A Self-Controlled Life

I hope you had a great week. The month of march is  "Nutrition" month, please check out my healthy road tips at www.mpush.org/health_corner.html  I hope you will be able to participate and go on this my healthy road journey for this month. The aim of this exercise is to develop the habit to eat healthy and exercise regularly, and doing so with no financial cost attached or worries about having enough space. For those who regularly exercise just keep on doing you’re thing.

 I would like to thank all of you who were able to participate in our first webinar last Saturday. The webinar went extremely well and it was great to have participants from Canada, Georgia, Florida, Jamaica, and Virginia and of course my faithful Delawareans.

 

This brings me to our subject for discussion today which is “self-control” also known as “temperance” in some translations- a fruit of the Spirit. The Unger’s Bible dictionary defines self-control as the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions especially his sensual appetites. The root of this Greek word means “strong in a thing” or “masterful”. Self-mastery or like a strength over oneself.

We can all agree that “self-control” requires a lot of strength, sometimes more than we care to give. However, we must or we would run wild. Not only would we overdo not know when to stop, but we would underdo some things not knowing when to start- procrastination.

 

In I Cor. 9:24-27 Paul talks about running a race and having to discipline his body like an athlete, training it to do what he wants it to do. Paul wanted to make sure that in the end he himself would not be a “castaway”.

From this passage we can learn four principles of a self-control life. Firstly a self-controlled life is goal-oriented v. 24- to win the prize.

Secondly a self-control life is disciplined v 25 - goes into strict training. Thirdly a self-control life is focused v 26 - does not run like someone aimlessly and finally a self-controlled life involves participation of the entire body v 27-I beat my body daily to do what I want it to do.

 As Christians we are expected to have a self-control life- there is no question about it. However it takes willingness on our part to say no to ourselves and yes to God. As difficult as it may get we have within us what it takes to be successful at it.

 Let us pray for a life of self-control for ourselves as well as for our children. Not only do we want them to have restraints, but we also want them to be motivated, self-starters going through life with a goal in mind, disciplined, and focused in mind body and spirit.

  In His Service,

 

Vilma