MAIN
IDEA:
Self-control is defined
as having control or restraint of oneself or one’s actions and feelings. Being self-controlled is the very foundation
for living a life for God. But, far too
often, we lose control of ourselves and act/behave in ways that are far from
Christ like. Our desires tempt us every
day. The devil knows exactly how to
tempt each of us to lose control. In other words, the devil knows how to push
our buttons. Identifying these “buttons”
and recognizing that the temptation is from the devil is the first step towards
developing self-control. The closer we
stay to God, the easier it is for us to remain in control. Below are some simple ways each of us can
increase our level of self-control: 1) master
our moods—do the right thing even when you don’t “feel” like it 2) watch your
words-ignore the impulse to say something quickly that you will later regret 3)
restrain your reactions – quick unrestrained reactions typically yield bad
results. As we are told in 2 Timothy
1:7, For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and
self-control. A simple act of self-control
can have a big impact.