Things You Can’t Fix

Introduction:  Are you a fixer? When something breaks, is your goal to “fix it”? How about when it comes to relationships? What about the government? Your attitude? By the way, how do you handle it when you want to fix people but cannot? Circumstances but cannot?
 
This devotion should “hit home” for all of us reading it. Here are a few biblical guidelines as this writer ponders these challenges. Hopefully, it will both encourage and give direction on “Things We Can’t Fix.”
 
1. Exchange Total Control from Our Hands to Our Lord’s! (Isaiah 55:8-9) – “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
 
Since we do not look at situations the same way as our Lord, it will help to release our attempt to be “in control” to the One who is really in control! Will you do that right now?
 
2. Pray for Our “Will” to Line Up with God’s “Will”! (John 7:17) – “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”
 

Obeying God is not always easy, but it is rewarding. Checking our motives constantly is a must—it should be on the priority list.

By the way, some things in Scripture are clearly spelled out as God’s will, whereas other things are not. Therefore, it becomes the task of each believer to search out and seek to know His will in every matter. That tells us that we must master the Word of God in order to discover biblical principles that lead to God’s will.

Finally, after finding it, the next step is doing it. Are you searching out His will not only for your life but for relationships and circumstances?
 
3. Follow the Prompting of the Holy Spirit! (Romans 8:14) – “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
 
In addition to searching out His will through His Word and prayer, as followers of Jesus Christ, we must be sensitive to the leading of His Holy Spirit. Are you taking time to wait upon the Lord? Can you hear Him speak?
 
4. Determine to Obey Jesus with a Humble Heart Regardless of the Cost! (James 4:6-7) – “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God.”
 

It seems that we try to figure everything out first and then ask Jesus for His opinion. Is it true that, at times—whether deliberately or not—we have already made up our minds about what we’ve decided to do and then want our Lord to get in on it?

Before you say no, stop and be honest. Truthfully, after over 40 years in ministry, along with personal experiences and counseling perhaps several thousand people, unfortunately, this is often the case.
 
5. Check Your Emotions at the Door and Choose the Way of the Cross! (Matthew 10:38-39) – “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.”
 
The way of the cross leads home! When we die to self, Jesus lives! While we cannot bear His cross, which represented the total payment for sin, He made it clear that if we are going to really follow Him, there will be a cross involved—daily! No pain, no gain! Pick it up and go.
 
Conclusion: Although this list is certainly not exhaustive, hopefully, it will give you a checklist to go over when attempting to fix things that are broken. Remember, there are some things that we cannot fix. But instead of focusing on those, fix the things you can. And last but not least—pray, study, and trust Jesus to distinguish the difference.
 
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese