The other day as I was getting ready for work, my glasses fell off the bathroom counter. In a manner exhibiting extraordinary ‘catlike reflexes’, as my youngest son would say, I managed to swoop down and grab them just before they hit the tile floor.

“Good catch God!” I immediately exclaimed.

Then I stopped.

WOW! I had instinctively given God credit for something so seemingly trivial.

I’ve come a long way and I knew there was nothing trivial about this.

I grew up depending on me, myself, and I. I was a rock! I was in control! If it ‘was to be’ it was UP TO ME!

Relinquishing that mindset and control did not come easy.

Before I was a Christian, ‘I’ was responsible for making the out at second base, ‘I’ earned the ‘A’ on my Math exam, and it was ‘I’ who convinced my friend not to drink and drive.

I, I, I….me, me, me!

Gosh darn, I was pretty near perfect. ‘I’ did it all! But it wasn’t a haughty or proud kind of perfect, yet one born from ignorance to the truth – the truth that all I am and all I do is because Christ Jesus equips, blesses, and guides me.

2 Corinthians 3:5 tells us:

[Tweet “Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything…but our competence comes from God.”]

It’s not a martyr’s mentality, but an attitude and relationship built on truth, understanding, respect, love, and total adoration.

This transition didn’t happen overnight. It wasn’t like ‘POOF’, I’m a Christian now and I understand it all. Not at all! It’s been a process.

I had to wrap my head around the fact that while I still owned responsibility for my choices and actions, God was ultimately in control.

I learned to seek God’s will for my life, not my own.

I deflected to God’s better judgment, instead of going solo and trusting no one but myself.

I began to give God credit for the big stuff. Even a control freak (reformed control freak of course!) understands that NOT EVERYTHING is of their doing and it was easier for my logical mind to rationalize giving God the ‘biggies’.   

These were no small tasks for me, and while an admirable start, I still struggled along the way. Old habits die hard and human sin nature is tough to overcome.

I read. I prayed. I sought wise counsel. I attended bible study. Heck, I even learned from my young sons’ Sunday School lessons and devotions.

My friend Stacy shared a visual analogy with me. She asked me to clench my hand in a fist and hold it tightly out in front of me. She told me to use my other hand to peel each finger back, one at a time, ultimately ending up with my hand fully opened, all fingers extending upward, completely surrendering to Jesus and inviting Him to take control of my life. It was a defining moment for me.

For most of my life, I held on to the reins of control for dear life, fearing that if I let go, chaos would ensue. I had no idea what faith truly meant. I never, EVER pictured myself letting go.

[Tweet “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Heb 11:1”]

Talking about it and doing it are very different things. Doing it is life-changing.

So now, along with yielding to God, I’m also getting much better at giving credit where credit is due, remembering to thank Him for both the big AND small victories in my life. From scoring an exciting book signing event to catching my glasses on the way down, every bit of the glory goes to Him! Thanks God!

I’m still a work in progress but heading further in the right direction each and every day!

Is this something you can relate to? Are you also a work in progress? Are you able to give God ALL the glory? I’d love you to share your story! Please comment below.