God Is In Control?

How many times have you heard the cliché “God is in control”? Songs have been written about it including the like-titled Christian hit by Twila Paris that won a 1995 Dove Award. Another one called “You Are in Control” I heard many times at the Brownsville Revival in Pensacola, Florida. 

Some Christians believe the Lord orchestrates every detail of a person’s life. Calvinists like to quote Romans 8:29-30, which talk about people being “predestined.” It would behoove Calvinists to read the previous verse. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Notice this promise doesn’t apply to everyone but to those who love God.

Man has free will and can choose to follow his own devices (Jeremiah 18:12). Therefore, he is responsible for his actions and cannot use the old Flip Wilson excuse “the devil made me do it.” Numerous Scriptures talk about self-control. Galatians 5:23 lists that as one of the fruits of the Spirit.

Even nonbelievers recognize the inaccuracy of the claim, “God is in control.” In his book “The Art of Intercession,” Kenneth E. Hagin talked about an agnostic TV commentator who stated, “...ministers say, ‘God has everything under control. He's running everything.’ Well, if He is, He sure has things in a mess.” 

Psalm 115:16 says, “The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s; But the earth He has given to the children of men.” God may be running the universe but has given stewardship of this planet to man. We have the freedom to make choices (good or bad) such as where we will spend eternity.

While evangelizing, I’m often asked why God allows bad things to happen. I point out Satan is the “god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4 KJV) who comes “...to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10). People can choose which god they will submit to. Before leaving the house for the day, I ask the Lord to order my steps (Psalm 37:23). Still, I can choose to disobey the Holy Spirit’s leading and walk into places I shouldn’t be in.

So is God really in control? Events prophesied in the Bible such as Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection were predestined. The Second Coming will happen regardless of what every person does on earth. Those things God has control over. However, events of lesser significance may or may not occur depending on our obedience and how much we intercede for others.

It would be more accurate to say, “God will guide and protect those who follow Him.”

“You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” - Genesis 4:7 (NLT)

Make a Move

As a young Christian, I read many books by Kenneth E. Hagin and his son Kenneth Hagin, Jr. One of the latter was titled “It’s Your Move”, which compares our walk with the Lord to a chess game. When we make a move, then He makes a move. Dad Hagin often said, “It is easier to steer a car when it is moving than when it is parked.” I’ve seen this truth manifest many times during my missionary travels.

Back in 2003, I flew to Berlin, Germany. After staying in a prayer house for nearly three weeks, two women invited the caretaker and me to go on a road trip with them to Nuremberg. I was reluctant to step out until one of the women said she knew a hotel owner that would provide a room for two nights. Upon our arrival in Nuremberg, we attended a church service. The first worship song I heard was based on Romans 8:1-2. I had read those same verses out loud in the car moments before. I also heard a minister say, “God moves with those who move.” That assured me I did the right thing. The next night, I taught on evangelism at this church. God later opened doors for me to minister in other German cities.

Last month, I moved to San Antonio, Texas. A couple that had been missionaries themselves hosted me the first few nights. However, they questioned the way God was leading me. Without having other lodging possibilities, I rented a motel room to fast and pray. A breakthrough developed after I took a bus downtown one day to go for a prayer walk and evangelize. Across the street from The Alamo, I met a woman playing guitar and singing worship songs. While we fellowshipped, this woman told me about the church she attends. I felt led to go there the following Sunday. The pastor asked me to speak for a few minutes. After the service, his assistant offered me a place to stay.

Are you seeking divine direction? Abraham had a promised land set aside for him but didn’t find it until he left his home country. Unless He specifically tells you to wait on Him, the Lord is likely waiting for you to do something. Jesus is the “great Shepherd of the sheep” (Hebrews 13:21) and will let you know if you’re going the right way or need to adjust your steps, but not until you start moving.

“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” 

- James 2:17 (NIV)

Unspoken Requests

Occasionally when I get together with other Christians for a prayer meeting, the leader will lift up “unspoken requests.”  While this may sound holy and religious, it is unscriptural.  Philippians 4:6 commands us to “let your requests be made known to God.”

It’s true that our Heavenly Father “knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6:8)  Sometimes we might get blessed with things we didn’t specifically pray for simply because He loves us.  But notice what Jesus said in Matthew 7:11; “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”  


If you were in line at a McDonald’s drive thru, would you expect to receive an item on the menu that you didn’t order?  Of course, you wouldn’t.  Likewise, we need to be specific in what we want something from God.  Look at what happened in Mark 10:51 after blind Bartimaeus called out for Jesus…

So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?”  The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.”

Had Bartimaeus replied, “Lord, I have an unspoken request”, he probably would have remained blind.  James 4:2 (KJV) says, “…ye have not, because ye ask not.”

There are times we might perceive a leading to pray for someone or something but don’t know how to put words to it.  That’s when we need to pray in other tongues.  As Romans 8:26 (NLT) says, “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.  For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for.  But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.”

God has many promises for us in His word.  But they won’t manifest in our lives automatically.  The first step is to ask.

“Ask the LORD for rain.  In the time of the latter rain, the LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, grass in the field for everyone.” - Zechariah 10:1