***Other bloggers are
blogging through the alphabet this summer, and I thought I would join the fun.
(I am starting a little late because I was blogging about our trip to Israel for the
past month.) We start with A and go through Z, posting about the same topic
using a different letter. The topic I am going to attempt is the ABC’s of
Growing Closer to God. So, here goes . . . .with the letter A.***
Bible teacher, Beth Moore, tells the story of watching her
friend’s son run in the Special Olympics. He had cerebral palsy and by most
standards he would not be a natural to win a running race. Still, the race
began and the crowd cheered for all the runners. One by one they all crossed
the finish line. Beth’s friend’s son finished last. A few moments after the
race, the family was surprised to hear their son’s name being called to the
podium to receive a gold medal. They did not understand. They asked the
official why their son was receiving the gold medal when he finished the race
last. The official said, “Your son is
the winner because he was the only one who followed the rules. Your son was the
only one to stay in his own lane the entire race.”
I love this story because it teaches us the importance of
staying in our own lane, meaning don’t try to control everyone else around us.
To start to grow closer to God, we need to stop trying to
control everything and
Admit that we are not God.
This is a big one. No, I don’t think we actually go around
saying we are God, but by our actions, we are showing we think we are God. Even
if we are not admitted control freaks, we want to control things, situations,
people, at the very least our kids. We want to control our finances and our
futures, and our kid’s futures. We want to plan for every possible future
scenario that could bring negative consequences.
The truth is, in
order to grow closer to God, we need to stop obsessing about controlling
everything and everyone around us. The Bible is clear, that only God knows
the future, only God controls the future, and the future of the world has
already been planned and written about in the Bible, by God. God is in control,
not us, no matter how much we try to control things.
We need to stay in our own lanes in the
race of life. We need to let God be God, since He has done a pretty good
job of it from the dawn of time. We need to do the things He has called us to
do, and outlined for us in His Word. And, we need to let other people,
including our kids, our spouse, our boss, our church leaders, those driving
around us, the annoying person who causes us to wait longer than we want, to
run in their own lane.
God has called each
of us to our own race, in our own unique lane. Once we can Admit that we are not God, we
can be on our way to growing as a true lover, follower and disciple that He
wants us to be.
“Let us keep running
the race set before us with endurance.” Hebrews 12:1
Is there any area of your life where you are not staying in your own
lane? Can we all agree that we are not God, and let go of the things we should be
letting Him control?
I am
going to try to stay in my own lane today.
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