Let's expose this deception of the world to the truth of God's Word and examine our own hearts.

Scripture

Jeremiah 10:23

Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Further reading: Phillipians 2:3-4, Matthew 16:24, James 4:13-16

Devotion

Self-sovereignty can be defined as exercising the exclusive authority over one’s own body, mind and direction. We’ve all heard the language of the age urging us to “look within”, “find your true self”, “harness the power within” or “live your truth”, but this destructive lie promotes pride in the heart, with the root being self-idolatry.

When we declare ourself sovereign, our desires and pursuit of fulfillment will be the priority. We place ourselves above God and the needs of those created in His image. This self-idolatry can creep into our hearts. For example, if the pursuit of our dreams and desires cause us to neglect our family or pursuit of God, we must re-examine our motives.

We are called to walk in the will of the Sovereign Lord, regard others as more important than ourselves and lay down our lives for our friends, this is the life every human being was created for.

Self idolatry’s fruit is divisive, it leaves no room for unity or community because you (self) are the priority, not others. This will slowly pull at the thread and undo the tapestry of society designed to be knitted together in unity, community will be lost as the desire to live for self denies the will to live with and for others.

God is sovereign!

As believers, the foundational truth and center of our faith is Christ. As the rock and pillar of our faith, He demonstrates that the way of life is that of self denial. Jesus placed His life in submission to that of His sovereign Fathers will, and selflessly bore the excruciating death of the cross for the sake of our freedom. A transaction made with His blood was our purchased price, leaving our lives no longer our own.

We are called to walk in the will of the Sovereign Lord, regard others as more important than ourselves and lay down our lives for our friends, this is the life every human being was created for.

Repentance

Father, we come to you in humility, repenting where we have compromised truth due to our own selfish ambitions. We repent where we have considered ourselves sovereign over our life, living not in according with your will, may your will be done in us Father. We thank you that Jesus was the perfect representation of our calling as sons and daughters of the Most High, Sovereign God, and that You so selflessly gave us Your only Son. May we lay down our lives and our will in accordance with Your purposes.

Prayer

Father we enter your courts with thanksgiving. Thank you for Your endless grace and mercy as we navigate life in You. Lord we pray for those deceived by the lie that man is sovereign, and we ask for Your Spirit of wisdom and for revelation. Please release those bound by this lie, that they may submit their lives to You and walk according to Your will.

Thank you Jesus for your precious blood, your utter humility in denying Yourself for the sake of our freedom. May we walk a life worthy of the calling, knowing we were bought at a price, and our lives are not our own. Your will be done, not ours. In Jesus' mighty name.

Amen.

About The Prayer Campaign

We're joining together with hundreds of believers around Australia to humble ourselves, repent, seek God and pray for revival – a Jesus Revolution.

Each week the devotion will be exposing the deceptions of self-worship to the truth of Scripture as we deny self and radically follow Jesus. Learn more about the prayer series here.