What controls you?

“Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭19‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

• What controls you? What are you allowing to rule over you? Is it an attitude? Behavior? Habit? What do you need to maintain control over? Anger? Resentment? Bitterness? Jealousy? Need for approval or praise? 

In Genesis 4:3 it says, “…Cain brought an offering". What kind of offering? Was it the best of the fruit? Or was it the leftovers? Did Cain keep what he wanted for himself and give to the Lord what he knew he could do without? Was it really much of a sacrifice? The Bible doesn’t say, but God wasn’t pleased with His offering. God knew Cain’s heart. He knew his true motivation. But because his offering was rejected, Cain became angry which leads to verse seven where God says to Cain, “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”” This reminds me of how Peter tells us, in 1 Peter 5:8, “our adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour!” Even Paul reminds us in Romans 6:16, that we become a “slave” to whatever or whoever we obey, “either sin which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness”, the choice is ours.

From the beginning God has given us the freedom to choose. Either we let sin rule over us or we choose not to be overcome by it. Who’s in charge? My emotions or me? The temptation or me? Do I take control over my own thoughts or let them run amuck? In 1 Corinthians 10:13 it says, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” We do not have to be controlled by our emotions. We do not have to let our minds dictate how we will respond to any given circumstance. We do not have to let sin rule over us! Paul says, in the verse above, that God will provide a way out! How does He provide a way out? What does that mean? Perhaps it is in remembering verses such as, 2 Corinthians 10:5 which says, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Or, 1 Corinthians 13:4-5, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” I was challenged once to try the exercise of putting my name in place of the “it” in each of the above sentences, it sure gave new meaning to this verse and was definitely convicting! But we can use verses such as these to help us when satan’s attacks become overwhelming, isn’t that what Jesus did when He was tempted by the devil in the desert? And Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:10-18, to put on the whole armor of God when we stand against the enemy, and the Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God! 

 So instead of letting sin rule over us, why not let the Peace of Christ rule in our hearts(Colossians 3:15)! ‭‭ If we let the peace  of Christ Rule in our hearts, then His peace will have the final say over our worries, fears or anxieties. But what is the peace of Christ? Is it grace under pressure? Is it remembering that no matter how crazy things get that God is in control? That He has a plan for us and He will bring it to pass? Putting our trust and confidence in Him. How do we do this? In the next verse Paul says "let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.” So by reading, mediating and allowing ourselves to dwell on His word we will have the peace of Christ. By calling to mind His promises, we can be at peace. So much better to let the Peace of Christ rule in our hearts than sin, don’t you think?🙂