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Psalm 31:5 – Lord Take Control
I love driving. In fact my favorite part of driving is putting on the brakes. It is so thrilling slowing down. Most people enjoy pushing down the gas pedal and accelerating out of a curve, not me. Slowing down going into the curve, now that’s fun. When I see a red light, I get giddy because I get to gently apply my brakes. Yes!
Can anyone tell I am being somewhat sarcastic? More on that later.
I also love the study of words, and this time I am being serious. For example, the word nice originally meant “stupid.” And none of you better dare come up to me later and tell me how “nice” I am! Another intriguing example is the prefix “con” which ironically can mean both “with” or “against.” The word “conscience” means “with knowledge.” When “con” means “against,” it is the opposite of “pro” which means “for.” So if “progress” means going forward then “congress” means…. Well, you get the picture.
The word “control” actually has an interesting etymology. The prefix, “con” means “against.” The root word actually originates from a word meaning “to roll” as in a wheel. So “control” means to “against roll.” The best way to picture this is… the brakes on a car “control” the wheels. Now let me ask you a question, are brakes important? Yes. Can brakes save your lives? Yes. Would get in a car without brakes? No. Are putting on the brakes as much fun as pushing the accelerator? No. Just like putting on the brakes, control might not be fun, but it can save your life spiritually. And we should be thankful for it and praise God.
Now the phrase, “Lord, take control” is not found in the Bible. But what word or words do you think imply “Lord, take control?” l suggest to you it is found in the commands to practice “self-control.” Basically that means I am to control myself…against myself. If you think about it, that is a paradox. Why? Because the paradox of self-control is the essence of Christianity. What is the paradox of self-control? We must possess self-control in order to give up self-control to God who will then control our self when we say “Lord, take control.” How can I give to God what I do not have? After I give away myself, “Lord take control,” only then can I truly have control of self by not keeping control of self. I am learning that true happiness is removing contradictions and then replacing them with God’s paradoxes in my life.
“Lord, take control” reminds me of another phrase, “Into Your hands I entrust my spirit” (Luke 23:46) by Jesus. And “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” (Acts 7:59) by Stephen. What do both of these sayings have in common? They were said in death. I would like to suggest to you and to all that we cannot say “Lord, take control” unless we say it in death, because “Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it” (Luke 17.33). We cannot practice self-control until we die to self! Talk about a paradox. But remember, we are putting on the brakes against our will, like Jesus said in the garden, “Not my will but Yours be done.” That is saying, “Lord, Take Control.” And what follows that prayer took self-control.
Add this to the thought and it becomes even more marvelous. “Into Your hands I entrust my spirit” although said by Jesus referring to His death, is a quote referring to life. How we live our life is how Jesus died – Lord Take Control!
Psalms 31:1-5 HCSB LORD, I seek refuge in You; let me never be disgraced. Save me by Your righteousness. (2) Listen closely to me; rescue me quickly. Be a rock of refuge for me, a mountain fortress to save me. (3) For You are my rock and my fortress; You lead and guide me because of Your name. (4) You will free me from the net that is secretly set for me, for You are my refuge. (5) Into Your hand I entrust my spirit; You redeem me, LORD, God of truth.
I need a volunteer. What I need is simple. All I want you to do is to place your hand on this platform while I take this hammer and smash your hand. Any volunteers? Like I said, it is real simple. All you need are two characteristics – self-control and insanity. Or I could say all you need is self-control and being “nice.”
Now let’s get serious for a moment. I want you to use your imagination for a moment. But I don’t think it will be a stretch away from divine revelation. Picture the day Jesus was nailed to the cross. Was that a day that His Father controlled Him? “Though a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered” (Hebrews 5:8 HCSB). Was it a day that Jesus practiced self-control? Do you think the soldiers controlled Jesus? Picture Jesus laying His back on the cross with His arms out-stretched. Do you think the soldiers fought and struggled with Jesus? Can you imagine their surprise? Yes, I know He had been flogged and could barely walk because we see Him falling down. But I also know He had the strength to talk, quote scripture, and comfort. And when a nail is about to be driven into your flesh, do you think you would have the strength to fight? Jesus did not struggle, physically or spiritually.
When Jesus stretched out His hands, His body said, “Lord, take control.” When Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing,” His heart was shouting, “Lord, take control.” When Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” His words meant, “Lord, take control.” When He didn’t respond with verbal venom to the mocking and ridicule, His mind thought, “Lord, take control.” When He said, “Father into your hands I commit my spirit,” He lived and died, “Lord take control.”
When people sin against me, I need to pray “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing,” and say, “Lord, take control.” When life is distressing, depressing, and maybe even destroying me, and I feel forsaken and unloved, I need to pray, “Lord, take control.” When friends, family members turn against me, when strangers hurt me with their words, I need to practice self-control of my tongue and say, “Lord, take control.” And every day, I need to put on the brakes of self-will, and live committing my spirit to God so that when I die, I can commit my spirit to God and say with my dying breath, “Lord, you took control of my life; Lord, take control for evermore.”
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