01/13/17 IT IS A "POWER DRAIN," NOT A "POWER SHORTAGE."

01/13/17 IT IS A "POWER DRAIN," NOT A "POWER SHORTAGE."

Individually and personally, we don't actually control very much in this world, or even in our own lives. But we do control our own will. This is not to say that our will controls our situation or our circumstances or that our will can control the will of others. But we decide our own allegiance, because God has endowed us with that right and enabled us with that power.

* We decide whether to trust God or not.* We decide whether to love God or not.* We decide whether to obey God or not.* We decide whether to walk in faith or not.* We decide whether to walk in light or not.* We decide whether to live in peace or not.* We decide whether to live in joy or not.

It is not that we create our own world or reality by personal fiat. We don't create a life of trusting God, loving God, obeying God, walking in faith, walking in light, living in peace or living in joy, but we accept these realities as the gift of God when we surrender and submit to Jesus Christ and His will.

As long as we choose to be masters of our own worlds we will not have a right relationship with God, and we will not experience and enjoy the blessings of God.

The longer we resist the will of God...
* the more entangled we become in sin;
* the further from God we move;
* the less likely we are to ever choose the will of God.

Consider these verses concerning personal choices.
Matthew 6:14-15
(14) For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
(15) But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 16:24-25
(24) Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
(25) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Matthew 26:39
(39) And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Luke 16:31
(31) And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

John 6:51
(51) I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

John 7:17
(17) If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

John 9:31
(31) Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

John 12:25-26
(25) He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
(26) If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

John 14:23-24
(23) Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
(24) He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

John 15:5-7
(5) I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
(6) If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
(7) If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall b