by Andrea Okwu
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
I’m a bit of a control freak. I like to have a plan, a solid intention for everything, an outline of how it should go (and maybe even a binder made of directions to go with the plan).
Preparation is great, and I believe God loves to see that we are working to offer our best in our everyday lives. But I’ve also had to tell myself that I might need to step back and lay down that overly controlling attitude. In the midst of all my planning, I might need to soak in what is before me and not focus so much on maintaining my control over situations.
I love that the Lord continues to teach me through using me. This scenario always reminds me of worship. In a moment during leading worship at the SHE is Worth women’s conference, I was reminded…WORSHIP is an actual act of laying down what and who we are and surrendering to who He is in our lives. Sure, it’s easy to SAY that, but could I actually lay it all down…all my planning…all my preconceived ideas of how life should go… all my worries of not being prepared for what life is going to bring?
Yes. We MUST lay it down because in worship the Lord, breakthrough comes. It brings joy, hope, and love. In addition to these things, maintaining a heart of worship brings peace, clarity, and direction to our lives. Positioning our heart to be led by God and learning to follow Him through that positioning, can only take us to place where our dependence on Him outweighs our dependency on our own plans.
“Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today!” Psalms 95:6-7 NLT
So, although I want to try to continue to live in excellence by planning and preparing, I also have to find the balance: the balance of seeking after Him with everything that I have but also, letting Him guide me in the places I cannot see.
Thank you so much for this message and this reminder! It is so great to have people like you and this blog reminding us of God’s words and his intent for us. I think all women can benefit from finding this balance in life. <3
I love the message of your post. I like your point that our dependence on God is to outweigh our dependence on ourselves. It would be pretty arrogant of us to think that we know better than God, after all. Your exhortation reminds me of Proverbs 3:5-6, which says to not lean on our own understanding, but instead to trust in the Lord “with all” of our heart. It’s becoming more and more clear in my life through principles you discussed in this post how the section of Matthew 6:31-34 can become more of a living reality.
Wow this is so good, convicting, and true!! Thanks so much. God wants me to follow His leading and learn to depend on Him fully without reservation. I’m still struggling of course but I want to learn how to fully surrender. I know He knows what is best for me but I need to choose to believe it wholeheartedly and surrender fully. I hate that it’s so hard for me to surrender fully! Thank you so much for sharing this and God bless you.
How beautiful is a life of surrender! I love you Andrea O!!