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One Millionth Time Rhyme

God's Kindness Quest Series

Sharing a repetitive struggle in this little rhyme 

How I grapple to relinquish control for the 1 millionth time

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My #1 goal

Keeping my life under control

 

I strive to control people and circumstance

Never allowing the result to be happenstance

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Sometimes I’m on a roll

Everyone yields to my need for control

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There is a phrase I use when losing command of the day

Perhaps you’ve used it too; it’s my way or the highway

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Everything and everybody in order, as seen through my eyes

Collateral damage, another relationship dies

 

Manipulating the outcome consumes my day

Fear, trust issues, and selfish choices, pave my way

 

Struggling to manage the universe weighs a ton

However, I can’t seem to entrust it to God the Son

 

It’s an internal war, my soulish desires versus the spirit

The battle is exhausting, yet I’ve learned to endure it

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Living in a self-imposed prison called CONTROL

A by-product is loneliness, which was never the goal

 

Guilty of control, a repeat offender of the crime

Lord, help me give up control for the 1 millionth time

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God quickly conveyed the following revelation

I've been trying to establish peace on a faulty foundation

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Being in CONTROL = PEACE, I believe

Yet, lasting peace is elusive and seems impossible to achieve

 

Truthfully, I'm tired of trying to control people and situations

It's time to release control to God, without negotiations

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Lord, I repent of controlling habits and the ways I think

Scribe your instructions on my heart, with indelible ink

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Finally relinquished control, trusting my King

His gift to me, peace which surpasses understanding

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Were you inspired as you read this little rhyme

Do you need to surrender control for the 1 millionth time

Interactive Questions

Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV), "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

  • What emotions, memories, thoughts, convictions, or inspirations bubbled up while reading the poem?

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  • Father God, what do you want me to know about my answers to the previous question? 

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  • Do you struggle with trying to control people, frequently correcting or trying to change those around you, even when they haven't asked for your input? If so, describe. 

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  • Lord, from your perspective, how do I attempt to control people? 

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  • Lord, what relationships have been collateral damage as a result of my need to control?

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  • Lord, what jobs have I left because of my need to control, sabotaging the provision you intended for me?

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  • What are some controlling habits you exhibit?

    • Examples: anger, yelling, violence, intimidation, coercion, domination, ultimatums, threats, lying, shaming, blame shifting, ​withholding love, silent treatment, withholding finances, jealous behavior. 

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  • Lord, what do you want me to know regarding those controlling habits? ​

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  • How have you tried to control the outcome of situations and it made things worse? 

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  • Lord, what do you want me to learn from those situations? 

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  • Lord, what opportunities have I squelched because I tried to control the outcome, rather than following your lead?  

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  • Perhaps you've not spoken the exact words, "it's my way or the highway". However, has that motto been an underlying or subconscious mindset, which surfaces in attitudes toward people and situations in daily life? If so, describe. 

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  • Lord, what other underlying or subconscious mindsets, attitudes, or habit patterns am I blinded to, yet you see them clearly?

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  • How would you complete these sentences?

    • I need to be in control of _______.

    • I need to be in control so that _______.

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  • In the poem, the belief was Control = Peace. What is your equation?

    • Control = _______.

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  • Have you attempted to be free of control issues with limited or temporary success? If so, describe your past efforts.

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  • Lord, what is at the core of my need to control?

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  • Lord, what are your instructions for lasting breakthrough regarding manipulation and control?

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  • Lord, show me ways I try to control or manipulate you?

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  • Lord, what is the root of my efforts to try to control or manipulate you? 

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  • Lord, how do I receive your peace which surpasses understanding? 

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  • Father God, is there anything else you want to share with me at this moment?

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Prayer

James 5:16 (NLT),  "... The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.​"

Lord, I repent for all attempts to control people, circumstances, or you. Forgive me for pressuring people to comply with my demands. Forgive me where I have abruptly severed relationships, rather than extending love and grace, such as you have given me. I repent of generational control and all its roots.

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I give you my perceived benefit, reasoning, or justification for my controlling behavior. I repent of living in a self-imposed prison called CONTROL. It has left me exhausted, lonely and joyless. 

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Lord, thank you for showing me that control consists of a faulty foundation of manipulation and lies. Show me the roots which feed my need for control. Where I have turned a deaf ear to your instructions, forgive me for not trusting you. I ask you to highlight every time control rears its ugly head and remind me to seek you instead. 

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In the name of Jesus Christ, I break ungodly ties to intimidation, coercion, manipulation, domination, and all forms of control. Cleanse me, my generational line, and those over which I have exerted control. 

 

Teach me godly submission to authority and healthy boundaries. I choose to trust you, my Creator. Fill me with the fruit of the Spirit. Amen.

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  • Lord, what did this prayer activate in accordance with James 5:16?

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  • Tweak the existing prayer as desired or craft a new personalized one.

Scripture

2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT), "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true ..."

Romans 8:5-8 (NLT)

“Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.”

 

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

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  • List meaningful Bible verses which come to mind regarding this poem, the interactive questions, and prayer.

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