hey there and welcome to another daily encouragement from the Our Daily Bread devotional today's devotion is titled relinquishing control to God and it was written by Karen info
 picture of Mighty Oak tree that's small enough to fit on a kitchen table
 that's what a bonsai looks like a beautiful ornamental tree that's a miniature version of what you find wild in nature
 there's no genetic difference between a bonsai and its full-size counterpart it's simply that is shallow pot pruning and root trimming restrict growth so the plant remains small
 what bonsai trees make for wonderful decorative plants they also illustrate the power of control it's true that we can manipulate their growth as a trees respond to their environment but God is ultimately the one who makes things grow. Spoke to the prophet Ezekiel this way I the Lord bring down the Tall Tree and make aloe tree grow tall God was foreshadowing future events when he would uproot the nation of Israel by allowing the Babylonians to invade in the future however God would plant a new tree in Israel that would bear fruit with birds of every kind finding shelter in the shade of its branches God said that no matter how much upcoming events seemed out of control he was still in charge
 the world tells us to try to control our circumstances by manipulation and through our own hard work but true peace and thriving are found by relinquishing control to the only one who can make the trees grow
today's our daily bread devotional scripture reading is from Ezekiel chapter 17 verses 19 through 24
 therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says as surely as I live I will repay him for despising my oath and breaking my Covenant I will spread my net for him and he will be caught in my snare I will bring him to Babylon and execute judgment on him there because he was unfaithful to me all his choice troops will fall By The Sword and the survivors will be scattered to the winds then you will know that I the Lord have spoken this is what the Sovereign Lord says I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it I will break off a Tinder sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty Mountain
 on the mountain Heights of Israel I will planted it will produce branches and their fruit and become a splendid Cedar birds of every kind will nest in it they will find shelter in the shade of its branches all the trees of the forest will know that I the Lord bring down the Tall Tree and make the low tree grow tall I dry up the green tree and make a dry tree flourish I the Lord have spoken and I will do it
let's pray
 we praise you loving God as the all-powerful king help us acknowledge your lordship in our life and live and complete surrender to you thank you Lord It's in Jesus name we pray amen
 thanks for listening today my name is Tony Collier and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries