“I am the vine; you are the branches.

If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;

apart from me you can do nothing.”

John 15:5 NIV

In this week’s study from YouVersion, we are looking at being honest about what isn’t working in our lives and then asking the Lord to help us change it. We are going to jump right in, so grab a drink, cozy up, and let’s get to today’s topic from day 2 of #Jesusovereverything

Be Honest About What Isn’t Working

In this week we are looking at how to be honest with what isn’t working in our lives. Lisa shares that a lot of times in life we are moved by what we see. If things look to be going good in our lives we are happy, content, and at peace. However, when things look bad, we scramble to gain control, and as she states, “We make decisions based on our surroundings, instead of based on the Word of God.” I have found this to be true in my own life when I am faced with something that seems completely out of my control. Be it a death in the family or a close friend, the current pandemic we’re all facing at the moment, I could continue but I think you get my point. When I got married my hubs introduced me to playing games on the computer, one in particular I really enjoy. There is nothing wrong with the game, but I have found I spend too much time playing on the computer and not enough time in the Word of God. The problem with escaping, as Lisa points out, is the pain never left, and the world never stopped being chaotic. If we want to see lasting change in our lives we must be honest about what isn’t working in our lives. The world will keep spinning, but the chaos in our own lives can stop!

Stopping the chaos from within

There may be storms raging all around us that we can’t control, yet we can stop the ones inside of us. As Lisa points out, our answer to calming our chaos isn’t to get a new life. The root of our lives not working isn’t the life in and of itself, it’s the internal things we’ve never made right. As you will see in the questions below, we need to ask ourselves what we’re doing to either authorize or prohibit the storm raging within. Jesus is fully capable to handle the tough stuff we face. Are you tired of living with chaos and willing to allow Him to manage your life? I know I am.

Prayer – Lord, I thank You that even in the midst of a chaotic world, You call me to a settled life. Thank You that You provide the stability I need. I pray You would open my eyes to what isn’t working in my life, and help me have the courage and strength to be able to face even difficult truth. Help me see the beauty of change on the other side. I love You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Response Questions –

• What ways, knowingly and unknowingly, have you contributed to your own complications?

• What would it take for you to take your hands off of and release your control methods to God?

• What “deadly over” do you struggle with (overindulging, overworking, overanalyzing), and how could your life look better if you let Jesus rule over that area of your life?

May God’s face shine upon you and may you be at peace!

~ Angie ~