All posts by mjharvell

Welcome, friend—I’m glad you’ve pulled up a chair on the front porch of my little corner of the internet. My name is Michael Joe Harvell, and I live my life with one simple mission: to glorify God, encourage people, and leave this world a little better than I found it. I’m a husband, father, pastor, writer, Jeep enthusiast, and front-porch thinker who believes that life is best lived on purpose. I serve as pastor of Eureka Baptist Church in Anderson, South Carolina, where I get the joy of preaching, teaching, and walking with people through the ups and downs of everyday life. Over the years, I’ve discovered that faith isn’t just about Sunday mornings—it’s about living every single day in the presence and power of God. I’m also an author. My books—including The Grace Exchange: How Forgiven People Forgive People and The Word Works—grow out of the sermons, stories, and lessons I’ve learned on this journey. I write in a style that’s conversational, a little front-porch-rocking-chair, and full of stories, quotes, and Scripture that point us back to the goodness of God’s Word. When I’m not writing or preaching, you might find me sitting outside with my Bible and journal, cruising the backroads in my Jeep Gladiator, or sharing a meal and some laughs with the good folks God has put in my life. I love helping people find peace in their spirit, strength in their body, and encouragement in their soul. This blog is simply an extension of that mission. Here you’ll find devotions, encouragement, reflections, and practical insights for living a life of purpose, peace, and joy. So grab a cup of coffee, pull up a rocking chair, and stay awhile—I’d be honored to walk this road of faith with you.
Blogroll, Enlightenment, Growing, Personal, Uncategorized

Control Is An Illusion!

Who says you have to be in control? Who says you have to have all the answers? Who says everything has to be lined up perfect for you to be happy? Who says any of the things that you keep telling yourself? The stuff that makes you crazy and threatens to drive you insane. Who says? You do, but you can change what you say, if you really want to???

I’ve got some good news! You don’t have to run the universe! In fact, you can’t, because that job is already taken by the Creator of the universe. Stop thinking you have to control everyone and everything, because the truth is: Control is an illusion! No one ever really has control of anything and it’s not your job anyway!

The only responsibility that you need to concern yourself with is making sure that you show up to every moment with the best of yourself! So stop trying to fit into the mold of everybody else’s creation and enjoy just being you and doing what you were created and gifted to do.

I have often heard people say: “Well, I feel better, because I have finally given it all to God!”, only to be right back at a place of chaos by the afternoon. We cannot focus on our part and do it the way we were created to, until we let go of and stop trying to do God’s part. It is very good advice to give it all to God, especially the part that is already His.

1 Peter 5:6-7 says “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Release, surrender, let go, give up everything to God, who lives in you and let God give back to you what you need to be. God will guide you, direct you and bless you in ways that you cannot even begin to imagine, if you will just get out of His way. He will help you to cultivate the right thoughts and commit to meaningful actions that produce results and bring about outcomes of blessing.

You don’t have to run the universe, the universe is quiet capable of running itself, because that is what it was created to do and you get to be in a meaningful relationship with the ONE who created it all. Focus on that, sit back, relax and enjoy living in the protective arms of your Creator and you will soon discover that life is good!