SELF CONTROL

SELF CONTROL

Self control is the control of oneself; the ability to master one's desires and impulses and if I dare say it is an ability to choose properly the right thing to do in the midst of various options many of which are good and bad. In some other fields, another quick word used for self control is Temperance.

SELF CONTROL is subjecting the soul of an individual to the control of the Spirit of GOD. It is a conscious effort seeing that we have been given the power of choice as human beings (Prov. 18:21, 21:23). The Spirit of GOD teaches us all things so we still do need to depend on the Lord even in that conscious effort (Phil. 2:12-13). It is the ability to place one self to do what the Spirit of GOD is saying per time.

When we give our lives to JESUS CHRIST we become born of the Spirit of GOD (John. 3:6) and the fruits of the Spirit are present in us because as it is with a new born baby child born with all the body parts that he/she would need throughout life but simply needs to grow them into their individual usage.

Philippians 1:6 says "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" We need to acknowledge the things that we have received in us through CHRIST JESUS (and this includes self control), when we communicate our Faith which means doing Spiritual activities more constantly.

Proverbs  4:23 "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."

Everything that a man is today or that He could ever end up being in the future is very much dependent on what exactly he feeds his mind with. If he spends many hours mainly on studying Chemistry, his thoughts and eventual way of thinking would definitely be channelled towards Chemistry. If he spends his time gossiping on what others did and didn't do, the obvious effects of a gossip shows up in such life. If he spends his time in the sphere of good capable businessmen, studying their methods and skills, his intentions and actions too shape up into becoming a capable businessman.

In more serious terms, if he spends his time studying the craftiness of wicked men, knowing how best to tell lies that would always go undetected, studying how to swindle men of their hard earned funds, such an individual ends up in gross unrighteousness. But if what informs an individual is the word of GOD, the dictates and instructions, then such person has his ways set right and without any doubts the actions of such person speaks righteousness.

Daniel was a young man in the land of captivity, but for his physical looks and background he was chosen to serve the king. As a part of his preparation, he was supposed to be fed from the king's table with all the delicacies imaginable and unimaginable. One had to have a serious level of self control to have refused to be fed of this avalanche. Daniel did and he requested that he didn't defile himself with such meals.

Similar to Daniel's case was that of Joseph also in the land of captivity and was offered something quite irresistible by his master's wife - a secret obviously favourable affair with the boss's wife, favourable in the sense that If he had agreed to her advances, he would have had some preferential treatment at least within that household.

Now one thing is characteristic of these two young men and it is that they had a relationship on going with GOD, this relationship helped inform their decisions when faced with the temptations and knowing that our GOD doesn't ever leave unaided he who trusts in Him, made Daniel much more admirable by the king during his selection and Joseph eventually landed up being the Prime minister to all of Egypt, a position far more exalted than that of his former boss.

If you want to be able to control your desires, thoughts, words, actions and eventually your life, spend more time studying the word of GOD, and beyond studying, also make it a point of duty to do that which you have studied and learnt, do not be as the man who studies, learns and decides to do otherwise, totally different from what he has learnt from the scriptures.


All in all, making up your mind isn't all there is to cope away from temptations, ask the help of the Lord in as you go through life's journey and you are sure to come out strong at the other side.

GOD BLESS YOU.