FREEDOM40 - 40-Day Men’s Challenge to Live in FreedomSample

DAY 20

REFLECT + FOCUS

God is not in control of your life!

That may come as a surprise.

He is your Lord, and in charge. But by His Holy Spirit, He enables you to have self-control.

Having the Holy Spirit living in us is not about us becoming puppets or robots that just do whatever He tells us - but about Him freeing our spirit, so we can take full charge of our heart, soul, and bodies, and learn to daily walk in obedience.

You see, the problem with thinking that God controls you is that we neglect the sovereign responsibility—the authority that God has given to us—to control ourselves.

We quietly blame our sin on Him. We are offended when circumstances don’t go our way.

We feel trapped in situations that we cannot control. We wait for Him to come and “save us” and change things for us, rather than realising that He is already here, empowering us to control ourselves, and grow through these situations and circumstances.

In the Bible and even today many Christians are imprisoned for their faith - they have no control on their physical situation. But they always get to steward their hearts. They have a choice to worship, bless, forgive, let go - and walk in step with the Holy Spirit.

SHOUT

As you declare today’s shout, remember that by His Holy Spirit God is training you to have self control over your mind, emotions and attitudes.

Make every effort to
Add to faith goodness
Knowledge and self-control;
Steadfastness and godliness
Brotherly kindness and love.
2nd Peter one, five to seven

DISCOVERY BIBLE

Discover God’s heart as you read the passage today in James 2:14-26. What is God showing you? Take notes and share some thoughts with your brothers, as you pray for one another.

(*Some Discovery Bible passages have been updated since the original. We add the previous passage for reference if you need: John 15:9-16)