get stuck in a spiral of worry if things don’t go my way. The truth is, life will inevitably throw curveballs at us, and things will happen that we cannot control. If we remember that our lives are truly not about us, but about pursuing the Kingdom of God, we can replace disappointment with contentment, regardless of our circumstances (Philippians 4:11-13).

Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.”

What does it mean to take up our cross? Rather than focusing on our own lives, we must choose every day to submit ourselves to God and his authority. We must give up our will and trust in his will for our lives.

It can be difficult to take up our cross and follow Jesus’ commands. As someone who struggles with anxiety and fear of the future, I desperately try to hold onto control of my life in hopes that things will go the way I plan. But as I have grown in my faith, I have learned that we were never meant to be in control. It is only when we trust him with our paths that we can find freedom from our troubles and burdens.

God has a plan for each of our lives. He has gifted us to help fulfill his will and carry out his greater plan. His story isn’t just about us—it is to carry out his purpose and bring about salvation for everyone.

When we choose to follow God, we won’t be disappointed in the end.

Questions:
What can you do to see the bigger picture when you get stuck in your head?

What does it mean to “take up your cross” in your daily life?

Next Steps:
This week, find one thing that you can surrender to God’s control.

Instead of getting stuck in your head, find one way that you can get out of your head and help someone else this week.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thanks for sending your Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to save me from my sins. Reveal to me the bigger picture and your purpose for my life whenever I get stuck in my head. Help me to take up my cross and to submit to your will on a daily basis. Remind me to completely surrender my life to your will, and give me the courage to follow your path for my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Series Theme Verse:

John 16:33
"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

***Do you love to write? Have you ever considered sharing Jesus through your writing? If so, consider writing for the LivingItOut! We are always looking for new writers to share their gifts with our readership. This might be the exact opportunity God is asking you to be open-handed with! To learn more, please contact livingitout@cedarcreek.tv.***

This post was written by Isabelle Billnitzer, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.