Listen to this devotion
Living in the Spirit … Gives Me Self-Control
In the Word
A person without self-control is like a house with its doors and windows knocked out (Proverbs 25:28 MSG).
Of the Word
… the fruit of the Spirit is … self-control … (Galatians 5:22–23a).
A house without windows or doors indicates a dwelling exposed to the elements and vulnerable to intruders. Without self-control we are like this house — wide open for the intrusion of sin.
We chuckle and say, “I just have no self-control when it comes to _____.” We can fill in the blank with our own answers: chocolate, television, shopping, eating, working. Or we may have a lack of self-control over things we don’t so readily admit: rage, swearing, lust, jealousy, alcohol, abusive speech, or gossip. Lack of self-control, no matter how trivial we may perceive it to be, leads us away from God’s direction for us.
… make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; … For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5b–6a, 8).
Walking with my Lord
Merciful Father, send Your Spirit to strengthen me so that I may persevere in my desire for self-control. Lord, lift me up when I am falling. Help me keep my eyes upon Jesus. In His name. Amen.
Mustard Seed: Living in the Spirit. Authors: Marcia Gomulka, Dcs. Betty Knapp, Myrna Lou Meyer. 29/30 ©2007 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org
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