Be Still: Five Mornings in God’s Presence — Part 2 of 5
Scripture — Psalm 46:10 (KJV) “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”
“Release What You Cannot Control”
Morning Focus
“Be still…”
Devotional Thought
Some burdens grow heavier because we keep trying to carry what we cannot control.
You can prepare carefully, speak thoughtfully, and work faithfully—but you cannot determine every response, prevent every delay, or guarantee every outcome. Recognizing those limits is not failure. It is an opportunity to practice surrender.
Today, consider where responsibility has become an attempt to control everything. Are you replaying a conversation, hoping to change what has already been said? Are you exhausting yourself trying to make another person choose differently? Are you demanding certainty before taking a reasonable next step?
Bring those concerns into prayer.
Surrender is not neglecting your responsibilities. You can make the call, complete the assignment, seek help, or have the difficult conversation. But you can do those things without demanding that everything unfold exactly as you planned.
Let your prayer be simple: “Lord, help me do what is mine to do, and release what is not.”
Reflection
What am I trying to control that I need to entrust to God?
Put It Into Practice
Write down one concern. Beneath it, make two short lists: “My next faithful step” and “What I cannot control.” Pray over both.
Carry Into Your Day
“I will act faithfully without trying to control everything.”
Prayer
Father, I confess that I sometimes confuse control with security. Show me where I need to act and where I need to release my grip. Give me wisdom for my responsibilities and humility about my limitations. I place the outcomes I cannot manage before You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
© 2026 Douglas R. Bramwell — All Rights Reserved.
