Who calls the tune in your life? Are you ruled by what happens to you? Or do you rule over what happens? Is your life determined by your surroundings and environment? Or do you determine the impact of what happens around you?
God intended us to have a sense of mastery. For many people, life has got out of control. It seems that how they live is dictated to them by forces outside themselves. In fact, psychologists tell us that this is a major cause of stress.
When we read Genesis, however, we see that God designed us to be in mastery over our affairs. No matter what is happening around us, we should be in charge.
Everyone faces situations and circumstances beyond their control. Things happen to us all that we cannot change. But we can change. We can choose how to react to what is going on around us and how to deal with it.
The Bible uses the phrase ‘reign in life’ to describe God’s purpose for us–
Those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17).
We can do it because of God’s abundance of grace.
To read more on this topic see Living in the Image of God, Barry Chant (Miranda: Tabor, 2012 available in eBook and Paperback) from which this edited extract is taken.