Stand Still; Self-Control Keeps The Walls From Breaking
"He who has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls. [Prov. 16:32.]"
Proverbs 25:28 AMPC
"When Pharaoh drew near, the Israelites looked up, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them; and the Israelites were exceedingly frightened and cried out to the Lord. And they said to Moses, Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you treated us this way and brought us out of Egypt? Did we not tell you in Egypt, Let us alone; let us serve the Egyptians? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness. Moses told the people, Fear not; stand still (firm, confident, undismayed) and see the salvation of the Lord which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians you have seen today you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest."
Exodus 14:10-14 AMPC
This morning I find it hard to write but the consolation is I know God is not done and as He told me to be still, that exactly is what we must do in this season. Moses asked the children of Israel to stand still and watch their redemption. For me that is the hugest test of self-control. Picture this scene with me. An angry army whose first sons across board had died in one foul swoop is chasing to kill us all and our leader says stand still and see! Ehen! Think about it and in my ear I'm hearing Omo which escape route will we take to escape knowing that we have no wall of defense not weapons to secure ourselves. But that's when God shows up! That's when you're at your wits end as I was yesterday morning and many a good friend tried to encourage me only for God to visit me in my room as I crawled up fretting about the future. I was hit deep about how much self restraint was needed to wait and see Moses stretch that hand and the sea part. Honestly, I'm not a patient person but self-control is key to establishing the newness God is bringing into our atmosphere. Let me take it a notch further!
The wise King Solomon wrote a useful illustration of the need for self-control. "A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls." (Proverbs 25:28) In Solomon's time, a city depended on strong fortifications and gates, with great walls surrounding it, to repel ravaging bands of guerillas or foreign armies. If the gates, or towers were broken down and the walls broken. Someone without the power to rule his spirit is just as exposed and vulnerable as a defenseless city. Our own experience shows us that we are not capable, in ourselves, of controlling ourselves. Even the great apostle Paul honestly admitted, "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing." (Romans 7:18,19) That's why self-control is a fruit of the Spirit and not the result of our own power of discipline. What are the 'walls' of the 'city' of my sun total life?
The wall around financial fruitfulness is formed by 'living within your harvest.' This means learning to live with what comes in and being content with this. It is same with the wall around your mental state and all other walls in our existence. In this season self-control keeps us from the plans of Leviathan whose last breath has expired. This is not the season for violence but one of stoic resistance where the people grind all to a halt with their resolve for a better nation. The spirit is being birthed of the New Nigeria where tribe, language, or culture but a nation wherein our own dear native land has no differentials of tribe and tongue that differs stand as one in brother. Stand still and watch it rise in the mighty name of Jesus. Our own version of Lamala cometh as the cup of iniquity is full ask God to forgive our nation and stay in peace and thanksgiving.
I want you know as you exercise self restraints God will fight for you. It is at the place of self control and standing still that allows God take over and perform miracles that we ourselves can not fathom or perform. Like the Israelites we won't die in this invasion but the mark that sets us apart is that we tend our hearts and not our garment. Truly a rebirth is happening as we speak and it is unprecedented. The hope of a nation is truly come. Don't be broken by anything at all as it's not what you see but what God would do! God keep all who name you Lord in Jesus name I declare the new nation birthed! Amen! Shalom!
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