And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,
Memory of the Month: Proverbs 15:1-A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Today's reading: ISAIAH 9-10 EPHESIANS 3
Power Over Me
"Whay has power over me?" Have you ever asked yourself that question? Well...?
A young man encounters a man who acts really crazy on the way to work where the man drives around the young man in the ditch as they are at a stop signman as he yells profanity and waves gestures at the young man. The young man is furious as the other man spins his tires and throws rock and debris at the front of the young man's truck. Because this resulted in great anger, the young man was affected all day. He simply could not let it go.
We all can understand. Some would respond with quaking fear and some with anger. But why the response of emotions? Here is the question of 'what controlls' you. What would you 'feel' if this same thing happened to you?
Forgive me if I seem to be meddling in your emotions but that is my purpose. I want us all to take a look at how we respond.
If you walked into a room of friends and no one looks up and welcomes you, what would your response be? Would you be offended because you were not welcomed? Would you fear you had done something to offend them? Would you be angry?
What if you were in a meeting at work or church and people were being recognized for their recent contributions and your name was not called? After all, you did as much as anyone?
What if you gave a person a task and they did not do it but lied and said they did? What if someone said they would meet you at a certain time and they did not show and you later found they had something 'more impotant' to do?
What should our response be in any of these situations?
Love, joy peace? Patience, kindness goodness? Gentleness, faithfulness? (All these, of course, from Galatians 5:22-23-from the Holy Spirit)
How about self-control? Does anger or fear ever control what you do and think?
Again, the Bible says, "In your anger, do not sin", Ephesians 4:26. In moments of high emotion, do not give control to the emotion. We have said this all before but we must revisit.
"In your anger"...God knows we will have things that raise our anger. So what is the 'righteous' response. When anger or fear or any other emotion raises its head in your heart and mind, what should the response be?
Jesus was mocked, spit on, beaten- but what did he say? Did He scream threats or curses to his captors? When questioned by Pilot, what did He say? How did He say it?
Mark 15:
2 “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate.
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
3 The chief priests accused him of many things. 4 So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”
5 But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.
In the midst of all that Jesus knew was happening, He was calm and said only a few words. How? Why? Jesus knew that anger and loud words would do nothing but give them all more fuel for their chaos.
The enemy knows all our buttons-the ones that bring out the worst in us.
Recognize and define your own buttons. Why are they hot spots to begin with? We let them be so. We get comfortable, even proud, in the way we respond to things-you know, the way we can throw sharp words in defense of our own egos?
Some of us retreat to the comfort of our fear. Yes, we do... The Bible says it 365 times-'Fear Not'. The Bible says to not lose it when we are mad. The scripture teaches us to be in control. The Holy Spirit gives the gift of control to all believers. Why so little control? Where is our faitrh in action?
Jesus was calm in the worst possible situation. When will we learn to walk as Jesus walked?
I know what some will say. I have heard it a long time.
"It makes me so mad-why should I not defend myself?"
God is our defense.
Psalm 7:10 My shield is with God,
Who saves the upright in heart.
"I just can't control my fear-fear is a natural thing". But do you allow your fear to control you-shrink back?
Hebrews 10:39 ►But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
Where is our faith? Where is our self control? These are gifts from God that must be learned.
I could give you a 'recipe' for spiritual growth but you already have it. The written word of God is that recipe. You already have the secret to controlling your emotions. The God of peace is your God in Christ. Listen to Jesus:
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27
Real peace will never be understood by the world. It is a gift from God. The world will never understand real control. It is a gift of God. Real love and joy and patience-real kindness and goodness and faithfullness and gentlenss-all or gifts from God. The enemy has the world believing in counterfeits.
Walk away from the worldly understanding. Commit you heart and mind to Christ Jesus and let Him teach you.
Philippians 4:
…6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.…
...because He loves us...
Father in Heaven,
Have mercy on me and forgive me for hanging on to the enemy's earthly beliefs. God, purge my mind-I give control to You.
Eternal commander of the Heavenly armies and lover of my soul,
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