The Ball is Never in Our Hands

"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon . Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;" Psalm 92:12-14

The saying goes, "The ball is in your court". That is, it is your decision what you are going to do with the ball which is now in your area of influence. Well, this is the world’s view point any way. Everything and everyone in the world shouts out that it is your ability; it is up to you to control your destiny. Advertising and company slogans shout out, 'Own your life', 'master of your own destiny', 'just do it', 'be your own person', and ‘take control'.

Yet, with God, this couldn't be further from the truth. In fact we are encouraged in the Word of God to lose our identity in Christ, to lose our life with all its pride, ambitions and fleshly lusts and to humble ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus Christ in total surrender.

You see, God never leaves the ball in our court. In fact we don't even have a court. It is God's will and purpose and God Himself which is our great reward and it is in His courts we should be planted and rooted. It is only when we are truly planted in the house of the Lord that we will flourish in the courts of our God.

When we walk in our own ability and in our own understanding, we will not flourish, it really is that simple - "For we are dead, and our life is hid with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3). When we think we are in control of our own destiny and that we have the ability to determine the outcome of our lives, well, we are walking and building on ground which often leads to sinking sand.

When we leave our destiny in the hands of God, when we leave our ambitions and our desires in the hands of God, He moulds us and makes us and transforms us into the image of His Son; as we set our affections on things above, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:2).

Let us not think that the ball is in our court today, it isn't. Let us rather humble ourselves and enter the courts of the Lord with thanksgiving and praise in our hearts; knowing that a day in the courts of the Lord is better than a thousand in the courts of our own pride, presumptuousness and conceits.

May we desire to rather be a doorkeeper in the house of our God, be it for the rest of our lives, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness for even a single hour (Psalm 84:9-11).

WB “One Day At A Time” Journal
Kings Trust Ministries
-----------
A basketball in my hands is worth about $19.
A basketball in Michael Jordan's hands is worth about $33 million.
It depends whose hands it's in.

A baseball in my hands is worth about $6.
A baseball in Roger Clemens' hands is worth $475 million.
It depends on whose hands it's in.

A tennis racket is useless in my hands.
A tennis racket in Andre Agassi's hands is worth millions.
It depends whose hands it's in.

A rod in my hands will keep away an angry dog.
A rod in Moses' hands will part the mighty sea.
It depends whose hands it's in.

A slingshot in my hands is a kid's toy.
A slingshot in David's hand is a mighty weapon.
It depends whose hands it's in.

Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in Jesus' hands will feed thousands.
It depends whose hands it's in.

Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse.
Nails in Jesus Christ's hands will
Produce salvation for the entire world.
It depends whose hands it's in.

As you see now, it depends whose hands it's in.
So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families and your relationships in God's hands because...
It depends whose hands it's in.