Mastering self control contributes LARGELY to making us WHOLE; lack of it undermines us, and makes us weak, which will lead us wrongly, and cause us to make bad choices, or to partake in errs...
IF we are now IN CHRIST JESUS, we are AIMING to BE LIKE HIM, and maintain what we know of HIS WILL, and WAYS, regardless of the onslaught of obstacles, confrontations, or other opposition! Though we shake and shudder inside, we MANAGE to move forward VOID of speaking, acting, or reacting according to the situation INSTEAD of how HE would have us to! It ISN'T easy; NOT at all, but the more we develop self control, the more enabled we are to endure, persevere, and withstand what would take us astray...
ALL DISCIPLINES REQUIRE the STRENGTH of SELF CONTROL! One CANNOT master ANYTHING without it! SO, that it is ESSENTIAL for the Christian, should not surprise us, or puzzle us! We look TO CHRIST JESUS and HIS example, for HE TRULY, IS THE IDEAL of self control! HE whom COULD have, in all of HIS troubles on this Earth, lost HIS WILL, and stability, did NOT, even when the pressure was beyond comprehension! We, on the other hand, lapse at the first signs of concern, or when the stress overwhelms us! See, the thing IS, we DON'T KEEP our FOCUS ON HIM, because IF we DID, we WOULD RENEW our strength no matter what!!!
Self control ALSO, assists us HOLDING ONTO the PEACE HE GIVES us, which in turn, AIDS us IN weathering EVERY storm, AND encourages us to EVER RELY ON HIM, and TRUST HIM to LEAD us, PROTECT us, PROVIDE for us, TEACH us, and ALL which we need OF HIM!!!
This discipline allows us to tame our tongue, to turn the other cheek, to walk away from what is aspiring to take us down, and much, much more, ALL aligned TO THE LORD *GOD*, and HIS WILL! In these disruptive, volatile times, TEMPERANCE facilitates us TO standing IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, REGARDLESS of the assaults of the impiety, and desires of the enemy to sway us, invalidate us, and cause us to trip into any of many traps...
There are at least 100 BIBLE references, and instructions concerning self discipline, dealing with a wide range of emotions, mindsets, misconception's, behaviours, and under-developed traits which take us wayside, or bring us into conflicts of various kinds. KNOWLEDGE IS KEY, and CHRIST JESUS IS THE EXEMPLAR for this, and ALL disciplines, as well as being THE ONE we turn to when the stress is more than we think we can handle! OH LORD KNOWS how I have struggled to REMAIN IN HIM when accosted, pushed, or what have you, but I AM learning, and AM gaining much in the process of sticking TO THE TRUTH, and HIS WILL! There have been times in recent months when I could have easily engaged in what I KNOW to be wrong, and responded in ways unfitting OF my CALLING, or stance! Yah, sometimes I get to a near boiling point, YET, I hold my tongue, check myself, PRAY, and THANKS BE TO HIM, move forward, NOT necessarily forgetting, nor without feeling the intense frustration, but I manage to keep it to myself, and not be drawn into that which intends to snare me. IT IS DIFFICULT at times, BUT ALWAYS WORTH IT!!!
11+++For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
12+++training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
13+++waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
14+++who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
One of the proofs of God’s working in our lives is the ability to control our own thoughts, words, and actions. It’s not that we are naturally weak-willed. But our fallen nature is under the influence of sin. The Bible calls it being a "slave to sin" (Romans 6:6).
Believers need self-control because the outside world and internal forces still attack (Romans 7:21-25). Like a vulnerable city, we must have defenses. A wall around an ancient city was designed to keep out the enemy. Judges at the gates determined who should be allowed in and who should remain outside. Soldiers and gates enforced those decisions. In our lives, these defenses might include avoiding close relationships with sinners, meeting with other believers, and meditating on the life-giving Word of God. We don’t exhibit self-control if we continually dally with that which would enslave us.
Self-control naturally leads to perseverance (2 Peter 1:6) as we value the long-term good instead of the instant gratification of the world. Self-control is a gift that frees us. It frees us to enjoy the benefits of a healthy body. It frees us to rest in the security of good stewardship. It frees us from a guilty conscience. Self-control restricts the indulgence of our foolish desires, and we find the liberty to love and live as we were meant to.
1 THESSALONIANS 5: 22...
abstain from every form of evil.
We must not despise preaching, though it is plain, and we are told no more than what we knew before. We must search the Scriptures. And proving all things must be to hold fast that which is good. We should abstain from sin, and whatever looks like sin, leads to it, and borders upon it. He who is not shy of the appearances of sin, who shuns not the occasions of it, and who avoids not the temptations and approaches to it, will not long keep from doing sin.
ONLY with self control are we able to resist, abstain, refrain, and leave err behind, and NOT be entrapped by those who are bent on proving us wrong! ONLY with self control CAN we begin to step INTO THE LORD, HIS WILL, and the NEW self! ONLY with self control can we be SURE OF our allegiance TO HIM! Self control also allows THE HOLY SPIRIT TO WORK FREELY in us, of which we ARE PARTNERS to, thus, our ACTIVE cooperation IS necessary, for many reasons, and which REVEALS the TRUTH of our heart TO HIM...
As the world darkens, we, HIS Children, SHALL be seen as we SHINE OF HIM, FOR HIS GLORY, and the sake of those lost, discouraged, deceived, and doubtful, THEREFORE, let us gather OF HIM, HIS WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, and INSTRUCTION, THAT the gates of THE KINGDOM TEEM with the SAVED! We HAVE work to be done, and self control ensures a break in the clouds of doom!!!
LWINSOR © 2019
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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