Losing Control

This week it seems like there are a lot of people in my life with nothing better to do than to make my life more difficult. From professors to police men (I was only doing 6 over, and I wasn’t even meaning to) I can’t help but shake the feeling that there is a worldwide conspiracy to really annoy me. I mean, can’t you people get a hobby or something? I don’t bring this up to complain, but rather to highlight the fact that God has been using these situations to remind me of a lesson or two.

First of all, when dealing with difficult people it’s important to remember that I can’t control them. But also, it’s equally important to remember that I can’t control myself, either. You see, when I’m in control, my life is out of control. I make choices inspired by anger, revenge, bitterness, and frustration. I can’t be in control of my own life or it starts to go in a direction that I don’t want it to go.

That’s why Paul says in Romans 8:9 “But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you.” He is encouraging Christ followers to give up control of their lives and give that control over to the Holy Spirit. When I live under His control I make better choices, I forgive and I move on. When I let the Spirit control me I can look back at a day filled with no regrets, regardless of what happened to me.

Holiday Stress

This time of year can be stressful. Buying and wrapping gifts. Making appearances at a billion Christmas parties. Working on all those little extra things we do this time of year. Trying to balance all these things with the normal things of life that keep coming regardless of the season. It always seems like we put so much work into making this the best time of year that it’s not that peaceful at all.

I for one and feeling the pressures of the season compound with the pressures of the New Year. When it comes to Christmas presents it seems like Santa gets the credit, but it still all ends up on my card. I don’t think we’re going to get an evening with our entire family until Christmas.

I think in this hectic time, God is asking us to prioritize. He is asking us to take stock of what is really important. Is that “perfect gift” worth a second mortgage? Is this party worth the time it takes from my family? We overcommit ourselves at the holidays, and I think God is calling us back to the one thing He really wants us to be committed to, Himself. He wants us to remember that Christmas is about Christ, who He is and what He has done for us. All the other things are nice traditions, but they don’t compare to the baby in the manger.