Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

• Luke 10:17-22

“There are days when the best thing you can do is leave it to God. Don’t sweat, don’t fret, don’t cry, don’t curse … just smile and leave it to God. Your super-intense brothers and sisters may call it a copout. No matter; leave it to God. Your conscience may try to prod you into action. Don’t yield; leave it to God.
“Philip Melanchthon and Martin Luther were once deciding on the day’s agenda. The former was disciplined, intellectually gifted, serious, and goal-driven, the latter was equally intelligent but much more emotional, risky, even playful.
“Melanchthon said, ‘Martin, this day we will discuss the governance of the universe.’
“To which Luther responded, ‘Philip, this day you and l will go fishing and leave governance of the universe to God.’
“What wise counsel!
“But, look at all the things yet to be done, you say. Think of those hard-chargers who got up earlier than you did and will skip lunch lest they miss a minute on their Daytimer plan of attack. Think of all those who, while you are ‘leaving it to God,’ set new records of achievement. What examples of diligence and determination!
“’Good examples’ can drive us crazy at times. They make us feel inadequate, they force us to squeeze ourselves into a mold that isn’t us, and they leave us with the impression that what we are doing isn’t nearly as significant as what they have done. Some days—not always, mind you—but some days you even have to leave ‘good examples’ to God!
“I love Jesus’ model of balance. He arrived on the planet with a mission more important than any soul who has drawn a breath of earth air. Yet He didn’t really get started until He turned thirty. What about all those ‘wasted’ years? He left them to God.”

• Charles R. Swindoll, The Finishing Touch (Devotion for week 28, Friday)

Wow!  This may mark one of the biggest problems that I have faced in my life.

First, it is difficult to truly turn your life over to Christ when you are constantly grabbing the reins from God and driving the team of horses, often to oblivion.  Letting go is hard, when you are asked to back off and let God take over, and then once you do, you almost immediately want to be back in the driver’s seat when the rough patch is traversed.

I was taught seemingly from birth that I had to be an example for others to live up to.  I was once told that I did not relate to young boys very well because I was such a hero.  Never considering myself a hero, this made no sense, but they meant that I had set the bar so high for myself, the boys gave up without trying.

And did it get me ahead in life?  No, it only gave me more hard work to do.

Was God laughing while I butted my head against the wall?  Was God disappointed that I did not rely on His strength?  Did God shake His head when I tried to do it on my own, on my own strength, because this little thing was so easy, and I had done it so many times before?  Did God shake His head when I did it all those times before?

I am a great one to complain about the bumper sticker, “God is my co-pilot.”  God should be the pilot, and do we even need to be in the cockpit most of the time?  But why do we insist on navigating?  Even our prayers are often along the lines of “This is what I am doing, and I need You, Father, to bless it.”

Or is that, or was that, just me?

Letting go and letting God … is a common expression, but do we really do it?

It is hard to do, but the results are so worth the effort in not expending the effort (to do it on our own).

Rev. Swindoll followed this Friday devotion with a few more ideas.

“Can’t seem to get where you want to go fast enough?
Leave it to God.
Worried about your kids?
Leave it to God.
Living in a place you’d rather not be?
Leave it to God.
Looks like you won’t graduate with honors?
Leave it to God.
No matter how hard you try, your life’s partner simply is not responding?
Leave it to God.
Found a lump and you see the doctor tomorrow?
Leave it to God.
You’ve said the right words to that friend who is lost, and you’ve been all you know to be; still, zip?
Leave it to God.
Haven’t got a date for the prom?
Leave it to God.
A mid-career change seems scary?
Leave it to God.
You did the job but someone else got the credit?
Leave it to God.
Getting older, alone?
Leave it to God.

• Charles R. Swindoll, The Finishing Touch (Devotion for week 28, Weekend)

But God gave me all this talent, intelligence, drive, and self-motivation!!!!

Leave that to God, too.

And when I came home on the day that I wrote this and took a long nap before I even thought of what to write about…  I had to fight the urge, but I left it to God and when I do that, everything works better, even with a long nap.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.