CONTROL

I'm doing a bit of talking to myself again. You are welcome to listen in.

If you feel like you always have to be in control, it might not be just because you are a "choleric" temperament. A spirit-filled choleric would not be that way. It may be a spiritual problem rather than a personality type. You may simply have a problem trusting God and His Sovereignty. Ouch.

If you call yourself a master strategist, it may be that you are actually a master manipulator. It could be that you feel God needs your help to ensure that what you want to happen actually happens. Or that you think that your way might just be better than God's way.

If you are an overachiever, you might not deserve praise. It might be because you are willing to violate your spiritual and family priorities in order to achieve the praise of men. You might be choosing to do what you think you are capable of doing, rather than doing what you ought to be doing. Those are not always the same thing.

If you come across as self-sufficient, that doesn't show you're a strong and capable person. It is actually the height of arrogance to act like you don't feel the need of God in your life. It's like saying, "God, I've got this. Go help someone who needs You."

It is when you are weak that He is strong. Anything else is not something worthy of praise or admiration. This year I want to grow by becoming weaker, more dependent, and even more out of control. My desire is that there be less of me and more of Him.