Key Scripture:

“I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.” Ecclesiastes 3:12-13

Devotional:

I’m the kind that prefers to take the surest steps and make only the certain bets. I want things around me to fit into my idea and plan of how they should be. In other words, I’m a control freak who doesn’t want to leave anything to chance. I try to keep that under wraps so that people don’t hate me, but nevertheless, my compulsive need to control is typically just below the surface. However, I’ve realized something in my few years on this earth – that kind of life is not a life at all; it is small, it is timid, it is driven by a spirit of fear. True, joyful, abundant life requires that we release the claws of control we try to have on things. Part of that process of letting go of control is trusting in God’s perfect love for us, which casts out fear. Another part is choosing to follow in step with His Holy Spirit.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:22-26

The kind of life described in this passage from Galatians sounds completely different than the timid life of control I previously described. This kind of life sounds like an adventure. I think John Eldredge says this best, “I want to love with much more abandon and stop waiting for others to love me first. I want to hurl myself into a creative work worthy of God. I want to charge the fields at Bannockburn, follow Peter as he followed Christ out onto the sea, pray from my heart’s true desire.”¹ To live this kind of joyous, overflowing life comes at a price, and the cost we pay is our control. When we surrender the control of our life to God, His Holy Spirit goes to work in us making us more and more like Jesus with each step we take in following Him.

There are so many different things out there in the world that we can do to glorify God through our lives; go on a mission trip, volunteer at a local food pantry or homeless shelter, sponsor a child, serve in church, raise money for charity; the list could go on forever. I encourage you to actually pursue one or more of the things I’ve just listed.

Don’t allow this passage of scripture to be only a metaphorical “live life to the fullest” inspirational embroidered pillow in your life. If you don’t allow the Word of God to make real changes in your life, then you will not walk in the fullness of life that Christ has for you. Instead, choose to raise the white flag of surrender in your life. If you do allow God to change you and you choose to walk in step with the Holy Spirit, it is the most joy you will ever feel on this side of heaven and you will be walking in the good works God planned for you.

Deepening questions:

• What is your next step in following Jesus?
• How can the things in your life be used to bring more glory to God?

Further reading:

Proverbs 15:13, Colossians 3:17, 1 Timothy 6:17-19

Footnotes:

¹John Eldredge, Wild At Heart