Wind and water. Their forces keep the power going and cut channels through solid rock. They serve up some fun when we fly kites or hit the pool. And they dish out devastating destruction in tornados or tsunamis.

However, you possess something so strong, wind and water are dwarfed by it.

Curious?

It’s your will. Your God-given ability to choose and it’s not wimpy by any stretch of the imagination. We have four children and I prayed for each to have a strong will. My mother thought I was crazy. God answered yes four times. Their strong wills create many parenting challenges as we encourage our kids to submit their will to God through obedience.

But God is no stranger to strong-willed children. Let’s eavesdrop on His conversation with Cain:

Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”(Genesis 4:6-7 NIV)

It’s all about choices.

Choices to do what is right.

Or not.

And the consequences?

Sin crouches at the door like a lion waiting to spring. It desires us.

But we must master it.

Let’s jump to another passage.

Leaving the crowd behind, they [the disciples] took him [Jesus] along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”(Mark 4: 36-41 NIV)

Jesus commanded the wind and water—and they obeyed. Immediately.

No attitude. No back talk. No delay.

No-We were just having a little fun, Jesus, or Can’t we soak the disciples one more time? or flipping the boat in anger before calming down. Two of the most powerful forces in nature willingly, instantly obeyed Jesus.

So, why is it such a struggle for us?

Control issues? Lack of trust? Hurt?

Yet God says we can master sin and ourselves through His Spirit.

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity; he gave us a spirit of power and love and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7 NIV)

Power, love, self-discipline. God’s Spirit stands ready to help us submit our strong will to Him in obedience. In this windy month of March, remember the storm, how the wind and the waves obeyed Him. Choose to obey Him too. Let the crouching lion of sin go hungry today.

Questions:

What aspects of wind and water do  you like?

Describe something permanently changed by wind or water.

Pretend you’re a disciple in the boat. How would you have felt?

Now pretend God is having a heart-to-heart talk with you about your sin like He did with Cain. What would you share with Him? How do you think He would help?

Are we in charge of our choices?

You possess something so strong, wind and water are dwarfed by it. Click To Tweet
It’s your will. Your God-given ability to choose and it's not wimpy by any stretch of the imagination. Click To Tweet
Sin crouches at the door like a lion waiting to spring. It desires us. But we must master it. Click To Tweet
Jesus commanded the wind and water—and they obeyed. Immediately. No attitude. No back talk. No delay. Click To Tweet
Power, love, self-discipline. God's Spirit stands ready to help us submit our strong will to Him in obedience. Click To Tweet
Let the crouching lion of sin go hungry today. Click To Tweet