SELF-CONTROL
In the past, cities were fortified with walls to keep them safe from invading neighbors. When the walls were in a state of disrepair, the city was susceptible to enemies from without.
When I lack self-control, I open myself to all sorts of "enemies" bombarding me daily. Anger, frustration, jealousy, impatience, envy are just a few.
Self-control comes from God.
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control..."
2 Peter 1:3-6 NIV
I HAVE SELF-CONTROL BECAUSE GOD HAS GIVEN ME EVERYTHING I NEED FOR LIFE AND GODLINESS.
DEVELOP POSITIVE HABITS
Clutter in my life is not conducive to productivity. I can waste a lot of time looking for something in my room if it is not in order (orderly).
Only I can make the decision to end the clutter and clean up things. I must develop good habits and restraints in my life. I will allow God to remove the clutter and show me the discipline necessary to keep my life in order.
"Let all things be done decently (properly) and in order."
1 Corinthians 14:40 KJV
I WILL DEVELOP POSITIVE HABITS OF ORDER IN MY LIFE AS GOD LEADS.
TRUST IN THE LORD FOREVER
Peace is a beautiful possession. The world's prayer is for peace. But I can have peace at all times when I keep my mind on the Lord and trust Him.
"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord is the Rock eternal."
Isaiah 26:3-4 NIV
I HAVE PERFECT PEACE BECAUSE I KEEP MY MIND STEADFAST ON THE LORD.
TRUST THE LORD TO DIRECT YOUR PATHS
When my ways are not exactly plain to me, I just need to trust the Lord knowing that He knows the END of the path.
"In all your ways know, recognize and acknowledge Him and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths."
Proverbs 3:6 Amplified
I TRUST THE LORD TO DIRECT MY PATHS AND I ACKNOWLEDGE THIS IN ALL MY WAYS.
THE SPIRIT OF LOVE
Fear is a spirit and must be overcome in the spiritual realm. Fear is a spirit of dread of things to come.
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
2 Timothy 1:7 KJV
I CHOOSE NOT TO DWELL ON THE SPIRIT OF FEAR, BUT ON THE SPIRIT OF LOVE AND POWER OF GOD THROUGH MY SOUND MIND.
WALK IN THE TRUTH
When I learn the way of the Lord, my heart is undivided and I walk in His truth.
"Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear (reverence) Your Name."
Psalm 86:11 KJV
I WALK IN THE TRUTH OF THE LORD BECAUSE HE HAS TAUGHT ME AND MY HEART IS UNDIVIDED.
BE STRONG
I want my physical body to be strong and healthy so I nourish it with good food. My spiritual body must be strong also. It must be nurtured with the food of God's Word.
"In conclusion, be strong in the Lord - be empowered through your union with Him; draw your strength from Him - that strength which His boundless might provides."
Ephesians 6:10 Amplified
I DRAW MY DAILY STRENGTH AND AM EMPOWERED BY MY UNION WITH GOD AND HIS STRENGTH THROUGH HIS WORD.
CHILD OF LIGHT
Darkness holds fear and uncertainty. Light does away with darkness and overpowers it.
"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light."
Ephesians 5:8 NIV
I WILL LIVE AS A CHILD OF LIGHT IN THE LORD AND BANISH DARKNESS IN MY LIFE.
SET FREE
I do not want to be in bondage to anyone or anything. It is my nature to be free.
"In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and he answered by setting me free."
Psalm 118:5 NIV
BY THE LORD, I AM SET FREE FROM ALL THINGS WHICH MIGHT ENSLAVE MY LIFE.
I AM STRONG
We are what we speak.
"...Let the weak say, I am strong."
Joel 3:10b KJV
I WILL SAY ABOUT MYSELF WHAT THE WORD OF GOD SAYS I AM.
GOD'S REQUIREMENTS
What is required of me to please God?
"He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God."
Micah 6:8 KJV
JUST 3 THINGS ARE REQUIRED OF ME:
1 - TO ACT JUSTLY
2 - TO LOVE MERCY
3 - TO WALK HUMBLY WITH GOD
I CAN DO THAT!!!!!
TRUST IN THE LORD
Sometimes the success of those who do not seem deserving irritates me. I am angry and hurt. What can I do?
"Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good - delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."
Psalm 37:1-3 NIV
I WILL KEEP MY SOUL TRUSTING IN THE LORD FOR HIS GOOD PLEASURE IN MY LIFE.
SLEEP ON IT
Have you ever been told to "sleep on it" before making a decision?
"I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons."
Psalm 16:7 Amplified
"SLEEP ON IT" IS GOOD ADVICE!
REMEMBER THY CREATOR
In my youth, many patterns were set - some good and some not so good.
"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them."
Ecclesiastes 12:1 KJV
I WILL MAKE THE DECISION TO REMEMBER WHOSE I AM NOW, TODAY!
CONTROL YOUR ANGER
Anger has no place in my life.
"My dear brother, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires."
James 1:19-21 KJV
I WILL CONTROL MY ANGER AND BE READY TO LISTEN TO OTHERS.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Do you want to feel important and make a difference? Here is the secret.
"Humble yourselvesfeeling very insignificant - in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. He will lift you up and make your lives significant."
James 4:10 Amplified
I WILL RECOGNIZE THE OMNIPOTENCE OF GOD KNOWING THAT HE ONLY KNOWS MY IMPORTANCE TO HIM AND HIS KINGDOM. HE MAKES MY LIFE SIGNIFICANTÃÆ'NOT MAN.
THE LIGHT OF LIFE
Light along out paths prevents us from stumbling.
"Light is sown for the uncompromisingly righteous and strewn along their pathway..."
Psalm 97:11a Amplified
GOD DECLARES THAT MY PEOPLE SHALL NOT WALK IN DARKNESS BUT HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE.
WHO DO YOU TRUST?
"Who Do You Trust?" was a popular television game show. The contestants had to decide which celebrity had the right answer.
"But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God and made Him my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works."
Proverbs 73:28 Amplified
THE LORD IS THE ONLY ONE IN WHOM I TRUST. HE ALWAYS HAS ALL THE RIGHT ANSWERS FOR ME.
GOD SUSTAINS & MAINTAINS
Many people fear getting gold and having no one to care for them.
"Even to your old age I am He, and even to hair white with age will I carry you. I have made, and I will bear; yes, I will carry and will save you."
Isaiah 46:4 Amplified
MY FATHER IS WITH ME AT EVERY AGE AND STAGE IN MY LIFE. HE SUSTAINS AND MAINTAINS.
CLAIM VICTORY
The shepherd boy, David, fought and defeated the giant, Goliath, with nothing but 5 stones and a slingshot.
"And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine."
1 Samuel 17:50 KJV
DAVID CLAIMED THE BATTLE IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OF HOSTS. WE CLAIM OUR DAILY BATTLES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD ALSO.
FULFILL YOUR DESTINY
How old is too old to fulfill your destiny? Caleb was one of the spies sent to scope out the Promised Land for the Israelites. He gave a positive report. Forty-five years later he still had the positive outlook of "God can and I can."
"And now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old, as yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in."
Joshua 14:10-11 KJV
NO MATTER MY AGE, I AM FIT AND READY FOR GOD'S WORK.
HOLD ON TO THE GOOD
When faced with a decision, do the test.
"Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil."
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 NIV
I WILL HOLD ON TO THE GOOD ONLY AND LET THE REST GO.
GUARD MY LIPS
"I don't know why I said that. It just popped out!" Our mouths need to be guided by our heart, not our head.
"The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips."
Proverbs 16:23 KJV
MY HEART WILL GUIDE AND GUARD MY LIPS.
BE FOUND FAITHFUL TO GOD
Many women today seek beauty and youth but the youth and beauty do not last.
"Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised."
Proverbs 31:30 KJV
I SEEK TO BE FOUND FAITHFUL TO MY GOD. THEN SHALL I FIND FULFILLMENT.
LIVING A VICTORIOUS LIFE
Do you feel and act like a defeated person? Or are you living a victorious life because of who you are?
"Little children, you are of God - you belong to Him - and have already defeated and overcome them, because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world."
1 John 4:4 Amplified
GREATER IS HE WHO LIVES IN ME THAN HE WHO IS IN THE WORLD. I AM AN OVERCOMER!!!!
BE FEARLESS
The greatest deterrent for fear is God.
"I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."
Psalm 34:4 KJV
I AM FEARLESSÃÆ'Ã'¢Ãƒ¢'Ã'¬"WITHOUT FEAR.
SECURITY IN THE LORD
Someone once told me that to relax at night, start with your head and relax it, then your neck, then your shoulders, then your arms, etc. until you had been down your whole body. Another way to relax is:
"I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure."
Psalm 16:8-9 NIV
MY WHOLE BODY IS AT REST BECAUSE OF THE SECURITY I HAVE IN THE LORD.
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
Darkness doesn't have an ON and OFF switch. Darkness is always present until the light repels it. God is always denoted as Light in the Word. As children of God we are the light of the world.
"But all things that are reproved (exposed) are made manifest by the light; for whosoever doth make manifest is light."
Ephesians 5:13 KJV
I WILL WALK IN AND BE THE LIGHT OF GOD IN THE WORLD.
TRANSFIGURED IN GOD'S IMAGE
"And all of us, as with unveiled face, because we continued to behold in the Word of God, as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."
2 Corinthians 3:19 Amplified
I AM CONSTANTLY BEING TRANSFIGURED INTO HIS VERY OWN IMAGE!!!
I AM BOLD
Public speaking is easy if you believe in the subject and know what you are talking about.
"And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel."
Ephesians 6:19 KJV
I AM BOLD.
I AM HOLY
If someone asked you if you were holy, what would you answer? God say,
"But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of living; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."
1 Peter 1:15-16 KJV
FATHER, I THANK YOU THAT I AM HOLY BECAUSE YOU SAID SO IN YOUR WORD.