Whatever You Want

Have you ever tried to get a group to decide something?  There is always someone who says that they don't care, until someone picks, then they do.

Maybe we could go here - I don't really want a buffet.

Ok.  What about here? - That's mostly fried food.

We could always go here? - They're expensive and the service is slow.

Why don't you pick a place? - Oh, I don't care, you pick.

I suspect that you have had that conversation.  If you weren't on one side than you were on the other.

As parents we sometimes do it to our children.  We tell them that they get to choose, but we really mean is one of a few narrow options.  The choice is hamburgers or hot dogs.  They aren't allowed to choose steak.  Some friends let their three year old choose the name for their new pet bird.  The child named it, "Mine."

Carte Blanche is a French term that means literally "Blank Check".  Giving someone carte blanche is to give them complete freedom to decide and act.  Whatever the cost.  There are no restrictions, not blackout dates, no exclusions. Whatever they want, they get.

So the question is what permission do we give God to influence our lives.  We are called to give Him carte blanche, but often we are saying "Some Restrictions May Apply." or "Does not apply to holidays, weekends or other times that are inconvenient."  We say, "God you can choose, as long as it's one of these few options."

“Let go of your concerns! Then you will know that I am God. I rule the nations. I rule the earth.” (Psalm 46:10 GW)

Pastor Rick Warren says, "Every day, you have to decide who’s going to be in control of your life — you or God."

When we narrow God's options in our lives, we close off many possibilities.  We restrict God to choosing hamburgers or hot dogs when He wants us to have a big porterhouse steak.