Who's in Control? (day 4)

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     So my oldest is "ready" to drive.  He is the appropriate age of 14 and 9 months which in the state of Michigan gives him the go ahead to take drivers training and practice out on the road with his parents.  Most of the time of course he will be practicing with me - his mother.  He hasn't actually taken the class yet - that's on the list of things to do.  But wanting to be the cool and hip forward thinking mom that I aspire to be, I thought it would be a great idea to let him drive around the parking lot of the local high school.  Have you ever been invaded by a monster?  A wild eyed screaming mother monster who panics and starts yelling wildly to "slow down"!  I have.  One second I was airily throwing my kid the keys and the next I was an adrenalin soaked maniac.  What happened?  I am still unsure.  What I do know is that there is much more to come and I am not sure I will be able to contain the monster within.  I wonder what my poor teenager thought, poor kid.  He didn't know what hit him - and we were only in a parking lot for heaven's sake.  What will it be like when we actually go out on the road?  I no longer question the wisdom of letting 14 year old kids  take drivers training - I do however question the wisdom of letting him drive with his mom.
     Needing to be in control can be a real problem for many of us can't it?  And when we lose control we can easily find a inner monster struggling to come out.  Along with control or lack thereof comes fear.  The issues of food and diet are related very much to control and fear.  Food is sometimes the one thing in our day with which we feel we have control.  And when everything else is spinning we take comfort in food.  But this takes on a life of it's own and control is an illusion.  We never really had it in fact in reality it is really controlling us.  We think about it, we are comforted by it and we set our clocks by it.  The other side of this double edged sword is the fear of what food will do to us, to our minds and bodies. Truly it is a love hate relationship we love food and we hate it.  Control and Fear -  it is as if we are slaves to them.
     In the Bible there is a guy named Paul who was a missionary.  Paul related his struggles in a letter he wrote to the Christians in Rome when he said, "When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.  For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.  What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!" 
     Phrasing the verses above in my own words this is what it looks like:
            "I want to do what is right but the choice for doing wrong is always there before me.  On the inside I love God and His ways but it's like my temptations and cravings are waging war with my desire to do what is right.  And then so many times I choose to do the wrong thing.  I feel like I am despicable!  Who will save me from this body of death?  I am so Thankful to God for giving me Jesus - through him I can truly have victory!"
      Our next big choice then is to take a step of faith and trust that what Paul says about God is true.  He says that because of Jesus, we can have victory over all the sin and junk in our lives.  Is this the magic pill?  Nope.  Like we have said before something worth doing is not easy.  We will have to work hard.  We will have to "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."  That means when you are tempted you will have to reject what is wrong and do what is right.  You can do it - ask God for help - He will do it!

Before we get into the challenge for today I want you to do something that I feel is really important.  Find a trusted friend(s) that will agree to go through this journey with you - for accountability, for support.  There is nothing like doing something like this in community.  So please - at least one person.  If you don't have anyone then email me and I will find you someone.  This is important. OK?

Homework
Read Romans 7:14-25
1.  Read these verses aloud.  Paul has a lot to say here - take your time it can be kind of a tongue twister!  Let the words sink in.  Read them over a second time.  Pay close attention to the verses or phrases that stand out to you.  The ones that stand out to you are the ones the Holy Spirit will use to teach you.  Once you have those, rewrite it or them as a prayer to God.  Be real - be authentic - God is not afraid of any of the thoughts or struggles that you have so don't be afraid.
2. On a separate sheet of paper I want you to make a list of the things you need to control.  Then for each thing I want you to write down the kind of fear you have if you don't have control of that thing anymore.  Then I want you to pray aloud surrendering each area of control and fear to God and ask Him for help.  Then I want you to burn the paper - or rip it up - destroy it.
3.  I have posted a song on the blog which I would like you to listen to - sing it to the Lord - raise your hands to Him or get on your knees.  Let the song speak to you and pour your heart out to Him.

Please give me your feedback.  Where are you struggling and when you have victory - tell me how you are feeling!  You can leave comments right here on the blog.  or email us at lifestreamweb.org

Blessings to you dear sisters.  May you hear the Lord this day and may His voice be sweet in your ears.