Self-Control

I got home so very late last night and up early again this morning to go to work. I didn't get to do my daily devotions. It seems like sin takes over my body if I am not in God's Word every morning. The littlest things can upset me and cause me to lose self-control. That is an excuse but it sure seems to help if I am in the Word every morning before my day begins. I thought I would do my study on Self-control today since that is what I am lacking in my life right now. I need to pray that I will just have the self-control to think through issues first, before I run my mouth.

Daily devotional January 5th, 2007

Self-Control

I am 43 years old, and even at my older age I feel like I have still not mastered self control. I give into all sorts of temptations, even though I fully understand the consequences. I also tend to use excuses why my self control is lacking. I have had seven children, and three grandchildren and I still find it hard to practice self-control. Sometimes I feel like I will never be able to master this.

Self control is a difficult concept for me to grasp, I am inclined to act on my emotions and desire for instant gratification rather than doing what will be the best for me in the long-run. For some people this can entail indulging in many different things such as, compulsiveness, addictions, obsessions, irrationality and other self-destructive behaviors. From overeating, procrastinating, impulsive buys, abusive relationships or drug and alcohol abuse, a lack of self control in our daily life will eventually catch up with us if it hasn’t already. For me, it is my lack of thinking through issues before I lose my temper. It normally takes me a day to think about my actions, repent and try to understand what I need to do to change. It just seems like if I would have self-control in the first place, I would lose the steps of having to think about something all day, repent and normally have to ask someone's forgiveness. Then feel badly for the next week!

I really need to work on this for the New Year! Maybe by 2008 I will have mastered this sin in my life.

If I we’re good at self control, I just might get to the point were I am not even conscious of the fact that I practice it in my daily life. This is were I want to get to. I need to think about this for a moment. If I am late to work, I can still practice self control by abiding by the speed limit. I guess it is almost like a little kid; I don’t eat the cookie out of the cookie jar because I don’t want to spoil my dinner. There are some things you just know not to do. But it is a scary thing when I continue to have no self control even when I am aware of the negative effects. GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!

Why does it have to be so hard!

I looked up in the dictionary to see what the definition was:


Self control is the exertion of one's own will on their personal self - their behaviors, actions, thought processes. Much of this comes from the perception of self and the ability to set up boundaries for that self.

Self-control can be expanded into several different areas, ranging from respect to willpower. Self-control has variable effects on people. It can be affected because of illness and past experiences and it can be improved through the course of life. It is a personal and development of the mind's creation and personality, thus the self-control of one's own mind will be varied from person to the next.

What does God have to say about Self Control?

1 Corinthians 7:7
I wish that all men were like I myself am [in this matter of self-control]. But each has his own special gift from God, one of this kind and one of another.

1 Corinthians 7:9
But if they have not self-control (restraint of their passions), they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame [with passion and tortured continually with ungratified desire].

Galatians 5:23
Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law that can bring a charge].

1 Timothy 2:15
Nevertheless they will be saved if they continue in faith and love and holiness with self-control,

2 Timothy 1:7
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

2 Peter 1:6
And in knowledge, and in self-control steadfastness (patience, endurance), and in [exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety),


Galatians 5:22, Paul describes it as one of the fruits of the Spirit, and in Titus he says `Urge the younger men to be self controlled.'