LBY Week 10-Self Control
"The Holy Spirit is looking for a place where He can be comfortable in your skin." --Beth Moore
Self control. It can apply to anything can't it? Excess in eating, blogging, recreation, time spent with others (including our children, spouses, friends) rather than God, TV, etc. Satan wants us to be so consumed with anything but God, doesn't he? Without self-control, we cannot possess fully the entire fruit of the Spirit. I liked what Beth said in Day One about self control:
The quality of self-control is that which secures our freedom to love, to experience joy, to know peace, to respond with patience, to act out of goodness, to step out in faithfulness, and to agree with gentleness. Howe? Because self-control is the ability to make choices which invite and enhance the authority and filling of the Holy Spirit. Self-control is the decision to remain within the boundaries of victory!
God is so cool. I know, you might be wondering where this came from, other than that He is. But in a leadership group I'm facilitating, we have just started reading the book "Celebration of Discipline". God has sure intertwined all of my bible studies and ministry endeavors as of late. Just had to throw this one in.
As we wrap up our study of the fruit of the Spirit in our Living Beyond Ourselves study, I think about the quote above from this week's video on self control. We've been talking about the Holy Spirit and the way it empowers us to be able to know and do things that we ordinarily would not be able to know and do...because He is living inside us as Christians. I guess that is the bottom line, is it not? That God is inside us and wants to empower us if we would just plug in to Him, THE Power Supply? Lord, help me to not live in my own power and let Your grace and power be sufficient for me.
1 Cor 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and your spirit, which are God's. (NKJV)
So our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, His "home" upon this earth. How is everyone's "temple" these days? I must say that about 3 weeks ago I started trying to eat better and exercise more so I had to laugh when the video spoke of the fact that should strive a balance between neglect and obsession with our body's fitness. Thankfully, I haven't been obsessed this time around. After all, the last thing I need is more stress about a diet. (FYI-I have though lost 4 pounds just by cutting out the junk I eat and reducing portions a little bit - pretty painless, really).
You know, I could write on and one tonight, but before I end this post, I want to discuss what our lesson said in Day 5 about living victoriously. Ladies, and gentlemen who stop by, I will devote my life to helping people catch the vision that anyone can have a victorious life through the power of Christ in them if they just exercise a little discipline to get them started and keep them going. I totally agree with Beth's position (and I believe the bible supports it too) that to have a victorious day, we have to start it with God in the morning. Jesus did it (Mark 1:35). David endorsed it and did it (Psalm 5:3).
From Beth, "As often as you are completely cleansed and yielded, you will possess a power that is completely beyond you...". We all can do it with a little discipline over our lives, including the activities of our households. Making our lives a sacrifice, not only glories God, but benefits us as well. Let's all be victorious and let God conform and renew us. It's time to take our positions in God's service.
Ro 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
FINAL NOTE: To all of the ladies participating in this study, I have so enjoyed getting to know you through your blogs. It has been a real blessing to me. I pray that you may grow in His grace and that you may be forever changed by this study. It has come at what I believe has been a pivotal year in my life and service to God. God bless each of you and I will continue to "stop by" and see what y'all are up to. On ya!