Written by Ashtyn Fair

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you make know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” (Eph. 1:17-22)

I pray that as you read you would be in tune to what God may have to say…that your heart would be softened and you would see our glorious Father and know Him. I pray that my inadequacies would fall aside and only His truth would remain in your heart.

I recently married the love of my life on May 22^nd, 2016. We moved to Denver shortly after which required a 7 hour drive. The drive was enjoyable and stress free until we got into Denver rush hour. Taylor was driving and I was in the passenger seat. I hate the passenger seat. The passenger seat means that I have no control over if we get in a wreck or don’t. It means I don’t get to control how closely we follow the car in front of us. It means that I don’t get to make the decisions. It means I don’t get to react to crazy drivers. It means I have to trust the person driving, my husband, and although he has a good track record, I would rather be driving in place of him. Control freak? Nahh. Despite my fears, we made it to our apartment in one piece.

Let me describe to you how I felt after that drive. I was an anxious mess. My mind and body were achingly tired and restless. I was miserable wanting the control I didn’t have and I brought it all upon myself. I think we do this with God all the time. At least I do…maybe I’m the only one. If this is you too, keep reading. We want to control every aspect of our lives (or at least live in the illusion that we are controlling our life) and we don’t want to surrender our lives to our glorious Father. We white-knuckle different aspects of our lives out of fear that if we don’t it may all go spinning out of control.

What are you white-knuckling?

Is it your future? Your relationships with parents, friends, or spouse? Your finances? Your plan or schedule? Are you holding on to your past and sin? Sometimes we don’t want to bring these things to God because we think we can take care of them ourselves. Take some time to sit in silence and ask God to convict you of what you need to surrender to Him. Remember he wants every single part of your life. Not just the parts you want to give Him.

Our God is an all-consuming fire. Because of His deep love for you he wants access to every part of your life. He wants you to trust Him, to let Him in to every seam of your life. He does not just want parts of you but all of you—even the broken, dark, messy parts that may feel like they need to be controlled and hidden away.

In Galatians, Paul writes about the freedom we have in Christ. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1). Jesus Christ has freed you. If you’ve given your life to Jesus, you are free. He overcame sin and death and finished all of it. Your future is secure with God in heaven. But Paul knew that Christians that are free would live as though they were not free. That instead they would live as slaves. White-knuckling leaves you a slave to your anxiety, fear, and sin. White-knuckling all of life makes you a slave. Sitting in the driver’s seat when you should be in the passenger’s seat WILL leave your soul tired, calloused, and anxious.

God wants to be the driver in your life. Just like I didn’t trust Taylor to drive, sometimes I don’t trust God to have my best in mind. Sometimes I try to jump in the driver’s seat out of fear. Sometimes it’s not that I don’t trust Him, but that I want to be so self-sufficient that I just trust myself more. We are the clay, He is the potter (Isaiah. 64:8). Jesus is the true vine and we are the branches (John 15:5). You do not support the root, the root supports you (Roman 11:18). The more we come to know God and are known by God the more we will be able to trust Him.

Live in freedom. Release your grip. Let Him drive.

Surrender it all to Him. Everything, and nothing less.

-React-

Identify what you need to surrender to God. Pray with Him about it. Don’t dance around what you mean. Say what you mean, your hesitations with surrendering, your concerns and worries. Let God soften your heart and lead you into surrender. Invite Jesus into the parts that you desire to control or hide.

Listen to “Pieces” by Amanda Cook. Write down all the characteristics of God’s love for you. As you come to know and experience the love that God has for you the more you will trust Him with, all the while leading you into a closer and more intimate relationship with the Creator of the Universe who knows you so well.