Article No. 0286
Self-Control
Is Within Your Reach
“For The grace of God teaches us
to say “No” to our ungodliness and
worldly passions and to live
self-controlled upright and godly lives
in this present age.”
Titus 2:12
I once bought a box of chocolates and intended to just try ‘one or two’
a day to see which ones I liked. Well, ‘one or two’
turned into ‘three or four’ then ‘five and six’
(and more!) and I paid the consequence for my lack of resistance to temptation
and developed a terrible stomach ache.
The problem wasn’t in the box of chocolates,
but it was in my lack of self-control!
Self-control is a virtue which means making commitments to certain behaviors and saying “No” to others.
It is pointedly the ninth characteristic of Christ known as the “Fruits Of The Spirit”, which are
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness
and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
So what keeps us from executing self-control? The answer is that instead of having the Holy Spirit
conform us to the character of Christ, we instead yield to the thoughts of our own sinful self:
“Our desires make us sin,
and when sin is finished with us,
it leaves us dead. ”
James 1:15
Self-control means we stay on a God-led course and not yield to our own desire,
whether we feel like it or not! But you may still ask, “Pastor Jeanne,
I need help. No matter how hard I try, I just can’t control myself. How can I ever change?”
My friend, the only one who helps, guides, and gives the strength to overcome whatever
problem we are facing is the Holy Spirit. He is always there, ready to help,
and all you need to do is reach out and ask. Start right now with this prayer:
Heavenly Father,
I commit to you to yield to your Holy Spirit to guide me and help me overcome my willfulness and to teach
me self-control. I am turning to you for help. I know now that I need all the characteristics
of Jesus in my life, especially self-control. Please forgive me of my sins,
Lord Jesus and put your heart in mine. In your name I pray, Amen.
God Bless Your Day
Jesus Loves You
NotesOnLife.org
|
|
|
|
|
| 
Like
