Leave the driving to us...

Amtrak -- the train company -- used to have a commercial that said "leave the driving to us." Your job with them was to get on the train. Of course, you had to pay and follow the rules, but as long as you did and were on the train, you could sit back and relax. The outcome -- where you were going -- was already known.

We all want to quantify outcomes and responses in our lives. Whether we want to know what the answer will be from the city on our architectural plans if done as such, the answer from immigration if we present such paperwork, or the answer from God if we do x, y, and z. We all want to know the outcome to certain inputs. The reality is that at some level we all want to control situations. That's what it really is at some basic level. The need to be in control. To control our lives. And, yet, Proverbs has a much different idea.

In Proverbs 21:31, we are told that "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD." That is, the final outcome is not in my control. I know that, but I don't like that. I've learned that time and time again. And, yet today, I am reminded of just that. I must make ready, but the LORD determines outcomes. It doesn't mean that we don't prepare, in fact, we are told earlier in a sampling of verses to: do what is right and just, plow ours fields, have plans, be upright, look after the poor, not love pleasure, pursue righteousness, save, give without sparing...to mention a few. Then, the writer says, relax, God is in control.

That seems at first frustrating, but once you think about it you realize that God only asks you to do what you CAN control -- YOU...your thoughts, your actions, your motives. When you focus on the issues you can control, God then says He will take you to victory. So, now, the hard part. We normally don't want to focus on us, we want to focus on results. What is it that God wants you to do? You've heard Him tell you. You know what it is that you cannot escape from being replayed in your mind. Stand up for truth? Pursue righteousness? Pray and ask God what He wants you to do that is within your control and then trust the results to him.