The personal relationship - how do you get it?

[CINDY S.]

I am a confessed, baptized believer in Jesus, but I
am also a control freak. How do I let go and give
my life to Jesus? I want to, I've prayed for it and
I still can't let go.

Are there any good books on the subject?

[antsinmypants]

Having a Mary Heart In A Martha World

[yankeedownsouth]

Cindy - I believe the best book for this is God's Word. He has all the answers, and when you spend time in his Word, it's like sitting down and listening to him talk.

I think we are often too quick to run to a Christian author rather than the author of the world when we need help with something.

[antsinmypants]

I agree YDS,

Besides the bible-- I have found between this and the "Lady in Waiting" book-- that it shows how to begin -- using the bible-- to form a close relationship with G-d first, others second.

Lady in Waiting centers mostly around Ruth, Song of Solomon and NT scripture of our relationship with G-d.

Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World centers around " Y'shua Mary and Martha.." how they responded to each other and what scripture says.

The bible is #1 in everything.. but I have found these two books to be of great advantage because they make you search the scripture out.

[DeeLeeKay]

Cindy,

I have found in my experiences that control is related to abuse and fear.

[cameron222]

Continue to pray for God to "break you" but it might not be pleasant.

[Sojourner]

I can sure relate to your situation. I have always had a problem letting go of what I thought was under my control. Although I have read several books on the subject I found that God has had to deal with me through some tough lessons. There is nothing like having to go through circumstances which are completely out of my control in order for God to break me and bring me into submission. It hasn't been a very pleasant journey. But I can honestly say I am moving forward on this issue. The Holy Spirit has been teaching me a lot. :thumb

But because you asked about books, I will tell you that my absolute favorite is "Calm My Anxious Heart" written by Linda Dillow. One thing she says in the beginning of the book is; "Contentment is accepting God's sovereign control over all of life's circumstances. It was humbling for me to have to say to God, 'I've tried to trust You, but too much of my own strength has been mixed in with that trust.'" Buy yourself the book and read it (think of it as a Christmas present to yourself:): ).

[LaMontre]

Originally posted by CINDY S.
I am a confessed, baptized believer in Jesus, but I
am also a control freak. How do I let go and give
my life to Jesus? I want to, I've prayed for it and
I still can't let go.

Are there any good books on the subject?

Your first step is to accept and realize that your life is NOT your own, that you ARE bought with a price.

When Christ died, you died. When Christ arose, you arose.

These are facts. Not just comforting words.

A good proof of this kind of thinking is in Romans chapter 6;
(Seems this passage has been coming up alot lately for me.)

Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Notice the past tense?)

So, first we "know" (revelation through the word of God) then we can "reckon" upon that knowledge. That word reckon has within it's meaning that of a mathmatical equation. We cannot "reckon" what we do not "know". I have read it stated this way; We have $5 in our bank account, and so we write down in our leger that we "indeed" do have that much. We could not write down that we had $6 nor that we had $4, as that would be foolish and dishonest.

In the same way we can write into our "leger" that we belong to Jesus, as we have been told by the word of God (which we should consider as our facts) that we indeed do.

We "reckon" according the facts of Gods word.

[Lonewolf7]

Originally posted by CINDY S.
I am a confessed, baptized believer in Jesus, but I
am also a control freak. How do I let go and give
my life to Jesus? I want to, I've prayed for it and
I still can't let go.

Are there any good books on the subject?

Just one good book......

This describes the 'relationship' that you seek.


2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you–unless, of course, you fail the test?

Galatians 4:6
Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, …Father."

Romans 8:9
…….. if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

Romans 8:10
But if Christ is in you,……. your spirit is alive because of righteousness.

Acts 15:8
God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.

Romans 5:5
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Acts 19:2
and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when[ 19:2 Or after] you believed?"

Luke 11:13
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Acts 5:32
……. the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."

1 John 3:24
Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

John 14:23
Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.


The 'relationship' is that of gaining His Holy Spirit....which is the living gift of eternal life that saves you from eternal hell.

His spirit enters your body and lives with you forever......thus beginning the 'personal relationship' .......that which you seek.

[Bible Girl]

Cindy,

I recommend a deep bible study on just the Lord Himself. Make sure you look at Him personally. I am doing this myself.
And I have read a really good book that talks about total consecration to the Lord. I am reading it now. It is one of the most honest books I have read in a long time.
It is by Hannah Whitall Smith and is called "Happy Life"

Hope this helps,
BG

[kgreen20]

Originally posted by cameron222
Continue to pray for God to "break you" but it might not be pleasant.



I think not--the cure would be worse than the disease! :eek



Kathy G.