Control or Not

Control or Not

 

Each week at our Prayer meeting, I bring a short focus. 

This week I was pondering about:  

“Things you Can’t Control”

1. The Weather  (Even as I though on this, I can remember asking God to stop the rain so my children could get home from school in the dry – and he did.  I did not control the weather, but we can ask God to do so.  We also pray for rain when there is a drought.)
2. Bodily functions – such as vomiting, sweating etc.  (The more I though on this, I remembered the verse about God being upset with Christians that were neither Hot or Cold.  God hates Luke-warm, and says he will vomit them up.)  (I don’t think He had to stick his finger down his throat to do so.)
3. Someone else’s WILL.  (Oh how we would like to shake some people and make them live right, but we cannot control someone else’s decisions.
4. Your friend’s choices (same as #3.)
5. Force someone to follow Jesus.  (My thoughts took me to the saying, ‘You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.’) 
6. God and his ways.  And the methods he uses to discipline people. 

(I was thinking about Sodom and Gomorrah, and how God destroyed both cities with fire and brimstone, because of their homosexual lifestyle. - - You might think me cruel and heartless, but think about it. - - - God sometimes uses a Muslim with a gun, to destroy a band of sodomites. 

I am sad for the grieving families of these victims and sorry the victims at the night club probably did not have time to repent.  I would not wish this on anyone.) 

 

Things you CAN Control   

1.      Your thoughts  - Accomplished by substitution of another thought.  Philippians 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

2.     Being responsible for your own actions.  Romans 14:10, 12 “For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.”

3.     Determination to show up at Church and support meetings. Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

4.    Taking time to daily read your Bible and pray.  2 Timothy 2:15  Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that has nothing to be ashamed of, rightly dividing the word of truth.

5.     Personal Self Control – A fruit of the Holy Spirit, accomplished by choice and decisions.  Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Titus 2:12   The Holy Spirit teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age. 

How can we apply this lesson as we pray over our city? 

1. Request the Holy Spirit to convict these with stubborn minds and rebellious attitudes.  They are enjoying the pleasures of unrighteousness, not realizing that these gratifications are destroying them body soul and spirit. 

2. Ask Jesus to reveal Himself to our citizens and that they need to repent and turn around and face Jesus.   

3. Ask God to send dreams in the night to reveal to our citizens His truth that Christ Jesus can change their life and make it better.