God Gives You Self-control
The fruit of the Spirit is … self-control.
Galatians 5:22-23
In a very real sense, without self-control it is difficult to have the other eight fruit of the Spirit growing in our lives. The Holy Spirit works to grow the fruit of self-control so that we can restrain our natural instincts—lashing out in anger or yielding to temptation. Self-control helps us, human as we are and provoked as we can be, to act in a Christlike manner.
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When we lack self-control Satan declares open season on our lives. He sends in temptations and frustrations by the truckload and then stands back happily to watch our not-so-godly reactions. On the other hand, Peter wrote that we should add “to knowledge, self-control” (2 Peter 1:6). That’s our defense against temptation.
As we ask for self-control in our lives, we need to trust that God will equip us to act and react correctly to the temptations and frustrations we face.
GOD’S PROMISE TO ME
• My Spirit grows the fruit of self-control in your life.
• Godly self-control will lead to patient endurance and godliness.
MY PRAYER TO GOD
Lord, thank you for the fruit of self-control that the Holy Spirit grows in us. Help me to respond to life with the self-control that you give me.
