The Sovereignty Of God
There are no limits to Gods rule. He alone is the Creator and Sustainer of all that is. As such, He can do with His creation as He pleases. He is God, and we are not. God is never surprised by what happens in our lives. He is completely powerful, and completely Holy. God is all-knowing. He is never frustrated, nor surprised, and never helpless. God is the most powerful Being ever. There is nothing that He is not completely in control over.
1) Psalm 135:6-7 He does whatever he pleases in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all the ocean depths. 7 He causes the clouds to arise from the end of the earth, makes lightning bolts accompany the rain, and brings the wind out of his storehouses.
2) Romans 9:6-9 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel nor are they all children because they are Abrahams descendants, but: through Isaac your descendants will be named. That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. For this is the word of promise: At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.
3) 2 Chronicles 20:6 He prayed: O Lord God of our ancestors, you are the God who lives in heaven and rules over all the kingdoms of the nations. You possess strength and power no one can stand against you.
7) Job 23:13 But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind? Whatever he wants to do, he does.
What About Bad Choices
We all make bad choices in life yes, some worse than others. But God is a master at working all things together for good , a promise for all who truly love God. Gods plan for us is not health, wealth, and happiness, though we may receive these blessings. His desire for us is to be conformed to the image of his Son, , and as the Westminster Shorter Catechism question one teaches, that we glorify God and enjoy him forever.
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Are You Renewing Your Mind With The Word Of God Or With The World
8. 2 Timothy 2:22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
9. 1 Timothy 6:11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
10. 3 John 1:11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God whoever does evil has not seen God.
11. Mark 7:20-22 And he said, What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.
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Bible Verses On Self Control
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Do you struggle with willpower and self-discipline in your eating ? Use these 15 Bible verses on self-control to grow in this Fruit of the Spirit.
Food cravings are no joke. They are strong and convincing and usually lead you to eat way more junk food than you need.
God created food to sustain us, fuel us, bring people together, and bring us enjoyment, but food was never meant to control us.
Just like other pleasures in life.
If you are growing in self-control for your weight loss journey or just to draw nearer to Christ, memorizing Scripture is a fantastic way to improve your self-discipline.
I like to write these verses on note cards and keep them in areas where I tend to experience temptation on the fridge, in my car, on my nightstand, etc.
It helps me to turn to God in those moments of temptation and listen for Gods voice .
Here are my favorite Scriptures to use.
Does Birth Control Express A Lack Of Faith In God
Without regulating the size of their family, many couples would end up having more children than they can reasonably support financially. In response, some argue that we should simply have faith that God will provide the funds. However, we don’t use the “God would provide” reasoning to justify going beyond our means in other areas of life. We wouldn’t consider it wise, for example, to pledge twice our annual income to missions organizations in faith that God will supply the extra funds. God expects us to make wise decisions according to what he has given us, and not presume upon him providing from out of the blue. Reasonable financial considerations are a relevant factor: “If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever” .
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Pray To The Holy Spirit To Help You To Control Your Thoughts
24. John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
25. Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Bonus: Meditate on Gods Words / Temptation
Psalm 119:15 I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
You Have Power In Christ
It might be hard, but you are strong enough in Christ. Jesus has won the battle, removed sins power, and has empowered you to make the right choices.
Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin .
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me .
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Bible Verses About Controlling Your Thoughts
If were honest, we all struggle to control our thoughts. Ungodly and evil thoughts are constantly seeking to wage war in our minds. The question is, do you dwell on those thoughts or fight to switch those thoughts? First and foremost, God gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. In our struggle, we can rest in the perfect work of Christ on our behalf. Secondly, those who have placed their faith in Christ alone for salvation have been given the Holy Spirit, who helps us fight against sin and temptation.
What Does The Bible Say
THE dire state of the world today was foretold in the Bible many centuries ago. And what is more, the Bible specifically predicted a bright future for mankind. What the Bible says should not be quickly dismissed in view of the fact that so much of what it foretells has actually been fulfilled in amazing detail.
For instance, consider the following Bible prophecies:
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Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another.Matthew 24:7.
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In the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God.2 Timothy 3:1-4.
Those prophecies describe a world that some might say is spiraling out of control. In a sense, our world is indeed out of controlout of the control of humans. According to the Bible, humans simply do not have the wisdom and power to bring about a permanent solution. This is highlighted in the following scriptures:
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There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.Proverbs 14:12.
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Man has dominated man to his harm.Ecclesiastes 8:9.
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It does not belong to man . . . even to direct his step.Jeremiah 10:23.
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The Sin Of The Controlling Spirit
Control is a delicate subject that requires balance. So many things around us seem to be out of control. As parents we must control our children and help them learn self-control. As a church we need some control to keep us on the narrow way to Glory. But in the exercise of control there is potential for abuse! All human hearts have some tendency to err toward wanting more control than God has designed for us to have.
The Bible shows us the sin of being a controlling person. Controllers are very hard to reach. They often resist when friends try to show them their control problem. They must see it for themselves.
So what is a controlling person? How do they act? Lets look at some of the marks of a controller.
A controller often uses moodiness to make a statement or push a point. Moodiness intimidates people into cooperating rather than facing the pain of the bad mood. The silent treatment or the avoidance response is part of this.
A bad temper often accompanies a controller. They flare up when someone challenges or disagrees with them. They are often uneasy with questions. They dont like people questioning them because they arent in control. They dont know where this discussion will go. They love to be the questioner.
Controllers often offer few compliments. They dont like others to feel too good about themselves lest they gain control and confidence. Of the compliments they do give, many end up backhandedly showing a fault.
~ Fredericksburg, PA
Children Need Nurture And Guidance
Train up a child in the way he should go even when he is old, he will not depart from it.Proverbs 22:6
When planting vines and some bushes, gardeners will attach them to a framework, like a pole or trellis, to keep them from spreading out of control. Kids need solid structure to keep their physical, emotional, social, and spiritual growth on track too. This means we are present in their lives, supporting their growth and development, and leading by our godly example.
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What Does The Bible Say About Self
There are so many things competing for our attention, money, and loyalty. Modern advertising capitalizes on our human desire to have our needs met, taking things a step further by convincing us to regularly indulge and overindulge ourselves on food & drink, sex, entertainment, and more. This mindset of more & more elevates our physical self to an unhealthy level. In the Bible, we hear a different message self-control. It was as counter-cultural then as it is today.
A wise pastor once told me, you can choose your actions or your outcome, but never both. This means that either you can choose what you will do in life and let the outcome be as it will be, or you can choose an end point and do the actions that get you there. As we explore the concept of self-control, we must decide if it is an action or an outcome. In other words, is self-control an end, or is it a means to an end?
A Prayer To Relinquish Control
Father, I have tried to control my life and even to control other peoples behavior to suit my purposes: forgive me. You are the King of my heart, one and only Sovereign, Lord of all. Thank you that I dont have to be in control because YOU are. Thank you for perfect leadership, for your omniscient command of every situation, and for loving us while you hold all things together. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Trying to be in control just tires us out because its a futile exercise. The Lord is already in control, so let Him tell you what to do next. Pray, read scripture, and follow the example Christ left for us: perfect submission.
Gods will is going to become apparent if you pay attention, like the man in Matthew 7 who built his house on a rock. Even when its hard to follow, we know from Jesus resurrection that obedience to the one in total authority leads to eternal security and joy.
Candice Lucey is a freelance writer from British Columbia, Canada, where she lives with her family. Find out more about her here.
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Vi Rid Yourself Of Presumptions What Ifs And What You Think Should Happen
Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the high hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the Lords covenant moved from the camp. Numbers 14:44
In Numbers, we can see that when God told the people of Israel to conquer the land, they doubted. They were afraid, so they didnt do it. They didnt embrace Gods plan for them. They didnt trust God would take care of them. They assumed control.
Later, they regretted it, but it was too late to go. It wasnt Gods time or way anymore, yet they presumed they could still do it. Even when God warned He would not be with them, they trusted in their strength and tried to conquer the land. They lost that battle.
Often times we presume that things should go a certain way. We think:
If God was with me, this shouldnt have happened!
If this was truly Gods will, this and that should have happened by now!
Nevertheless, God sees the bigger picture. He sees the purpose for every little detail in your life. Whenever you start assuming or over-thinking details in your life, look to His promises. God tells us:
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9
God also assures us that for those who love God all things work together for good. Romans 8:28
What Does The Bible Say About God Being In Control Of Everything
by Spirit & Truth | Apr 23, 2018 | God
The full context of the Bible shows that God is not in control of everything. Many broad statements are made about God that are not supported by Scripture. Two of the primary examples are that God is in control of everything and that all things happen for a reason. While statements like these may be believed by many Christians, they are not consistent with Scriptures teaching. The Bible tells us that God is not responsible for everything that happens, because present world is actually under the control of Gods archenemy, the Devil. 1 John 5:19-20 says that We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the Wicked One. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we can know the True One
The source of the God is in control doctrine is rooted in large part in the teachings of the 16th century church reformist John Calvin, who broke away from the Catholic Church in Rome around 1530 A.D. Calvins doctrine of predestination permeated much of Christianity and remains a tenet in many churches today. The gist of predestination, according to Calvinism, is that everything that happens in life is Gods will, and that Hes even decided ahead of time who will and who will not be saved. This doctrine contradicts Scriptures like, 1 Timothy 2:3-4, which says that This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
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God Is In Control: Seeking God In Prayer
Since God is perfectly sovereign, we must turn to Him in prayer. We do not know what tomorrow brings but He does. And He urges us to pour out our heart to Him. Scripture affirms both Gods Sovereignty as well as human responsibility. We are still commanded to repent of our sins and to cling to Christ. We are still supposed to seek God and strive towards our sanctification. Prayer is one aspect of that.
21) Isaiah 45:9-10 Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but potsherds among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, What are you making? Does your work say, The potter has no hands? 10 Woe to the one who says to a father, What have you begotten? or to a mother, What have you brought to birth?
22) Acts 5:39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men you will only find yourselves fighting against God.
23) Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
24) 1 Timothy 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
25) 1 John 5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.