I am so excited to be doing this prayer challenge. If you ever wonder how I prepare for these prayer challenges, let me share with you. I pray about what God wants me to be intentional in prayer about, and then when He reveals something. I research it and consider how to best go to Him in prayer. Then once I get an idea, I actually do a Bible Study/Prayer Time with my children each day. I take the thoughts and ideas from that time with my children and turn it into a blog post, and prayer.
Then once I get them written, I invite the Facebook group to pray through them intentionally day by day. So, I actually pray each prayer twice, once when I write them, and once when I go through them with the group. It has been a huge blessing to me to see Yehovah God work in my life and answer so many prayers.
Today, my children and I read Galatians chapter 6, and 2 Peter 1. I hope you will take time to read and ponder both these chapters too. They actually go together so well.
We then took time to pray for God to fill us with His strength and power to be self-controlled. We discussed how all the pieces of the fruit of the Spirit work together so that we can stand firm promises of God. Some passages on self-control that really spoke to us are:
2 Peter 1:5-8
Galatians 5:22-23
As we conclude our study on the fruit of the Spirit, we discussed the reason for Paul telling the community of believers in Galatia these things to begin with. It is appears that the people were confused about how they should live, and what was required to be saved. So, Paul was telling them to not complicate things so much. To keep learning from the Holy Spirit, and stop overthinking things. He says for them to not live by flesh, but by the Spirit.
He wants them to know that there are things they shouldn’t be doing, and he gives them a list of those things…
Sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these.
This is where the self-control comes into play. We will make mistakes, we will miss the mark, and sin. But, our goal and aim should be to always want to live by the Spirit.
Showing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and temperance to all.
When we live by the Spirit than we are known by our love towards one another. When we live by the Spirit, we offer the grace that was given to us to all.
Self-control is a Greek word made up of two works, the first is the word for man, one, self. The second is a word that means master, controller, continence, temperance.
This word means to have control over ones body. That would mean control over my thoughts and actions. Control over my hands, legs, mouth, and mind. In our house, we have a saying, “there is no excuse for bad behavior.” IF we walk by the Spirit then there is truly no reason for bad behavior.
Prayer:
Yehovah God,
We thank you for your Word that teaches us Your character, and Your Son who demonstrated self control to us when He chose to lay down His life for ours. We thank you for your Spirit the teacher and guide that will remain with us. We ask that you would always help us seek to have behavior that requires no excuse. Let us bring all Your fruit to the World, by letting Your Sons light shine through us every where we go.
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