Category Archives: Control

Fasting 101

Daniel 9:3 “So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and fasting. I also wore rough burlap and sprinkled myself with ashes.”            

There are certain fundamentals of the faith that we assume people understand. However, from engaging with people I have discovered that some people really do not understand these things. So, rather than assume we all understand, it is important that we explain the concept of fasting again. Read the rest of this entry

It Is Time

John 4:10 “Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”

How have you been responding to Jesus? The Samaritan woman got the gift God had for her and got to know who she was speaking to because she chose to be vulnerable. It is easy to look at this Samaritan woman and call her different names. But the question remains, Read the rest of this entry

Secure?

Ps. 46:1-2 “God, you’re such a safe and powerful place to find refuge! You’re a proven help in time of trouble—more than enough and always available whenever I need you. So we will never fear even if every structure of support were to crumble away…” (KJV)

We pick up today’s devotional from our final thought yesterday, which is, as a leader, you have to be careful how you handle fear. Why was Jerusalem afraid? What was their fear? Their king, Herod was afraid, and so everyone was in fear. Read the rest of this entry

Countercultural II

John 4:25-26 “The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah!” (emphasis added).

Did you know that in general at the time, men do not speak to their own wives in public? This was the cultural setting in place when Paul was talking to the Corinthian church. 1 Cor. 14:34-35 Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just as the law says. If they have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings.” Paul made this statement when they wanted to put order in the disorder in the Corinthian church. When I read this I was like, why can’t she ask him in church? Read the rest of this entry

Will You?

John 10:10-11 (NIV) “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Will you give God control of your life or are you going to remain in control? Are you going to keep struggling to conquer? Or are you going to enter the lane of those who are more than conquerors? Read the rest of this entry

Shepherd vs. Cowboy

Ps.26:3 “Your constant love is my guide and your faithfulness always leads me.” (TEV, emphasis added)

Who is your shepherd? I hope that by now you can say Only Jesus! A lot of us know people or are people that travel. When we travel to new places, sometimes we go around the city just to appreciate the sights. Read the rest of this entry

Never Ever!

1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV) “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light”

 

You are going to let yourself down, it is standard. You are going to set goals that you will not achieve. I am saying this to you from a place of knowing. I have experienced this myself. At the beginning of the year, I set goals in the major areas of my life. Read the rest of this entry

The Pleasure

Ps.63:1-3 (MSG) “God—you’re my God! I can’t get enough of you! I’ve worked up such hunger and thirst for God, traveling across dry and weary deserts. So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open, drinking in your strength and glory.”

We are excited about God’s work and about what God is doing on earth. It is easy to look at the news and think that all hope is lost. It is easy to look at what is going on, the legislation, Read the rest of this entry

Step Aside

Eph. 1:20 (TLB) “God’s great power is available to help us who believe Him. It is the same mighty power that raised Christ.” (emphasis added)

Does the scripture say half of the power is available to us? All that power! All the same mighty power, the power of resurrection that raised Christ from the dead. Read the rest of this entry

Come Back

Eph. 1:20 (TLB) “God’s great power is available to help us who believe Him. It is the same mighty power that raised Christ.” (emphasis added)

A lot of the time, because the major things in our lives are outside our control, we tend to struggle with the concept of God being in control. We do not get to choose things like our gifts (talent, ability). Read the rest of this entry