Nougat 4

Years ago during the Olympics, the word on the lips of many Jamaicans was ‘Jaminate’ – ie Jamaica was dominating the track and field segment of the games. And we were. But outside of the Olympic Games or the other extreme, spaces of abuse, is there worth to being dominated? Here’s today’s Holy Nougat

“Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Dominate refers to power AND influence over; so to be dominated means that power and influence is exerted BY others over us. In many instances, the one being dominated is an involuntary partner in the relationship. This is especially the case in abusive relationships and/or enslavement of any kind. Control refers to the power to influence AND direct people (or things), and is somewhat similar to dominate; also implying an absence of intentional choice by the one being controlled.

So continuing from yesterday, we recognize that we can be dominated by God’s Spirit, our flesh nature (selfish desires), or by the enemy of our souls. In the course of a day, all can come into play without our conscious decision. However, we can put measures in place to mitigate against those that are not intended for God’s glory.

It begins with our minds. What we choose to focus on. It’s like the premise about worry or complaining: we do those things almost without ceasing and usually see it as okay or our right when things are going ‘wrong.’ Ironically, some of us feel threatened by the command-request to pray without ceasing, not realizing that in essence, it’s about keeping our minds rooted in and on Jesus.

And, when that is normalized, our sense of identity shifts, as does our perspective on the things that are not of God’s Spirit. Thus what we choose to focus on helps to determine who controls us. Or, as the cliché says ‘our attitude determines our altitude’. Might we choose to shift the altitude of our spirits today, granting God’s spirit control in all spheres of our lives? Hmmn

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May all we seek be found in Christ