Matching the Brake….!!!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Have you ever wondered what driving a car without a functional brake system would look like? Well, I have neither experienced it but I have indeed experienced what riding a bicycle without brake is!
I had always liked to ride bicycle may be since I was in the womb of my mom. When I was younger and didn’t have a bicycle, so I would go to the neighbourhood where a guy puts up bikes for hire and I would ride from school closing till mom returned from work. But I had an indelible experience one day. I call it “indelible” because the mark it left is still evident on my right leg.
I had always liked to ride bicycle may be since I was in the womb of my mom. When I was younger and didn’t have a bicycle, so I would go to the neighbourhood where a guy puts up bikes for hire and I would ride from school closing till mom returned from work. But I had an indelible experience one day. I call it “indelible” because the mark it left is still evident on my right leg.
I had gone to hire a bike as usual, but on this faithful or ‘fateful’ day, I was not duly informed by the guy that the brake of this bicycle had problems so I set off.. and trust me I like to ride standing on the bike at top speed (what a wonderful experience it was). But on sensing an on-coming vehicle, with another one parked by the side, I applied the brake but wouldn’t answer. Gbosssh…! was the last thing I remembered but the scar on my leg informed me rightly that I must have swerved into the only available alternative… the drainage by the road ride. I think I only rode for I couple of times more before venturing into playing computer games like Nintendo, Ultra 64, Play station….
Why I am referring to all these..?
It is because I have a strong impression on my heart to talk to people who run their lives as if they do not have functional brake system. God, who created us as humans, has also built inside us a brake system called SELF CONTROL.
What is Self Control?
Self Control is one of the fruits of the spirit called temperance- ability to control your temper or yourself. It simply means setting boundaries for self or keeping rule over your life.
It is because I have a strong impression on my heart to talk to people who run their lives as if they do not have functional brake system. God, who created us as humans, has also built inside us a brake system called SELF CONTROL.
What is Self Control?
Self Control is one of the fruits of the spirit called temperance- ability to control your temper or yourself. It simply means setting boundaries for self or keeping rule over your life.
“Until you can control yourself, you can’t control your life”
Let me break it down, Eve- the first woman, lacked self control and so she yielded to the devil's deceit by eating of the forbidden fruit. Are you not also eating the forbidden fruit secretly thinking no one including God will see you? Many so called believers fall victims of certain things just because they cannot control themselves. But they keep saying God is in control.
“Self Control plus God Control equals Total Control”
There’s no contradiction that there are stuffs going on around us daily. But that’s why God blesses everyone who has Jesus with a fruit of the Spirit called “Self Control”. In psychology, self control is the ability to control human behavior through the exertion of will. The will referred to here talks about the force of determination but I’ll like to tell you that your determination alone may not be able to handle this at times because I have since folks who were determined never to smoke or drink again but still find themselves doing it even within the same day or week. It simply goes to say that we may not be able to tackle this by human strength but by the Spirit of God. What have you been struggling with? Read on
Areas of Self Control
Your Tongue
Do you know what you say can either make or mar you? Obama spoke sometimes at the Democractic Convention and he got the presidential ticket, for others they speak and get the beating of their life from what they said. The scripture says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue and only those who know how to use their tongue will eat the fruit from it. Proverbs 18:21 What do you talk about? How many people have you butchered on the altar on your tongue? Do your words edify or makes a horrible day for others? Are you sincere when you compliment others or do you wink your nose behind? See what James had to say;
We all make many mistakes, but those who control their tongues can also control themselves in every other way. So also, the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life. It can turn the entire course of your life into a blazing flame of destruction, for it is set on fire by hell itself.
James 3:2, 5-6 (NLT)
It means if you can control your tongue, you can actually control every other thing, but if not destruction is glooming. Watch your mouth! Please, speak only positive things. Say what you want to see. I have learnt to say “IT IS WELL" even at the face of terrible situations until I got that nickname back then in school.
Your Tongue
Do you know what you say can either make or mar you? Obama spoke sometimes at the Democractic Convention and he got the presidential ticket, for others they speak and get the beating of their life from what they said. The scripture says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue and only those who know how to use their tongue will eat the fruit from it. Proverbs 18:21 What do you talk about? How many people have you butchered on the altar on your tongue? Do your words edify or makes a horrible day for others? Are you sincere when you compliment others or do you wink your nose behind? See what James had to say;
We all make many mistakes, but those who control their tongues can also control themselves in every other way. So also, the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life. It can turn the entire course of your life into a blazing flame of destruction, for it is set on fire by hell itself.
James 3:2, 5-6 (NLT)
It means if you can control your tongue, you can actually control every other thing, but if not destruction is glooming. Watch your mouth! Please, speak only positive things. Say what you want to see. I have learnt to say “IT IS WELL" even at the face of terrible situations until I got that nickname back then in school.
“What you say is what you see”
Your Eyes
I’m sure one of the reason King Solomon’s heart moved from God was because of what he was feeding his eyes with. See what the wisest man that ever lived said “.. And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.” Ecclesiastes 2:10 (KJV). No wonder he had 700 wives and 300 concubines! It might be very dangerous to look at certain things twice. You watch pun or pornographic movies and pictures and you expect nothing to happen?
I’m sure one of the reason King Solomon’s heart moved from God was because of what he was feeding his eyes with. See what the wisest man that ever lived said “.. And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.” Ecclesiastes 2:10 (KJV). No wonder he had 700 wives and 300 concubines! It might be very dangerous to look at certain things twice. You watch pun or pornographic movies and pictures and you expect nothing to happen?
Jesus says if you even lustfully look at a woman, you may not need to sleep with her, because you have already committed adultery with her in your heart! Matthew 5:28 (KJV) Back to Eve, she first saw the fruit in the garden.. and then Satan began to suggest to her. The devil has not changed its tricks. Watch what you see!
Your Appetite
Haha..What some have in their stomach is enough to build a skyscraper! Someone once said Fatness is not a sign of affluence but a sign of carelessness. Do you have control over what enters into your mouth? The scriptures says “Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food.” This is true, though someday God will do away with both of them. But our bodies were not made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies” 1 Corinthians 6:13 (NLT)
Our entire being is to glorify God and anything short of that is to be controlled if we must please God.
If you are need to make amends in any of, pray to God right now to forgive you and ask the Holy Spirit to help with that fruit of self-control even at the face of temptations. You will not end in a crash.
Haha..What some have in their stomach is enough to build a skyscraper! Someone once said Fatness is not a sign of affluence but a sign of carelessness. Do you have control over what enters into your mouth? The scriptures says “Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food.” This is true, though someday God will do away with both of them. But our bodies were not made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies” 1 Corinthians 6:13 (NLT)
Our entire being is to glorify God and anything short of that is to be controlled if we must please God.
If you are need to make amends in any of, pray to God right now to forgive you and ask the Holy Spirit to help with that fruit of self-control even at the face of temptations. You will not end in a crash.
Remember, unlike the bicycle I rode back then without a brake, your life has control but you must always match the brake..!
Selah!
0 comments:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
