Ruling Our Spirit

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city. Proverbs 16:33  The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.     1 Corinthians 14:32.
I was raised in a Pentecostal church. Those that would speak in tongues. I remember the days of my youth when we had what was called a Holy Hoedown.  A person would get up and speak in tongues and walk across the front or any isle of the church and hold everyone hostage while they spoke gibberish that no one understood.  The Pastor could not speak a message that he had prepared for the people of God. It was a misuse of a gift at best and at worst the person was being used by Satan himself to disrupt a church service.  These verses above tell me we control our spirits and this does not have to be. I haven't seen anything like this in years and years and hope I never do.  The person speaking in tongues and disrupting a service was often thought to be spiritual. We can choose to obey God. God is a God of order and not a God of chaos. I remember when I was but 16 years old and coming from that background of the holy hoedown. I felt the spirit come on me and a friend advised me that that was not necessary. I believe he quoted 1 Corinthians 14:32 to me. It never happened again. Now that I am older and have been in this way a long time, I don't look at someone as spiritual that cannot control their own spirit. Uncontrolled emotional outbursts are not a sign of spiritual maturity, if it be a fit of anger or speaking in tongues. As I think back to those days I am thankful for a mature Christian who was not that much older than I, that spoke some words of wisdom in my life. The last time I saw something of this nature was when I visited a church in Tacoma, probably 15 or more years ago. I remember a testimony service they were having and it seemed each one had to have a bigger story that the last, to look spiritual. We joke about it now and call it Test a lie.  Sometimes I question my spirit, and today was one of those days. I went before the city council yesterday not sure of myself and worried that I would find impure motives after I spoke.  I am not so sure of myself anymore, I know I am a fallible human being but I forged ahead after praying many a prayer. I pray that God will bless the words I spoke. After the fact I felt I had followed God's direction. We are able to control our spirits and to obey God.  Many of the battles we fight are spiritual battles and God is there to fight them for us. I am thankful to be on this spiritual journey, I don't always see my way clearly but I know I can trust God. I am so thankful to be a Christian and know I can ask God for help in any situation.  God bless, LVZ.