Strength Under Control

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” MATTHEW 5:5

 

PONDER THIS

I read somewhere that the word meekness has the idea of a wild stallion being broken. As a matter of fact, when a horse has been domesticated and trained so a rider can sit upon its back or so it can pull a plow, it may be said that that animal has been “meeked.”

Now it yields to the rider. Now it yields to the yoke. It is strength under control. That's what meekness is. The Beatitudes come in order. First, we must admit, “I am spiritually bankrupt.” And then, blessed are they that mourn. After our condition comes our contrition. We say, “Oh God, have mercy upon me, I see what I am, I weep over it. I truly repent of it.” And then comes that control. I place myself under the Lord’s control. I am meek. I have a new master.

A horse that has been “meeked” still has the same strength, fire, drive, and instincts, but now there's a bridle. It doesn’t insist on its own way anymore.

How have you embraced God’s control in your life? How have you resisted His control?

What is challenging in embracing God’s control in your life?

PRACTICE THIS

Confess to God how you have resisted letting Him be in control. Seek to submit to Him anew.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

You Can Control Your Speech

BIBLE MEDITATION

“If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless” James 1:26 

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT

We must watch what we say because one word builds upon another, and it can get worse—you’ll have the snowball effect.

You say, “Well, I can't control it.” You're a liar. You can control it, and I can prove it. For example, sometimes a husband and wife are just snarling, fighting, snapping down each other’s throat when right then the phone rings. They answer so sweetly, “H-e-l-l-o.”

You can control it. And you'd better learn to control it. If you don't, you're going to be out of control.

ACTION POINT

This week, memorize Proverbs 29:20: “Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Giving God Control

It's hard for us all to do!

We just have to face it, things are really always in His control.

We only have to look to the story of Pharaoh, the plagues and how God hardened his heart.

It was during circumstances that would definitely have brought us to our knees.

On your knees is a good place to be! 

Begging God for guidance, trusting a sovereign God who is able.

Trusting a God who is working behind the scenes, who orchestrates Your every move!

Even when the world tells you that things are this way.

Like when you are told you are dying from cancer, but God tells you otherwise!

Like when you are told "you will never walk again" but God says " I'm in control, only trust Me, then you walk, leaving the docs scratching their head!

Like when you are told the baby you are carrying is dead but is born healthy, because God said "only trust Me".

These things are indeed miracles but to a sovereign God who is the great "I Am" they are a part of Who He is.

3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 

4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?  - Psalm 56:3-4

18 "What profit is an idol when its maker has shaped it, a metal image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation when he makes speechless idols! 

19 Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake; to a silent stone, Arise! Can this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in it. 

20 But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him."  - Habakkuk 2:18-20

22 Because the king's order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.

24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king."

25 He answered and said, "But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods."

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!" Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire.

27 And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them.

28 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.

29 Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way." - Daniel 3:22-29

7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." 

8 Bring out the people who are blind, yet have eyes, who are deaf, yet have ears! 

9 All the nations gather together, and the peoples assemble. Who among them can declare this, and show us the former things? Let them bring their witnesses to prove them right, and let them hear and say, It is true. 

10 "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. 

11 I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior. 

12 I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and I am God. 

13 Also henceforth I am he; there is none who can deliver from my hand; I work, and who can turn it back?"  - Isaiah 43:7-13

What’s this about “being meek”?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Meekness is one of the most confused, misunderstood words in all of the Beatitudes, because most people confuse meekness with weakness. Jesus said He was “meek and lowly” (Matthew 11:29), but He wasn’t weak.

The word “meek” means “strength that is brought under control.”

When horse trainers “break” horses, they describe what they do as the horse being “meeked.” They don’t cripple the horse or take away his strength. They train him to use his strength in control.

In the same way, God doesn’t come into your life to cripple you but to control you so that He might complete you. That means you take the reins of your life and say, “Here they are, Lord. I give the reins to You. I turn my life over to You.” I did that with Jesus Christ. But I must continually update it, continually be turning my life over to the Lord Jesus Christ.

ACTION POINT:

Ask your heavenly Father today to break the strongholds in your life, break your strong will, and replace it with His strength under discipline. He will do it, if you give Him permission. This is the heart of true meekness.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers