Fruit of the Spirit: Self-Control

But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,faith, gentleness, and self-control.

Galatians 5:22

 

Self-control is probably the hardest aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit to maintain for some of us. There are so many areas where we need to have self-control. Work, anger, spending, eating, exercising, and entertainment are just a few. Every part of life has to do with self-control. It is the last aspect mentioned yet it is the one we must have to exercise all the others.

We can justify anything when we are not using self-control, and being out of control is very common in this day and age. Too much of anything causes a life to spin out of control. In our weakest areas the demons will continue to tempt us and keep us out of balance.

To be more disciplined in our lives, we must again submit to the Holy Spirit and ask Him to enable and fill us and then choose to let Him take over.

The world says more is better. Eat until you are stuffed instead of quitting when you know you are full. Work more. Spend less time with family and on relationships. Making money is more important. Constantly look for entertainment instead of finding contentment. The world tells us the opposite of what the Bible teaches to keep us in balance. The Joker’s line from one of the Batman movies is " just create havoc and problems grow from there".

Yes, we all need self-control. We must ask for it, choose it, and then submit to it. None of these aspects of the Fruit of the Spirit are possible in our flesh. Take advantage of the blessings of the Holy Spirit that are available to us as God’s children, and the Fruit of the Spirit be evident. Let us ask the Spirit to fill us today.

 

Thank you Jesus for your gift of the Spirit.

Sharon