Who Is In Control of My Life? - The Center for Executive Leadership
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • Rss
  • Instagram
The Center for Executive Leadership
  • What We Do
    • Contact
    • Statement of Faith
  • Media & Speaking
  • Blog
  • Audio
  • Books
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
  • 0Shopping Cart
people-2595862_1920

Who Is In Control of My Life?

June 28, 2018/in Inspiration, Life Purpose, Marriage and Relationships, Personal Growth, Relationships, Seeking God, Spiritual Truth, True Masculinity, Wisdom Richard E. Simmons III Blog /by Richard E. Simmons III

At this stage in my life I have concluded that deep, substantive relationships are hard to come by. This includes our relationship with God and with people. Real authentic relationships require transparency and a willingness to speak the truth into someone else’s life, particularly on hard issues. And we have to allow God to do this with us.

Tim Keller has some interesting words to say about this. He says God desires a real relationship with us and that he gives us certain non-negotiables that we must adjust our lives to. However, this is true in all relationships.

Think about a man who pursues a woman and falls in love with her. During their courtship he sees few if any flaws in her. She is the perfect woman. Even if she does have shortcomings, he is sure she will change once they get married.

However, once they are married, she contradicts him, she tells him things he doesn’t want to hear, she likes things a certain way (that he doesn’t) and there is conflict. They have fights.

In your own marriage and relationships, there are things you negotiate and agree upon. You work on your flaws and sinfulness. However, there are certain non-negotiables that you accept about the other person.

For instance, your spouse might like to go to the beach for vacations, you prefer going to the mountains. She likes to eat dinner early, you like to eat later. She wants you to wear certain types of clothes you don’t particularly like. You like Mexican food, she doesn’t.

Over time there are things you negotiate and agree upon. Hopefully you will realize there are certain things about your spouse that will not change. She has tendencies, tastes and desires that you do not like, but accept. In the end you cannot have a personal relationship with someone unless you adjust to them. If you always have to have your way, always seeking compliance from your spouse, you will never have a relationship that lasts.

I remember back in the 1970’s seeing the movie “The Stepford Wives.” I then saw the remake in 2004 with Nicole Kidman. It is the story of a couple who move to the quiet town of Stepford. It seems perfect, almost too perfect. The wives of Stepford are like robots, totally compliant to their husbands’ every wish. What you learn at the end of the movie (spoiler alert) is that the husbands have had a micro-chip implanted in the brains of their wives. The women become totally accommodating, as their husbands now completely have their way on all issues. There is no more conflict because the wives never contradict or cross the wills of their husbands.

The problem is that the personal relationship they had had with their wives was gone. You cannot have a relationship with a compliant robot or machine. To have a real relationship you have to have someone who will speak into your life and cross your will when necessary, even if it leads to conflict.

As we consider this, think about how pertinent this is to our relationship with God. There are many people who believe in God, who believe in Jesus, but do not necessarily buy into all that the scripture teaches. It may be theological or it may be a moral issue.

A great question we should all ask ourselves; does the God you believe in ever contradict you or cross your will? Does He ever tell you things you don’t want to hear? Does He ever point out your sin, your character flaws or any shortcomings?

If you do not have a God who speaks into your life, nor believe in the authority of scripture, you have a God who has a chip in his brain. He is under your control. If that is the case, your God is not real and He is not personal in your life.

I have many men that I meet with who do not understand why God is not real in their lives. For most of them He is nothing more than a concept in their minds, and not a living reality, which they would like. What they usually become aware of over time is that they must surrender their hearts to Christ and allow Him to be God in their lives. Until we do this, He will be a God that we control, a God with a chip in his brain.

Richard E Simmons III is the founder and Executive Director of The Center for Executive Leadership, and best-selling author of The Power of a Humble Life.


 

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrint or Save As PDF
Facebook
fb-share-icon
Twitter
Tweet
LinkedIn
Share
Share this entry
  • Share on WhatsApp
https://thecenterbham.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/people-2595862_1920-1.jpg 1280 1920 Kim Knott https://thecenterbham.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/the-center-web-logo-retina.png Kim Knott2018-06-28 10:13:142019-08-14 11:39:19Who Is In Control of My Life?

RSS Reliable Truth Podcast

  • Dealing with Fear, Anxiety and Stress - Part 4 January 18, 2021
  • Dealing with Fear, Anxiety and Stress - Part 3 January 18, 2021
  • Dealing with Fear, Anxiety and Stress - Part 2 January 11, 2021
  • Dealing with Fear, Anxiety and Stress - Part 1 January 11, 2021
  • God's Great Rescue Mission December 28, 2020

Email Newsletter

Learn about upcoming events or follow our blog

Subscribe

Connect with us

Categories

  • Character Development (256)
  • Ecclesiastes (3)
  • General (164)
  • Gospel of John (17)
  • Human Sexuality (32)
  • Inspiration (240)
  • Leadership (151)
  • Life Purpose (251)
  • Marriage and Relationships (59)
  • Personal Growth (341)
  • Prayer (28)
  • Relationships (117)
  • Scripture (169)
  • Seeking God (202)
  • Spiritual Truth (370)
  • The Bible (101)
  • The Center Fellowship (43)
  • True Masculinity (104)
  • Wisdom (340)

About

Meet the people at The Center, and learn about the unique work that each one is involved in.

Books

Purchase in-depth resources that dig deeply into specific topics to help you live a life of purpose.

Blog

Read encouraging articles that will get you thinking about timeless truths.

Audio

Listen to thought-provoking messages that challenge and inspire you wherever you are on life’s journey.

Donate

Partner with us to help share God’s timeless truth with the modern world.

About The Center

The Center for Executive Leadership is a 501c3, non-profit organization funded by donations from individuals. We are grateful for their generous support of the spiritual development of our community.
Our Statement of Faith

Our finances are reviewed by an independent board of directors. If you would like to contribute, you can donate securely, or mail a check to:

The Center for Executive Leadership
200 Union Hill Dr.,
Suite 200
Birmingham, AL 35209
info@thecenterbham.org
205-789-3471

INSTALLING THE APP

INSTALL OUR APP

UNION HILL PUBLISHING

© Copyright – The Center for Executive Leadership. All rights reserved. To view our Privacy Policy, please click here.
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • Rss
  • Instagram
The Mystifying Celebrity Suicides frozen-in-time-1418821993ThRfrozen-in-time-1418821993ThR pexels-photo-87378 A Modern Parable
Scroll to top