But at its best, it comes to me outside of my hard work. “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” I thank God for all those gifts, especially that last one, self-control. Like I say, I like to pray through that list in my head. Self-control is a benefit, not something we necessarily have to aspire to or even work at, but something that comes as we seek the higher gifts like “faith, hope and love,” virtues Paul enumerates in another one of his letters. They keep counsel with themselves as they keep counsel with God. 2 Peter 1: 5-7 Make every effort to add to your faith goodness, and to goodness, knowledge, and to knowledge, self-control, and to self-control, perseverance, and to perseverance, godliness, and to godliness, mutual affection, and to mutual affection, love. 1 Corinthians 9:25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Genesis 4:8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. May I face all issues of life with calmness and control, from self and over-indulgence. Proverbs 25:28 Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control. They don’t mouth off–the way I do–or blow up. Grant me Father I pray, a spirit of self control. When I think about the Spirit-filled people I admire, self-control is indeed one of their hallmarks. Instead of gritting your teeth, fighting for some self-discipline, try closing your eyes. Next time you’re struggling overcome some bad habit or take on a new good habit, think of self-control as a gift, something that Spirit is longing to give you. And Paul, who knew Jesus only after His death and Resurrection, often emphasizes the sublime power of the Spirit and its constant presence. Jesus promised his followers that on His departure from this earth, His ascension, that He would not leave us comfortless. Sure you can congratulate yourself all you want for incredible self-discipline: for not taking that extra cupcake or for running a few miles every morning or working out at the gym.īut what if that daily discipline, like prayer, really comes as a gift not achievement? What if the self-control that enables you not to lash out at disappointments, not to harangue other drivers from behind the wheel, not to disrupt the world with angry outbursts, is God-given? Read More: How to Turn Your Goals Into Habits Self-control, a fruit of the Spirit? Isn’t self-control something I do on my own? Isn’t it something I can get credit for achieving? Just the word “self” suggests it’s something I do by gritting my teeth, winning my own little victories.
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