Who Is In Control?

Who is in control?

Proverbs 25:28; “A person without self-control
      is like a city with broken-down walls.”

   In our everyday lives we like to have some semblance of order. We all like to be in control of our own lives. After all it is our one and only life. Contrary to what people say about re-incarnation you only get one chance at this life.  There are second chances in life, but there are no second chances at this life. So here we stand guided by our dreams and hopes, clawing and scratching and trying our best to be the best we can be. We are controlled by many things, in part by our ability to have self-control. The questions we ask ourselves are; Do we use our self-control the way it was meant to be used? Do we pick and choose when to show self-control? Do circumstances choose our ability to use self-control for us?

   We all have parts of our lives that we find difficult to control. From food to anger from relationships to habits, you name it something is really in control and it is not you. If we take inventory of the things we did this past week, how did you use your self-control in those seven days? Who or What got to you were you either showed self-control or lost it altogether? Here is the truth about self-control; to have it you must surrender control to God. It is only through surrendering to God’s grace and Holy Spirit and clothing ourselves with Jesus that we can have the strength to practice self-control in every situation in our lives.

   Here is what it looks like for some of us. You know you should come go to church yet you choose not to. Then you get this feeling of something missing in the pit of your stomach. You hear of an activity that is design for you to have fun and grow spiritually but constantly choose to go do something else. At the time it seemed like the thing to do, but down deep inside it left you empty. You decide that keeping your faith a secret will help you gain popularity and once you are popular you will tell people about it. You choose to pray when you need help yet you completely ignore God when everything is great in your life. You hear your parents, but you don’t listen. You talk harshly to them even though they are right and trying to look after you.  Do you make your choice of what to watch on TV and the internet or is someone else guiding you? Do you fall for the fancy ads that make everything look good when they are really just drawing you away from what God has for you?

Self-control or selfish-control, you be the judge.

RH