I recently posted regarding our battle. Reminding us that our battle isn't against flesh and blood, but instead it's against the things that desires to master and rule over us. Yesterday I was talking to a friend about the desire for food that we have. Last night as I lay sleeping I kept waking with its thought. And that verse, ".. sin is crouching at your door, it desires to have you, but you must master it" (Gen 4:7) kept running through my mind. Another version, "It wants to control you, but you must master and rule over it."
I kept thinking that if you don't control it, then it will control you. If you don't master it, then it will master you. If you don't rule over it, it will rule over you.
What is it that you serve?
Do you have food issues like I do?
Are you being served food; or, are you serving your food?
Are you controlling it, or is your food controlling you?
I was studying last night about the Holy Spirit. He kindly reminded me that we are to be FILLED with the Spirit, NOT FILLED with food! And of course He reminded me too that we're to be filled with His fruit! His biggest reminder of that fruit, though, was the reminder of "self-control".
NOT, mind you, FOOD controlled! Or substance controlled! Or alcohol controlled! Or drug controlled! Or fury controlled! Or man controlled! Or..... whatever the battle you struggle with and the thing that you're allowing to master and rule over and control you.
I've decided to refuse the offer! Because of my Savior that died for me, I refuse to be controlled and ruled by any other thing! He alone deserves being served. I want my only passion and obsession to be in the One that has passionately pursued me. I want to passionately pursue only my Savior, not waste it passionately pursing my food.
"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.... For sin shall not be your master;... Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone [something!] to obey him as slaves, you are a slave to the one whom you obey - whether slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness" ~ Rom 6:12,14,16.
""Everything is permissible for me" -- but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me" -- but I will not be mastered by anything" ~ 1 Cor. 6:12.
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As I read this 1 Corinthians 6:12 was scrolling through my mind !!! Then, I get to the bottom... you too had thought it !!
ReplyDeleteThank you for walking this "controlling" season with me as you have countless others!!
God is WINNING today !! Was I tempted? Just about 7 minutes ago !!! Then I literally picked it up and put it in the trash !!! GLORY !!
Score one for The One !! I am BELIEVING Him for THIS victory !!!!
Let's decide that when we're hungry (when we really know that we're not, that it's really only our desire that's hungry and not our bellies) not to eat physical food, but to eat instead the Manna of God's Word. The Bread of Life that can satiate and sustain us and fill us beyond wonder! Let's use this opportunity .... every time that satan attempts to tempt us with this, let's commit to radically devote to tasting what is better than honey instead and make him mad! After awhile, he'll quit tempting us so much because he won't want us in the Word. With each next want-to eat, I'll remind God of the scripture as I go to what He's said, that if we will open our mouths up wide to Him that He will be faithful to FILL it... and to fill it to FULL!
ReplyDeleteThrough our valley of the shadow of death... or rather, through the death itself of the thing that we're trying to put to death in us..... two scriptures:
ReplyDelete1) "You are my hiding place; You WILL protect me [us] from trouble and surround me [us] with SONGS of DELIVERANCE. Selah." Ps 32:7. May we SING His praises as He delivers us!
2) "For I know that through your [our] prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this WILL turn out for my [our] DELIVERANCE" ~ Phil 1:19.
Let the journey to FREEdom begin! :)
And then........ after the enemy's been defeated: "when you turn back... strenghthen your brothers" (Luke 22:32)!
ReplyDelete"You are to help your brothers until the LORD gives them rest, as He has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you..." Joshua 1:14-15.