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Today is Tuesday June 29, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Psalms, chapters 23-30. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-june-29

Today's Message: Giving Jesus Dominion

Whether or not we choose to follow Christ, we all have to admit that life is not easy, we are going to face trials, we are going to have to work to overcome them, and we are going to get ourselves into messes that seem to never get cleaned up. The difference between those who do follow Christ and those who do not, is that those who do put their trust and faith in Jesus to give Him control over their lives. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” - Romans 5:1. Christians are justified or acquitted by their faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This not only helps them face their trials and do the work needed to get through them, it also gets the messes cleaned up as well. Ever try to get out of a situation on your own? Usually you end up getting into a bigger one. Most people try to live a moral life, to help others, and to set a good example for those who look up to them. Sometimes life looks good and we think we finally made it, only to wake up one day to total chaos. We can not prevent all the chaos from showing up, but we can make it easier to endure by allowing Jesus to be in control. The word control is defined as, to exercise restraint or direction over, in other words, to have dominion over. So, if we look at this from a Christian perspective, those who choose to follow Christ allow Jesus to give them direction, or to have dominion over their lives. This does not mean that one is a slave to Jesus, it just means one chooses to allow Jesus to lead the way instead of by their own feelings and desires. “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” - I Peter 5:10,11. Let's face it, we are going to suffer from time to time and those feelings can destroy us. By giving Jesus dominion over our lives we can avoid a lot of unnecessary suffering, plus it gives us strength and gets us right with God.

Even before Jesus came to earth the first time, they knew He existed, they could not see Him just like you and I, but they trusted God and had faith in His Word, if anything they needed more faith than we do because they did not have all of the Bible that we have to guide them. One of the most well known Psalms in the Bible is, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” - Psalm 23. David, who started out as nothing, but a shepherd boy, as king, still considered himself a lost sheep who needed a shepherd to guide him through the rough pastures that he would walk through. He did not fear what was waiting for him on the other side of the path because he allowed the Lord to lead the way or to have dominion. Sheep when guided by a shepherd always find their way, but can easily get distracted and get lost if they lose sight of the shepherd. We too need a shepherd to lead us to still waters. Jesus Said, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.” - John 10:14,15. Jesus has given His life for His sheep.

The trouble is that many try to be their own shepherd, they try to convince themselves that they have everything under control themselves and they do not need Jesus in their lives, but the reality of it all is, they are allowing someone or thing to have dominion over their lives. Think about it, we are not in control over everything, whether someone is a preacher, a housewife, a mechanic, a builder, a thief, a prostitute, a drug addict, or whatever it is that they choose to allow in their lives, they are subject to some kind of control by it I design websites, while I have control in the ones I choose to build, they have control over the content, no matter how many times they want to change it I have to submit to their request. However, if it is changed to something that goes against my beliefs or puts me in a compromising situation with God, I will refuse and lose the sale. I would rather lose a customer than my relationship with God. We all have a choice and since we can not control everything we might as well make the right choice to avoid the consequences later on. Allowing Jesus to have dominion over our lives actually gives us freedom, the freedom we receive alone from hell is enough to call on Him in a heartbeat. “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” - John 8:31,32.

The truth is, God always has dominion, instead of trying to fight that fact, embrace it. He wants the best for everyone. Do you think He wants to see His creation suffering? We do not have to suffer. Yes, God can change any situation, but He will not unless we ask Him to. Giving Jesus dominion to lead us is the only way we can truly change the situations we are in. Like David we are to ask the Lord to lead us and wait patiently for Him. “Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.” - Psalm 25:4,5. “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me..... Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” - Psalm 27:4-7,11-14. Be of good courage, allow Jesus to have dominion, let Him direct your path and He will take care of you and get you our of any situation that you are in. Praise God!

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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