I have the power, through Christ, to control myself.
"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ."
Titus 2:11-13
Self-control is listed as one of the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5, but its name may lead you to wrongly conclude that it is ultimately up to you to control yourself. After all, it is self-control. However, the root meaning of self-control is a mastery of self that proceeds from within oneself, not by oneself. Therefore, self-control is actually less about our ability to control ourselves and far more about our ability to surrender to God’s Spirit within us. Romans 8:7-9 says, “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; in-deed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you.” But you are not entirely off the hook. We who walk in the Spirit now have the power to say “no” to worldly passions, but it is not always easy to do. At any moment we can live for ourselves and bring forth the marks of the flesh, or we can submit to the Spirit and harvest the fruit of self-control from within.
Here are four ways you can partner with the Spirit to accomplish self-control:
Prepare the Soil
Cultivating the soil is a vital process in farming that breaks through the crusty surface in order to uproot weeds and make room for new roots. You can prepare your heart to receive the seed of self-control by first confessing your lack of it and asking God to forgive you and enable you to surrender to his Spirit and say no to your flesh.
James 4:2—“You do not have, because you do not ask.”
Root Your Affections in Jesus
Once the weeds of the flesh have been uprooted, your heart can begin to take root in the love of Christ who died so that you might no longer live for yourself but for him.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15—“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, there-fore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”
Plant Your Mind on God’s Will
The weeds of fleshly living have been uprooted by confes-sion and repentance, and the roots of Christ’s love have settled deep into your heart. Now you must decide in your mind that you will stay planted where you are when the storms of life try to uproot you.
1 Peter 4:1-2—“Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.”
Protect the Harvest
As the harvest of self-control begins to flourish, be prepared to protect your crop from enemies that seek to devour it.
1 Peter 5:8—“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
PRAYER
Father, I confess I have been living for myself. Forgive me for my selfish ways. Cultivate in me a deeper love for you and your kingdom than for me and mine. Help me, Lord, to be deeply rooted in the love of Christ and to remain in your will through the storms of this life and the enemy’s attacks. I pray that you would be glorified through the harvest of self-control that your Spirit will produce from within. Amen.