The Takeover (Part 3) | The Worshipper's Thought of the Day

Sometimes we need to be reminded that GOD is our Father and not just some divine being who controls everything.  We tend to see GOD as a temperamental deity who must be appeased as opposed to a loving father who only wants the best for His children.  I can vividly remember the tension between my own father and me throughout my teenage and early adulthood years. As far as I was concerned, he was controlling my life and it seemed the only way I could be in his good graces was by doing everything he wanted me to do.  I didn't see him as a loving father who only had his son's best interests at heart because all I could see was how my agenda was not lining up with his for me.  I didn't see things his way and wasn't trying to; yet whenever I needed something, I always ran to my parents.  It had even gotten to the point that pride set in, and I wouldn't even go to them for help when I should have because I didn't want to hear what they had to say about my situation.  Now doesn't that sound like our relationship with GOD?

NEWS FLASH: GOD is NOT interested in controlling His children.  He's interested in us succeeding and is so vested in our success that He's already planned for it.  For it's GOD alone who knows the purpose for the life of every individual.  GOD already knows the questions that we were given life to answer.  Apart from Him, we don't have a clue of what we're here on Earth to accomplish; but He does.  Everything about us was finished in eternity before time began, and GOD has perfectly timed every manifestation of purpose for our lives.  However, we complicate things when we choose to see GOD as a controller instead of a nurturer.  That aspect of human nature we inherited from Adam and Eve kicks in right there because we take on a rebellious mindset once the enemy influences our thoughts to believe that GOD is trying to control us.  If you don't believe me, it's right there in Genesis 3:1-6 (The Message Remix):

The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal GOD had made.  He spoke to the Woman: "Do I understand that GOD told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?"

The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all.  We can eat from the trees in the garden.  It's only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'Don't eat from it; don't even touch it or you'll die.'"

The serpant told the Woman, "You won't die.  God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on.  You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil."

When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it--she'd know everything!--she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate.

Satan is a trickster and he's an expert at introducing thoughts to us that are designed to influence our perception of GOD.  There was nothing wrong with not eating from the tree in the middle of garden until the serpent painted a picture of GOD as a controller.  GOD gave those instructions because He was protecting Adam and Eve from that which they couldn't handle.  You see, that's why many church members fall out with their pastors, who are essentially gifted to nurture.  The minute a pastor instructs a member in a way purposed to protect them from what they can't handle, then rebellion ensues because the pastor's agenda isn't theirs at all.

We need to die to our own agendas. Our agendas are based upon the limited information available to us and our reasoning of what's best for us.  GOD's agenda, on the other hand, is the epitome of what's best for us because He has access to limitless information.  So if what we want isn't what GOD wants for us, then we're just creating problems for ourselves.  ANYTHING OTHER THAN GOD's agenda is LESS THAN what's best for us.  As born again believers and citizens of the Kingdom, we're destined for success.  However, the manifestation of our success is predicated upon us aligning our agenda with GOD's.  If someone honestly offered you an ironclad, tried and true plan for your success, it would be pretty stupid to say, "Thanks, but no thanks: I like mine better."  I mean, let's be real here and face the facts.  WE are in control. GOD is not going to take control.  So let's stop asking Him to do what He's already made up His mind not to do.  Let's be the responsible children with whom our Father would be pleased.  After all, we say all the time that GOD is worthy of glory.  And yes, He is worth seeing.  But the way He's seen here on Earth is through us.  When we choose to be thankful for GOD's plans for our lives and carry them out step by step, the success He guarantees us manifests and brings Him the glory He so richly deserves.