Devotions Inspired By Beyond BlessedSample

I GIVE UP
by Mike Foltynski

I didn’t have much growing up. My family situation was dysfunctional, and my high school career was even worse. But when I fell into a basketball scholarship at a junior college and then a university, something clicked in my brain. I became extremely driven. After college, I felt the need to prove to myself and to others that I could be successful. I took it upon myself to determine what success looked like, and in my mind, it was career driven. I started working with a management firm with good growth opportunities, and I always stayed focused on that next achievement or promotion, but I realized I was never satisfied. In fact, I became physically ill. 

One Sunday when we started attending Gateway 12 years ago, my wife and I were leaving church and I ended up in the emergency room. It was a panic attack induced by stress. I was burning the candle at both ends and my body couldn’t keep up with my desire to be “successful.” The doctor told me I needed to figure out how to lower my stress, but I couldn’t figure out how to do it. One night in my home I said, “God I don’t know how to solve this problem, and I give up.” From that point forward, my life began to change, and it all came from giving God control of my time each day. 

As I look around, I see so many others with the same problem I had. We tend to burn the candle at both ends and even brag about how much we work. Why do so many of us live unbalanced and unhealthy lives? Maybe you are reading this, and you’re exhausted like I was. In the way I cried out to God, I encourage you to do the same. Relinquish the control of your days to the One who truly has control. Declare that you want Him to lead your life. Declare that you need His help. Start committing everything you do to Him. Start trusting His promises over your life. 

I believe that when you start following His instructions, amazing things will start to happen. You will care less how you are perceived by those around you. You will start saying no to requests for your time. You will start eliminating things in your life that do not produce fruit. And you will stop worrying about the things you can’t control and start focusing on the One that counts. I encourage you to become a steward of the hours that God has given you. Trust Him, and He will help you.

PRAYER
Lord, I pray that You would help me stop living my life and start living Your life. I ask You to forgive me for not trusting You with the hours You have given me. Show me how to steward the hours I have and live a full, rich life filled with Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

MEMORY VERSE   
Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. PSALM 37:5 (NLT)