Self-control

Self-Control

MY QUESTION for GOD

Why do I always have to be thinking about self-control?

A MOMENT with GOD

I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

Romans 7:21-25

Train yourself to be godly. Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.

1 Timothy 4:7-8

Better to have self-control than to conquer a city.

Proverbs 16:32

Self-control is one of the hardest character traits to maintain because it means denying what comes naturally to your sinful nature and replacing it with a godly response. Developing self-control is a lifelong endeavor because just when you think you have one area of your life mastered, another area gets out of control. Sometimes it seems almost impossible to control your thoughts, your words, and your physical appetites. But self-control saves you from the consequences of giving in to sin and bad habits. Self-control begins with God’s work in you, but it requires your effort as well. Just as a gifted musician or athlete must develop skills, strength, and coordination through intentional effort, striving for spiritual accomplishments must be intentional as well. God promises to reward your efforts.

DIVINE CHALLENGE

Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness.

2 Peter 1:5