Renewed

Self Control

Self-control

Romans 6: 12&13 "let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.''

What is self control? Exactly what it is, controlling self or restraining yourself from something right? Well we should aim to restrain ourselves from unworthy thoughts, actions and influences. Living without restraint is like removing the brakes from your vehicle, it barrels down the road at break-neck speed until it plunges into a massive disaster. Bob Gass said in The Word For Today ''it is impossible to live a lifestyle of moral purity without dealing with some practical facts related to our flesh and blood appetites that constantly crave satisfaction''

Therefore it is impossible to live your life without faults and problems. Have you ever out of the blue one day done something negative that surprises you and you never knew you were that type of person? Listen to the logic, when we watch or listen to things that portray negative characteristics, our brain records those behaviors and nurtures them as you go on and the more you watch and listen to the things that encourage sin is the more you help to water those bad trees. Overtime they become big trees, and you know what that means right? They start to shed fruits and you start to display those negative behaviors.

Hence, it is our responsibility to rid ourselves of any negative influences and actions which we find within ourselves. Certainly we can't do it of our own strength, but through his aazing grace and power we are able to change. Don't be like those who when they notice thebad habits that they possess or negative tendencies, they don't try to improve or to get rid of those bad thoughts or actions. Instead, they tell themselves that it is who they are and they are just going to accept it.

          That is not how it should be, because you are telling yourself that it doesn't matter if the devil wants to control your life. Probably not in so many words but that it was you are essentially saying. It is crucial to learn how to control yourself, including your impulses, any urge to spurt rude language and against all other unholy things. If you truly desire to have self-control, then training is the next step. With training and prayer combined you can achieve self-control and maintain it daily as you strive to be like Christ.  Let God take full control of your life. I don't know what your story is, but today let us ask God to control our hands, tongues, minds and our entire beings. Let us ask him to purify us and to give us a new heart, but most importantly let us pray for self-control, that we will be able to resist the temptations of the devil.

           Let humility spread over us like wildfire consuming all self in its wake. For our greatest weakness is self. Everything in this world is based off self. Self-acceptance, self-love, self-esteem, self-confidence, self-trust and many others. It's all about self, so where does God come into the picture? Self cannot share the same space with the humble and righteous God of the universe who is always in control. Instead it has to be one or the other. Of course self is carnal and Jesus is the excellent spirit. The only true way to learn to love ourselves and accept ourselves and identify our purpose here on earth is by taking ALL the ATTENTION from ourselves and directing it to THE SAVIOR who died for us on Calvary. That is the only way to understand our worth and to appreciate all that we are in Christ. After all Jesus is love, so who better to teach us how to love ourselves and embrace all that we are through him?

Dear Heavenly Father touch our minds, and give us strength help us to have self-control today so that we will be able to abstain from sin. Humble us Father so that we will be able to praise you wholeheartedly remove any traces of self within us and cleanse us. Bless us we pray in Jesus' name Amen.