Thought for Wednesday, March 6th

March 6, 2013

Taking Charge

  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

1 Corinthians  9:24-27

“He is strong who conquers others; he who conquers himself is mighty.”

-       Lao-Tzu

In order for God to have control, we must exercise the self-control needed to bring our desires into alignment with His: and then we must be willing to surrender our will to His authority.

To live for God requires obedience on our part: and to walk in obedience demands a great degree of self-control and will power.

Paul spoke of crucifying the flesh daily:  living for God requires that daily commitment of taking control of our thoughts and desires and yielding them to God.  And most of the time, even that is an ongoing process through out the course of any given day.

God has opted to allow His creation to have the freedom of will to choose whether or not we serve and obey Him: hence we have been given the responsibility to exercise control over our own lives. 

So then we must choose each day and each moment of each day whom and what we will serve: will it be what we want; or are we willing to submit to what God wants?

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.

I’m redeemed, I’m redeemed,

Praise the Lord.

-       Ward Ellis (lyrics from ‘Let the Redeemed’)

Today’s Prayer

Father, you have given me so much more freedom than I deserve: so help me to be wise and prudent with it by taking control and giving it back to you.