You Have A Green Light To Begin RELEASING CONTROL To God

For the past couple of days we have been discussing the SPIRITUAL IMPERATIVE–what must be done–to begin the life-long process of RELEASING FULL CONTROL of our life to God.  
  
Releasing control of our life to God is a never-ending challenge for all Christians walking with God. But doing it is not an option. God demands that we release control of our entire being—MIND, BODY, and WILL—in prayer and trust. He wants the WHOLE, not a part.  
  
Your retirement. Your spouse’s health. Your child’s wayward phase. Your relationships. Your faith walk. Fill in the blank, for your life, right now. Whatever it is…God wants ALL OF IT.
  
Ok…fair enough. But at this point all of us are saying (or screaming): HOW DO I DO IT!?
  
So today I will address HOW we release full control of our life to God. How you can take specific action steps TODAY to begin the process. Let’s go!
  
Below are my five steps to release control of my life to God: 1) Repent; 2) Trust; 3) Commit; 4) Word; and 5) Pray.
  
REPENT
Repentance is owning our sin by handing it over to God. It is mourning our fall and committing to abandon it going forward. It is a profound change of heart and attitude to hate what we once loved. It is walking away from our self-will and investing full trust and dependence in God’s control (Proverbs 1:23).
  
TRUST
God has been turning what the Enemy intends for EVIL into good things forever—yesterday, today, and tomorrow. We must step back and marvel at God’s mighty power. We must trust him for everything no matter what is happening in our life. Trust that he will show up in our life. Trust that he will guide us…protect us…and bless us (Romans 8:28).
  
COMMIT
We need to commit to—or recommit to—emulate Christ and live out, through our actions, how he would have us live. That commitment demonstrates our faith in God’s sovereignty. It changes our attitude about life from being full of chaos to being loaded with hope. It has us living for HIS GLORY, not ours (Hebrews 10:38).
  
WORD
Spending time in God’s Word every day reminds us that he is constantly working to make all things work together for our good. God’s Word frees us from Satan. It imparts grace and peace. It sanctifies and gives joy. Gives and sustains life. Protects us from destructive ways. God’s Word is the hope of heaven (Psalm 111:7).
  
PRAY
Prayer is sharing our heartbeat with God. It is releasing our life and its circumstances to him. It is how we praise God. How we find purpose in life. How we ask for provision. How we seek forgiveness. How we present the challenges and needs of other people to God. It is how we ask for protection. And, importantly, it is how we THANK GOD for everything he has done and will do in our life (Psalm 55:22).  
  
I ask God to help me release control of my life to him—my mind, my body, and my will.
  
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
  
Will you consider the five steps just explained to release control of your life to God?
  
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5