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Out of Control by Joan Cook
"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8
Have you ever felt like you were out of control? It's not a good feeling to have.
When you are out of control, you are giving in to your feelings and choosing not to trust God. We feel out of control when we are in a situation that doesn't go our way or the way we think it should. We may also feel out of control when we feel there is nothing we can do about a situation.
Having self-control does not mean that we are saying WE are in control - just the opposite - it's saying that God is in control of my life, therefore I will submit to the way He wants me to live and act. I will trust Him to handle things the way He sees fit.
Sometimes, we may be out of control in our emotions. It's hard not to live by our feelings. But we can not let our feelings and emotions dictate our mood and our actions. We should not let our emotions dictate our mood or how we act or respond to others. How many times how you ever said, "I don't feel like it" or "Leave me alone, I'm in a bad mood"? We all have times when we don't feel like doing things, but it's when we make it a pattern that is becomes a problem.
When we do this, we're choosing to let our emotions rule. We can never base our actions on how we feel - feelings come from our depravity, our sinful nature -We must die to self and walk in the spirit.
"But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22
Sometimes we may be out of control in our speech. It's hard sometimes to use self-control when there is something we really want to say, even if it may be negative about someone else.
Our words are the main way we convey to others how we feel! Our words and our body language scream what we like and don't like; what we think or what we know! We have to have self control in our speech!
The tongue "is a restless evil and full of deadly poison." James 3:8
Are you spewing poison? We can either make others sick by spewing poison or we can help make others healthier by spewing blessings. Are you spewing poison or blessings on your spouse? Do you encourage or complain, uplift or put down, be joyful or mad and angry?
"Make the most of your chances to tell others the Good News, be wise in all your contacts with them. Let your conversation be gracious, as well as sensible, for then you will have the right answer for everyone." Colossians 4:5,6
As you learn self-control, you will practice discipline in every area of your life, especially your time spent with God. Are you having a quiet time with God every day? This is a time that you spend talking to God and listening to Him speak to you. Nothing should get in the way of this precious time every day. Many things will try to encroach upon this time, but as you practice discipline, you will make time for the communion with your Father. Make it happen as if your life depends on it! Because it does!
Daily Prayer: Give God complete control of your life and submit to the way He wants you to live your life.
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