Breakfast With Christ - Self Control

BREAKFAST WITH CHRIST

TOPIC: SELF CONTROL

SCRIPTURE: PROVERBS 25:28

"A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls"

Welcome to BWC. Today, we look at a very important character trait that every Christian must develop. Self control is extremely important if we are to have a successful Christian life. Self control is "the ability to regulate one's emotions, thoughts, and behavior in the face of temptations and impulses"(Wikipedia).

The writer of the book of Proverbs likens a human being without self control to a city without walls. This description gives us a vivid imagery. In ancient times, it is unimaginable to live in a city without walls. Your enemies will attack you at will and break into your city as and when they please. There are no protections.

Anyone who lacks self controls is like a city without walls. Self control is an essential Christian attribute. In Galatians 5, Paul listed self control as part of the fruit of the Spirit. On our own, it is difficult to develop self control. So God gave us His Spirit to help us develop that attitude.

When you become a Christian, you are no longer under the control of your emotions and feelings. Only the Spirit of God must control you. You can't insult simply because someone provoked you, you can't fornicate simply because you feel like doing it. You can't masturbate or watch pornography because you have the urge to do so. There has to be strict self control.

God gave us the power over sin but without self control we will still continue to sin. Self control comes with self discipline. The lack of self control is the reason most of us are still struggling with habitual sins. Sin has already been destroyed on the Cross for us. The Spirit of God gives us the ability to control our desires, it is our duty to exercise that control.

There is no temptation that is above us. We have the power to say NO to all temptations. Sin destroys us. Let's watch it. We cannot continue in sin because of the Grace of God. We need to make the effort to walk in holiness. To do that we need to develop self control and self discipline. May God help us. Stay blessed!

PRAYER LINE:

Lord, please help me to control my desires and be disciplined so that I can walk in holiness before you. Amen.