Day 312: What Controls You?

2 Peter 2:19

They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.

Control- to exercise restraint or direction over; dominate, command

How many times have we wanted something so bad that that very thing started to control our lives? When we need something or want something and it’s all we can think about, it’s our motive for living? What is directing you or commanding your attention. What is something in your life that seems to have a hold on you, that one thing that controls your life? Is it God or is it something else. In other words, what are we living for? That’s a huge question because it will determine how we are living, and how we treat others. Sometimes we are controlled by so many other things than God and it will take us down every path but the right one, it will lead us everywhere but where we are supposed to be.

I have seen this generation be controlled by money, status, luxury, the need to be liked, fame, acceptance, we are in constant search of purpose yet we are looking in all the wrong places. We as humans are often controlled by our desires. We are controlled by what we want and that’s where we go wrong, because some of us will stop at nothing to get what we want even if God Himself is telling us to stop. That’s why we must get to a point where we want God more than we want anything else. Where our desire for God is stronger than anything. That is when we will start to allow God to be in control and that is when things will begin to fall in place. It is only when we give our lives to Christ and surrender our desires to God that we will be moving in the right direction. There’s nothing like being attached to our worldly desires, that will get us caught up.

How many times have you felt like you couldn’t stop something, especially because the sensation of it was too good. Sin can have a strong hold on us, because for so long it’s all we know and it feels good. Or at least it feels good for the moment. See sin is a quick, temporary, pleasurable fix, it’s like a drug, that’s why we’ve found ourselves going back for more. Even when we knew what was right. This make look different for everyone but those desires to sin are hard to shake, and can have control over us like nothing else. That’s why we see the Israelites turn away from God so many time, because in the moment the pleasure of sin feels feels so much better than the desire to do what is right. We are controlled by our desires and that leads us to be controlled by sin. This is not to say that every desire is a sin, sometimes we are controlled by our need to succeed or be perfect or be a good person. It’s how we go about obtaining the things that we desire. Do we take them to God or do we allow them to take over our life and take our eyes off the Lord. Anything that takes our focus off of God is not good for us.

What gets you out of bed in the morning. What keeps you going day by day? Whatever your answer is to that question is the thing that controls you. I have heard many people, myself included, say that things other than God keep them moving. Some people say how their kids are the reason they get out of bed, their career, their needs to get money. While there is nothing wrong with being motivated by outside stimuli however, when all of that is gone can we still function? Can we still live and move, or do we need another outside stimulus to keep us going? See the thing about living for God is He is permanent, He’s going to always be there. God is not here to constantly feed our desires, yes He will give us the desires of our hearts but first He wants a relationship with us. He wants our hearts. He gives us what we have but also has the power to take away. God gives us a reason to get up in the morning, therefore He is the reason we open our eyes. He is the reason we have breath. No one but God did that. God gave us a purpose a reason to live, but too often we find ourselves trusting in the path and not God, we focus on the gift more than the giver.  Meaning we are more focused on where we are and how we are going to get there as opposed to trusting in God and His plan to guide us wherever He wants us to be.

All this to say, do not be controlled by desires for worldly thing rather allow our desires for Christ be the center of our lives. Allow Christ to be at the very core of who we are. Allow God to be in control and we will never be empty as the Holy Spirit will always dwell within us. God is constantly pouring into us, and He has everything under control we just have to surrender to Him.

Reflection

1. What are you controlled by?
2. How have you let your desires controls you?
3. Is you desire for Christ greater than you desire for anything or anyone else?

Prayer Time

Allow your answers to the above questions guide you prayer. Have a conversation with God about what we discussed today. Let God lead you and take you as far as He wants you to go, just be with Him.

I love you and I hope you have an amazing day or evening! Be sure to share this with someone and come back tomorrow for Day 313!

Day 282: This Temporary World

1 Timothy 6:6-8

Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.  After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content

1 Timothy 6:17-19

Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.  Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.  By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.

It is a beautiful revelation to understand that this physical world is fleeting and temporary, and putting our trust in it is useless. It’s great to come to the understanding that we brought nothing into this world so we can take nothing with us. Sometimes I just have to sit and remind myself that although there are many things I want out of this life, I will only put my faith and trust in God. I sit back and look at all the things I have from the clothes in my closet to the money in my bank, and I realize that one day i will be gone and the money I made will stay here, the clothes, the iphones, everything will stay and my soul will depart to be with the Lord. So I’ve learned to invest more into my soul. I’ve learned to be content with what I have and live with God. Now I am not saying that it is a sin to want to make money, or like to look good, what I’m saying is, do not be defined by what is in your bank account, or what type of clothes you wear. I say this because we are living in a generation that is consumed by image, money, and status. Everywhere I look someone is talking about how their only goal is to get up and get money. There is so much more to life than just making money. We can make all the money in the world, but at the end of the day if our soul is not saved how do we sleep in peace? If our soul is not saved does any of it matter?

Mark 8:35-37

If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.  And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?

We’ve all heard the saying that money doesn’t buy happiness, and I believe it can. But it cannot buy joy, that only comes from God. It cannot buy salvation, the clothes will make us look good but it will not keep us content. These are only things that we can find in Christ.

I grew up very spoiled, I had everything I wanted. I had over a hundred pairs of shoes in my closet, my drawers and closet was bursting with clothes. I grew up rarely hearing the word “no” when it came to getting what I wanted. Although my mother taught us to never find our identity in what we have and always be generous to others. We were made to get together toys and clothes we no longer used and give them to kids less fortunate than us. However I still developed the arrogance that came from all the things I had, I found my identity in what I had. The latest Jordans, or the most expensive bags. That was until I lost it all and realized that my identity is in Christ alone. Even without the riches and the clothes and things, I still had Christ. I had to come to the complete understanding that this world is fleeting, everything is temporary and when it’s all gone, who am I?

-Dyamond

All this to say what will it profit us to everything if we do not have Christ? We cannot walk through life very long trying to fulfill ourselves off of worldly possession and tangible things. Now I’m not saying that we are to walk around denying ourselves the joys of the world. What I’m saying is, do not be defined or identified by the joys of this world but let your identity be in Christ.

Reflection/Prayer Time

1. If you lost everything, who are you?
2. Where is your identity found?
3. Really think about these questions and search yourself before answering them. Do not be afraid or shy away from whatever you find but rather turn to God in prayer. Allow these questions to guide your prayer.

I love you and I hope you have a magnificent day! Be sure to share this with someone and come back tomorrow for Day 283!