On The Mat (part 4) The "Take Down"

The “TAKE DOWN” connected to our wrestling in prayer might be expressed this way: Lord, I seize the moment for you. I will take hold of today to serve and to glorify you. Rather than the flesh controlling I will allow your Spirit to take control. With your power I will take captive every thought and make it obedient to you.

When we ESCAPE, then we are ready for the “TAKE DOWN.”

The Hebrew writer encouraged:
“God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who HAVE FLED to TAKE HOLD of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.” ( Hebrews 6:18 NIV)

With our lives no longer under the control of the flesh, but rather under the control of the Spirit, we can TAKE HOLD of the abundant life (John
10:10) Jesus came to make possible.

Paul encouraged Timothy regarding the rich...
“(18) Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. (19) In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may TAKE HOLD of the life that is TRULY LIFE.” ( I Timothy 6:18-19 NIV)

With the help of God we can then gain control of life in a way that glorifies God and thus ultimately brings benefit to ourselves and to others whom our lives touch.
“(3) It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; (4) that each of you should LEARN TO CONTROL his own body IN A WAY THAT IS HOLY AND HONORABLE, (5) not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God;” ( I Thessalonians 4:3-5 NIV)

As we wrestle with the control of our thinking, Paul pointed to the way in which we need to allow God’s Word to work within us.
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we TAKE CAPTIVE every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” ( 2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV)

Have a great day maintaining CONTROL by the power of God’s Spirit.
Carl

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