Your world is not out of control, it's just out of your control. Got to PaulTripp.com for more gospel-centered encouragement! (fb)

What is your favorite passage in Scripture that captures the glorious doctrine of the sovereignty of God? There are many, but I'll vote for Romans 11:33-36: "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen." By the way, we're still in our Wednesday's Word series on communication. I haven't changed the subject to the doctrine of the sovereignty of God. What's the connection? I am deeply persuaded that a life of godly communication is rooted in a personal recognition of and submission to the sovereignty of God. Only when I submit to the rule of God, who has a perfect plan and is in complete control, will I begin to live and speak as he has purposed. Remember what we covered last week in James 4. An idolatrous heart produces words that serve the idols that grip us, which are often destructive and hurtful to others who stand in the way of our idols. And how do we break that idolatry? Submit to God (James 4:7). It's only when we submit to the sovereignty of God that our idolatry of heart will be broken. Here alone will my words be freed from being the tools of my agenda, my attempts at control, and my glory-seeking. Have you ever fantasized about being completely sovereign? It's embarrassing to admit, but I have! In this make-believe world, I am absolutely sovereign. Every person does my bidding. Every situation unfolds according to my will. I function as God and rule unchallenged. This world exists for my pleasure and operates exactly as I wish. As delusional as this sounds, we actually try to speak this delusion into existence. The teenager yells at his parents, attempting to change their rules through volume. The husband who wants his way argues his wife into a corner. The wife seeks to motivate her husband with guilt. The manipulator uses flattery to get what he wants from his friend. None of them are resting in God's sovereignty, believing God will provide what is best. But when we understand God's sovereignty and submit to his rule, we can live and speak as God has designed. This is the polar opposite of living and speaking according to our plan, for our control, and for our glory. Such self-interest is what brought so much trouble to our talk. The war of words is a war for sovereignty. So yes, it's true: our communication directly relates to our hearts resting in and submitting to God's sovereignty. If our words don't flow out of hearts that rest in his control, they come out of hearts that seek control so we can get what we want. When we trust that God is in control of our lives, we do not give in to panic. We do not begin thinking that life is out of control, and we do not despair when we are confused about what is happening. We know that every situation is under the careful administration of the King of Kings. As we grab hold of this truth by faith, we can pay attention to what God has called us to do—to live and speak in a way that brings him glory. "For his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, "What have you done?" (Daniel 4:34-35) Would you like more from the Wednesday Word Series, as well as question prompts for family discussion? https://www.paultripp.com/wednesdays-word Would you like to listen to today's Wednesday Word? https://tinyurl.com/mvzab7z4 (fb)