Tag Archives: Self Control

July 12th 2023 – Flesh or Spirit

Romans 8:6 “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”

Diving into the depths of Romans 8:6, we discover a profound truth about the power of our minds when governed by either the flesh or the Spirit. In this verse, we are reminded that our thoughts and mindset greatly influence the course of our lives.

The Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, contrasts two opposing mindsets: one governed by the flesh and the other governed by the Spirit. The “mind governed by the flesh” refers to a mindset that is solely focused on worldly desires, self-gratification, and temporary pleasures. This mindset leads to spiritual death, a separation from the abundant life God intends for us.

However, the “mind governed by the Spirit” refers to a mindset aligned with the will of God, guided by His wisdom and truth. It is a mind that seeks after righteousness, love, and holiness. Such a mindset leads to a life infused with the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, producing abundant life and lasting peace.

As Christians, we have received the incredible gift of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. Through the Spirit, we are awakened to a new way of thinking, a renewed mindset that reflects the very mind of Christ. This renewed mind guides us away from the empty pursuits of the flesh and directs us towards a life that is pleasing and fulfilling in the eyes of our Heavenly Father.

To cultivate a mind governed by the Spirit, we must actively engage in a relationship with God. We can do this through regular prayer, studying His Word, and seeking His guidance in every aspect of our lives. As we surrender our thoughts, desires, and ambitions to Him, we allow His Spirit to transform us from the inside out.

When we embrace the mind of Christ, our perspectives shift, and our choices align with God’s perfect will. We find ourselves walking in step with Him, experiencing the abundant life and peace that only He can provide. Our thoughts become infused with love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

Today, let us reflect on our mindset and prayerfully invite the Holy Spirit to govern our thoughts. May we seek to align our minds with the perfect will of God, knowing that as we do, we will experience the fullness of life and peace that surpasses all understanding.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit and for the transformative power it brings to our lives. Today, we ask for Your guidance in renewing our minds and aligning our thoughts with Your will. Help us to turn away from the desires of the flesh and embrace the mind of Christ. May our lives be a testament to Your love, joy, and peace. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

If you have never accepted Gods grace you will never experience true peace in your life. Click Here to learn how and what it means to ask Jeaus into your life . Don’t wait until its too late.

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

February 24th 2020 – Our Sinful Nature

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“So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.” (Romans 8:6)

When we solely act on our feelings it is very dangerous. If we always do what what we “feel like” doing, most times it will end up getting us in trouble. Following just our feelings will lead us into sin, and that can lead to broken relationships, depression, prison and even far worse. So the question is, “What filter do we use to help us control our thoughts and feelings?” While the world may say, “If it feels right do it,” God’s Word tells us that we don’t have the ability to know what is “right” without His direction. We need His guidance, through the Bible.

When we process our thoughts and feelings through the Bible’s instructions and God’s promises, we will be better able to replace the bad or harmful thoughts with those that are good and beneficial. Submitting to God’s Word and His Holy Spirit allows us to know what is good and right. It gives us hope in something greater than our own understanding and therefore, we walk in light rather than darkness. Jesus will walk with us if we allow Him to. We don’t have to be alone.

Do not take your dark brooding thoughts out and play with them. Do not sit and focus on what’s wrong. Don’t allow your desires to run away with you. Take your thoughts captive. Do not walk in fear. Fight the good fight. God will give you victory!

“Sometimes thoughts and feelings are great and good and holy; sometimes they are dark and brooding and torturous.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the power I have in Christ to overcome bad thoughts and harmful feelings. It is because of Your promises of hope and salvation that I can rejoice no matter what my situation may be. It’s with Your power that I can control my emotions rather than my emotions controlling me. Please protect me from myself and my own destructive sinful nature. Help me forgive myself and seek You first. Thank You Lord! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Do you trust Jesus enough with your life? You should, Jesus died on the cross for you and me. He loves us and wants to help us. If you have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior please click here 4 Simple Steps to Jesus

If you are seeking Jesus in your life or want to recommit your life to Him. Click Here to learn more.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

September 9th 2019 – Be An Encourager

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“But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.” (Acts 23:11)

In the world we have many talkers, yet so few encouragers. Here we see Paul is going to have to give a witness of our Lord in Rome and Jesus, the greatest encourager of all, stood by Paul and lifted him up. In life there are times when we get down and we need people that will lift us up. In saying that, remember, there are people all around us who need a pat on the back or a good hardy handshake, and encouragement.

It’s so easy to look at the mistakes that people make and the little things that people do wrong and continually point them out, but what would happen if we looked at the things people did right and commended them?

What would happen to a husband or wife if they encouraged each other instead of looking at the mistakes that are made? What would happen if when our children mess-up, instead of harping on the mistake, we encouraged them to do better?

“Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:10-11)

You see, in this negative world, people always try to find the worst in others instead of looking at the best. Have you ever read some reviews on a book or movie or an item and you see reviews for one star, and then others with five stars, and you wonder, are they looking at the same product?

It’s the same with us. We can look at the same person and one will see the best in them and the other will see the worst. I pray today that we will start seeing the best in others. That we will start believing the best and helping people become all that God would want them to become. Let’s start with the people we love and go from there. Come on, what do you say? LET’S BE ENCOURAGERS.

“Encourage each other and build each other up!”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for the many individual gifts that make up the body of Christ. Lord, help us to put off disagreements and value others. Forgive us when we have caused division and strife. Today forward, I’m going to make a decision to be an encourager, to believe the best in others. I’m going to stop looking at all the little mistakes and see the big picture. God you believe in them and so do I. Give us the spirit to be a blessing to someone else today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

If you are seeking Jesus in your life or want to recommit your life to Him. Click Here to learn more.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

August 11th 2019 – Fruit of the Spirit (P9)

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We are on the last day of a 9-day journey. As we studied this week. Paul listed nine godly virtues that constitute the fruit of God’s Spirit—the inward and outward effect of having the gift of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. They are “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”

Temperance (self-control) – “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love” (2 Peter 1:5-7).

Where the New King James Version has “self-control,” the earlier King James Version used the word “temperance,” meaning self-restraint. Today, however, this word usually has the narrower sense of moderation or, when referring to alcoholic drinks, total abstinence. Therefore, as commonly understood today, temperance is only a small part of self-control.)

Anothing thing to considder, Is the sequential order of the nine godly virtues significant? The first listed, love, is clearly the most important. Is self-control, then, last because it’s leastimportant? On the contrary, self-control is extremely vital. Paul emphasized it alongside “righteousness … and the judgment to come” (Acts 24:25)

Perhaps self-control is listed last as the capstone—since it takes a lot of self-control to exercise the other eight virtues! It takes a lot of self-control just to “bridle” one’s tongue. Maybe Paul was thinking of love and self-control as the two great bookends for the set.

We all face temptations to sin—all our lives. When confronted with temptation, we must strive, as far as possible, to get away from it—flee! Even if you think you have a lot of self-control, don’t put it to the test unnecessarily.

Consider some of the things we are told to flee: “Flee” from a “stranger” (a teacher of lies), “flee sexual immorality” as Joseph had to literally flee (Genesis 39:12) , flee from idolatry, flee all kinds of evil, flee also youthful lusts. (John 10:5)

Jesus said, “The spirit [one’s attitude] indeed is willing but the flesh [human willpower] is weak” (Mathew 26:41) Jesus said, “The spirit [one’s attitude] indeed is willing but the flesh [human willpower] is weak”

God will not take away a person’s free will to make choices in life. But as long as you keep inviting Him into your life, He will empower you “to will and to act according to His good purpose” (Philippians 2:13)

As with all of us, certainly your biggest spiritual enemy has been yourself. But take heart. With God’s great help, you can conquer the enemy!

If you don’t Have Jesus in your life. Please considder Him. See the link below on how to ask Him into your heart. It will change your life!

“We need self-control to avoid not only outright evil but also too much of the good things.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I come before you in prayer, to magnify and glorify your precious name. Draw close to me, Oh heavenly Father. Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, shape me into who You want me to be. Allow Your will to be done in my life in order for me to become a living, breathing testimony. Take control Jesus, be my strengh. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, Lord. Allow me to display self-control when temptations draw near. Help me to resist whatever comes my way. Make me pure, holy and true when the enemy tries to intervene. Give me peace in my mind, body and soul so that I can remain focused on You and Your word daily. Let your Word be the bread that I crave and want as much as the air that I breathe.Let lustful desires, anger, guilt, jealousy, sorrow and pride just fall away at the sound of Your great name. May these things not control my actions, my emotions or even my thoughts. I continually desire to seek You. Give me the strength to overcome. Continue to grow the Fruits of the Spirit in me. Without you, I cannot go on, I need You, in Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

If you are seeking Jesus in your life or want to recommit your life to Him. Click here to learn more.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

May 31st 2019 – Stealth Attacks

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“I trust in the Lord for protection.
So why do you say to me,
“Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety! The wicked are stringing their bows and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings. They shoot from the shadowsat those whose hearts are right.” (Psalm 11:1-2)

David faced many attacks in his life as a man mightily used by the Lord. Because of envy King Saul tried to kill David before he became king. Later his own son would plot against him and seek to remove him from the throne.

When we place our trust in the Lord it is certain that we will be a target for the attacks of the enemy. To discourage you the enemy can even spring a sudden attack upon you using your family or the people you worship and serve with. In order for our lives to be firmly built upon the foundation of trusting in the Lord we should be in the Word, be with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and be continually exhorting one another with love and encouragement. The Bible gives us a list of battle gear to prepare us for spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6 not because we don’t expect to face battles but because we do.

As believers and followers of Jesus we face battles and attacks in this world. From:

1) The world

2) The flesh

3) The devil and his accomplices

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, please help me to always put my trust in You and ask for your Grace When the attacks come let me look to You and to Your Word for the weapons that You have fashioned for me to stand against the enemy. I come to You asking for help to discern the lies of the enemy, especially when the enemy hides within all the strife and tension that he creates. Open my eyes to recognize any spirit of division or confusion as the enemy’s plan to divert me away from God will for my life. I submit my life to You. Help me to surrender to You in every way and choose to live according to Your word. Continue to teach me by reading and speaking Your Word so that it is implanted in my heart and becomes part of my daily life. I want to live in obedience to You in prayer, in praise, in worship, and in gratitude. Thank You, Lord, that You have given all who accept You in their hearts victory over all the plans of the enemy. Thank You that he has to flee from our lives when we expose his plans to the light. Thank You for the wisdom to identify the enemy’s work in our lives and the power to resist him. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Put your faith and trust in Jesus! If you do not know Him personally please read below.

Jesus Christ says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him” (Revelation 3:20)

The Bible promises eternal life to all who receive Christ: “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:11-13)

If you have not asked Jesus into your life you can receive Jesus Christ right now by faith through prayer. Please click here to learn more. 4 Simple Steps to Jesus

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

May 8th 2019 – Challenging Moments

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Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. (John 18:10)

Sometimes in life, we face challenging moments. This moment was a summons to contest for Peter. Even with all that Jesus had taught him and with all that he had learned, he still had to make personal application. Peter had to learn how to do it God’s way and not his own. Do not lean to your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5,6)

I think that is something all of us have to learn. We would like to learn it all at once or all in one sitting, but that’s not the way it happens. Most of us will have many opportunities, in some, we will succeed beautifully and in others, we will fail miserably. Each day that we awake, however, brings us the glorious chance for a fresh start and a new beginning. It is important to remember that and, in that process, we need to be careful of the ears.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for growing me. Thank You for not being content to leave me as I am because what I am is not as good as what You want me to be. Lord, I may squirm and protest against the process but please continue to conform me to the image of Your Son. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, Don’t wait! In a flash of a second it could be too late!” Click Here to read Four Simple Steps to Jesus.

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

August 11th 2017 – Fruit of the Spirit (P9)

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Anothing thing to considder, Is the sequential order of the nine godly virtues significant? The first listed, love, is clearly the most important. Is self-control, then, last because it’s least important? On the contrary, self-control is extremely vital. Paul emphasized it alongside “righteousness … and the judgment to come” (Acts 24:25)

As with all of us, certainly your biggest spiritual enemy has been yourself. But take heart. With God’s great help, you can conquer the enemy!

If you don’t Have Jesus in your life. Please considder Him. See the link below on how to ask Him into your heart. It will change your life!

“We need self-control to avoid not only outright evil but also too much of the good things.”

Prayer:

If you are in need of prayer for yourself or others, please Click Here

If you are seeking Jesus in your life or want to recommit your life to Him. Click here to learn more.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org

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