Hello dear, today I will be telling you a story about two children. I trust you will learn from what they did in understanding self-control.
Anne is a five-year-old girl who loves chocolates, but her mum only gives her chocolates once in a while. There is this new girl in Anne’s class who also loves chocolate and brings it to school all the time.
It was already Wednesday and Anne’s mum had not given her any chocolate that week. She wanted at least just a little taste of it, as it felt so long since she tasted chocolate. Here comes the new classmate with two big chocolate bars, and Anne was tempted to beg for just a bite. Since she knew begging was wrong, she choose to have self-control over that situation and walk away, resisting the urge to beg.
Another story is Joe’s story. Joe is a 7 years old boy in primary four. One day, he got into a fight with one of his classmates. This classmate of his called him names, provoking Joe who gave him a punch on the face in return.
Between Anne and Joe, who do think showed self-control?
Anne! That’s correct.
I told you yesterday that Self-control is the ability to control one’s emotions or behaviour, especially in difficult situations. Understanding self-control is important.
I also showed you what the Bible says about self-control
… Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control. Proverbs 25:28 – (NIV)
You see, God has made this easy for you and me. How do I know?
See what the Bible says;
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, – Titus 2:11-12 [NIV]
One amazing thing I want to show you today is that the Holy Spirit can actually help you have self-control. It’s one of the fruits of the spirit listed in the Bible.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentlenesses, and self-control. Gal 5:22-23 (NIV)
If you find yourself acting like little Joe in our story, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help you.
Prayer: Lord, help me in understanding self-control, and to live a self-controlled life. Amen
Ever since the fall of man from grace and God’s Glory, man has been involved with one form of struggle or another. Especially in marriage, man has lived to deal with numerous challenges. Most of these challenges and struggles have left our marriages less than the original intention in God’s heart for marriage.
The picture in God’s heart for every marriage is for both man and woman to live like the trinity, like the Godhead, in perfect unity.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. – Gen 1:27 (KJV)
The concept of unity is the original intention of God in marriage. Where this picture or intention is not known, struggles and disunity will be experienced.
Most of us struggle in our marriage and experience heartaches. Spouse cheating, adulterous affairs, spouse not being open, hiding from each other, cold, financially unfaithful, unfriendly, egoistic, dead spiritually, not meeting each other’s needs, lack of intimacy, lack of love and respect, emotional adultery, and so on.
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Not having the original picture that God had in His heart is what brings about all these struggles in marriage.
To put an end to all struggles in marriage, we need to engage the help of the Holy Spirit in helping us see the right picture as was in God’s heart in the beginning. We have to go back to the original intent in the heart of the Father.
Yes, every other thing we try to do will make meaning only after we have a revelation of the Oneness concept.
A blissful marriage is possible. Not that you will not have your differences or different opinions, you will still have because you are different and differently made to fulfill and occupy different roles.
The only way to enjoy peace and harmony is to get back to God’s original intention and God will help us all in Jesus mighty name.
God bless your marriage.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY My marriage will not be an adage.
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY Oh Lord, restore my marriage to the original mandate.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Gen 1:28 {MSG}God blessed them: Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth.”
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Go back and study God’s plan for your marriage.
Galatians 5:22 (KJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
What exactly does joy mean? What was the writer of Galatians saying when he was talking about this fruit of the spirit?
Joy can be defined as gladness and delight. It can also be said to be a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.
Going through the bible, we can define joy to be a feeling of good pleasure and happiness. This feeling is dependent on who Jesus is, not on who we are or what we are experiencing around us.
Joy comes from the Holy Spirit, abiding in God’s presence and from hope in His word.
Dear children, understand that joy is not found in possession, activities or other people. Joy is found in God, in His presence, in His spirit and in who He is.
As children, learn to be joyful in all circumstances. Never allow your countenance to be down. You should always exhibit this priceless fruit of the spirit wherever you find yourself.
As parents, let us learn to affirm our children as this will also be a source of encouragement to them even as they strive to be more joyful, by the spirit.
Prayer: Lord, help me to live a life of joy; Amen.
Action point: Ask for the spirit of joy
Declaration: I am a joyful child. I have the spirit of joy in me.
Have you ever heard the words patience is a virtue? Well, you might think it is a cliché, but it is not. Patience is indeed a virtue; be patient. Patience is something you need in life to move forward.
But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control; and here there is no conflict with Jewish laws. – Gal 5:22-23 [TLB]
Patience is one of the fruits that we see when we are recreated in Christ.
It is patience that will not allow you to hit back your classmate when he/she hits you.
It is patience that will make you overlook talking back to your brother because he said some harsh words to you.
Children, let the Holy Spirit control your life. Let him direct you.
Let us see another translation of our anchor scripture as I conclude this morning.
God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways. – Gal 5:22-23 [CEV]
It is God’s spirit that makes us patient. If we don’t have the spirit of God in us, we won’t be able to exhibit this all-important fruit.
I hope you have been learning from this topic.
We will continue tomorrow.
Prayer: Ask the Lord to help you to be patient. Amen
Action point: Are you patient with those around you? If not, start learning it now.
Declaration: I am a patient being because my God is patient.
Today is Oil For Today – Day 218. Let’s lift up our voice one more time as we pray to God! Watch Video on Youtube HERE. Check other days HERE.
Scriptures For Today
Oil For Today – Day 218
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 14:26 KJV
Prayer Points For Today
Oil For Today – Day 218
1. Begin to thank the Lord for today.
2. Every spirit assigned to frustrate me, I cancel your assignment is Jesus name
3. I receive the comfort of the Holy spirit for every hurt I experience in Jesus name
4. Every ignorance operating in my life I banish you, cease from your operations in Jesus name
5. I receive the teaching Ministry of the Holy Spirit in my life in Jesus name
6. I am taught by the Holy Spirit in all my ways in Jesus name
7. I break every power that doesn’t make the Holy Spirit manifest in my life in Jesus name
8. Every agenda of hell, to stop the operation of the holy spirit in my life be terminated in Jesus name
9. I walk with the Holy Spirit at all times and in ways in Jesus name
10. Begin to thank the Lord for answered prayers
Confession For Today
Oil For Today – Day 218
I have the power of the Godhead in me, I stir up the favor of God. Be manifested instead of hurt I receive joy. The Holy Spirit is teaching me all things. He brings to my remembrance all things. I hear the Holy spirit expressively, I do not draw off the Godhead. I am led by Gods grace and joy. I am blessed and highly favored
