Joel Osteen Daily Devotionals July 17 2022 : No More Slavery

1 Corinthians 6:12, NLT

You say, “I am allowed to do anything”– but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything.

There are a lot of things we can do and get away with. It’s permissible to go around with a bad temper, a negative attitude, or a critical spirit, but it’s not profitable. When you let your feelings control you, you can only go so high. You’ll survive, but it will be far less than what you were created for. The apostle Paul said he wouldn’t become a slave to anything. When we let our feelings rule us, we become a slave to anger, to lust, to self-pity. Because we’re letting our flesh, our carnal nature, stay on the throne, it’s as though we’re serving those things, held by their power.

But I believe it’s a new day for us, and the flesh is being dethroned. No more living as slaves, no more being controlled by our feelings. We’re rising up to say, “Feelings, you’re not the boss of me. Flesh, you’re not going to run my life. I’m taking the throne. I’m going to make decisions that move me toward my destiny.”

Father, thank You that I can choose to be disciplined and say no to the flesh and its desires. Thank You that every day I can take my feelings off the throne and not be a slave to anything. Help me to do what’s right and move toward my destiny. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.