(Read Psalm 8)
It’s no surprise to many who know me, but I am quite familiar with the disease of alcoholism. It is not always a choice. Some are more predisposed to the disorder than others. I went through years in college when I was on the verge of losing to it. Many in my family are recovering alcoholics, and they are better, healthier, and more productive people despite their battle scars. I am not saying it is easy. Alcoholism is about losing control, and recovery is about surrendering control to something much bigger than us.
My dad was a good man who provided abundantly for us. Sadly, he was also an angry drunk. Happy after the first drink, a little louder after the second, and downhill after that. I spoke with him many times about this. He would apologize profusely, but he would not admit his weakness. I attended group sessions with him at recovery and a few AA meetings. He enjoyed the smoking and food more than the sharing and progress. There are twelve steps in the program, and while it is not for everyone, I believe it is a legitimate path to spiritual and physical wellness for millions. In 2021, Alcoholics Anonymous reported approximately 2,000,000 members.
For those earnestly seeking change and healing through AA, a short prayer known as the Serenity Prayer is used in the 12-step program. While the exact origin of the prayer is uncertain, many attribute it to American Reformed theologian Reinhold Niebuhr. According to the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, it is a request for divine help to accept what is beyond one’s control, to find the strength to make necessary changes, and to develop the discernment to distinguish between the two.
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference”
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world As it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right If I surrender to His Will;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with Him Forever and ever in the next.
Amen.”
Serenity Prayer
In 1898, Nikola Tesla exhibited the first remote control. This device used radio waves to control the direction and movement of a small boat. Later, in the 1950s, Zenith created remotes to control televisions. Fittingly, the name of the first model was Lazy Bones. They were not as slick or versatile as the ones we use today, but they offered a way to control our intended target with minimal effort. I remember when one first appeared in our home—it was still tethered to a docking station or hub of some kind. It was not total control, more like the illusion of it.
Today, remotes are completely wireless. They control volume, channels, settings, and devices, and some even have voice activation. Yet, if the batteries die or you replace the television, they suddenly do not work.
At 10:28 a.m. EDT on September 11, 2001, the North Tower—the second tower—of the World Trade Center collapsed. Like many others, I was devastated. It was part of my life. My childhood home was about 40 miles from the towers, and I remember many weekend nights driving to nearby hills just to see the skyline. Shortly before that moment, the Pentagon had been attacked. Only one thought came to mind: Jesus, protect my family and me.
Whether you believe it was a planned hoax or an attack by Islamic fundamentalists does not change one truth: God is sovereign and allowed, in His providence, whatever form it took. That day, I realized something deeper than fear, grief, and worry over the events unfolding—I realized I had no control over the providential things in my life. It might be Satan’s world on earth, but only Jesus Christ is in complete control. I got on my knees and surrendered everything to Him in that moment.
And they cried out in a loud voice:
Salvation belongs to our God,
who is seated on the throne,
and to the Lamb!All the angels stood around the throne, and along with the elders and the four living creatures they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God, saying,
Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdomand thanksgiving and honor
and power and strength
be to our God forever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 7:10-11
This scene is a vivid reminder that God, not we ourselves, is in total control.
The redeemed know to whom salvation belongs, and they cry out to God, declaring that it has been His work from beginning to end. It is He, not we, who is seated on the throne, ruling with absolute authority. The only fitting response to God’s control is to fall on our faces in worship, acknowledging His unmatched sovereignty. Every blessing, all glory, complete wisdom, unending thanksgiving, ultimate honor, unlimited power, and eternal strength belong to Him alone.
In other words, the universe is not held together by our efforts, plans, or control. It rests firmly in the hands of the One who created it, the One who reigns. Our only right response is humble worship and trust. God’s promise of salvation includes both righteous judgment and the fruits of His grace and mercy, yet we cannot receive either without surrendering complete control to Him. It would be like hugging your spouse while looking over their shoulder at someone else.
Often, it is in our moments of success that we view ourselves as more godlike and God as less. In our lowest points, we find that God is the only One big enough for our problems. Regardless of our condition, control is neither granted to us nor rightfully ours. It is something we are tempted to cling to, yet something we must release.
“Salvation belongs to the Lord;
May Your blessing be upon Your people. Selah.
Psalm 3:8
The phrase “Salvation belongs to the LORD” in David’s psalm carries deep meaning, both in its original Hebrew and in its theological depth. The word “salvation” here comes from the root י-ש-ע (yasha)—the same root found in the name Yeshua. This is a clear Messianic connection between Jesus and the salvation that only He can bring.
In ancient Israel, salvation was not merely a spiritual concept but a multi-layered reality. It meant rescue, deliverance, and victory—often in a military sense. To be saved was to be delivered from enemies, oppression, or danger.
For God’s covenant people, salvation was inseparably tied to His chesed—His loyal, covenantal love—and His faithfulness to Israel. It also meant restoration to a right relationship with Him, something humanity has longed for since the original fall from grace. As the apostle Paul wrote, “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Psalm 3, which inspired today’s devotional, is deeply personal. David is crying out for rescue, but the closing line reminds us that salvation is never only an individual matter—it is communal: “Your blessing is upon Your people.” God saves His people.
Orthodox Jewish interpretation, including voices like Rashi, reads Psalm 3:8 as a declaration that only God can bring salvation—not armies, not kings, not human effort. David, fleeing from Absalom, placed his hope entirely in the LORD. While Orthodox Judaism does not interpret this verse as Messianic in the Christian sense, it still carries a profound Messianic hope. Salvation and divine blessing remain central to Jewish eschatology, in which God will ultimately deliver and bless His people.
For those who release worldly control and surrender to Christ’s will, salvation is a gift. It cannot be earned or added to by human effort—it comes from the Lord alone.
Key Application:
- We cannot save ourselves—spiritually, emotionally, or even in daily struggles. Deliverance is God’s work from start to finish. In crisis, instead of relying solely on our strategies, we should first seek God as the ultimate Rescuer.
- So, before making plans to “fix” a situation, pause and pray, acknowledging that help comes from Him.