Fixing Things

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.” Philippians 3:20-21

After reading this verse, I thought about how often I jump into trying to fix things or people in my own life without going to the Lord first, as if I could actually fix another person. Silly, I know. Everything is under His control, not mine.

I realize that when I do this, I am attempting to be Lord of my own life. How sad my Lord must feel when He sees me spinning my wheels, trying to fix everything, when He is there all along waiting for me to stop and come to Him in prayer. God wants me to bring my problems to Him first, pray it through, and get His perspective on the things that trouble me. God cares about every detail of our lives, big and small! “Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life” (Matthew 6:25-27)?

Far too often when I find myself trying to fix other people’s problems, I am actually weighing myself down with burdens I may have not been meant to carry. When I think about this reasonably, it makes so much sense. But when I am living day to day, sometimes I forget I have a choice before I respond or react. When I act on my own, it only distances me more and more from Jesus, the very One whom I really do want to please most. Yes, God desires me to be compassionate and caring for others’ burdens, but sometimes my personal prayer can avail so much more than doing things in my own strength.

When trials come, I can choose to lift my voice to the Lord first and ask Him what to do. I know from experience what is important to God, and He will put it in my heart when I take time to listen. God will take care of all the rest and it may actually be a life lesson for someone other than me.

Today, Lord, I do want You to be Lord of all my life, not just the parts I don’t know how to fix.  I’m sorry, Lord, for trying to be my own lord without You. Thank You for your grace.