Self-Control is a Blessing
Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.
Proverbs 25:28
How many times have we let our emotions control our words and thoughts? How many times do we let the world around control us control our thoughts, words, and actions making us a slave to the world? Lack of self-control is often a habit coming from childhood that we carry throughout our life. I suffered from lack of self-control but now after sixteen years of following Christ, he gave me the peace that transcends understanding that self-control was stealing from me.
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) Overcoming anger and living with self-control is a great blessing, and the Lord has the power to free us. Pray for his divine power to overcome your lack of self-control and to control your anger, and the Lord will give you a new identity and his power to be a light for Christ in this world, and anger will begin to diminish as his love fills our hearts. It’s hard to hurt a true Christian because he/she is secure in Christ.
A true Christian reflects Christ to the world because God and others are the center of their life. How can we minister to souls, reflecting the Lord’s love and compassion without self-control? Self-control is fruit of the Spirit: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.(Galatians 5:22-23) The Holy Spirit can give is self-control through the power of God, if we truly have the faith that all things are possible for God. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7) God has given us through the Spirit, the power of self-control. Imagine what people think when they see someone without self-control, someone they knew to be a Christian.
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. (James 1:19-20) How can we be pleasing to God without controlling our anger? Take a moment to control the emotion and seek godly wisdom.
Today pray that the Lord will help you to control any unrighteous anger that takes control of your words and actions. Be a powerful witness for the Lord by showing them you are secure in your God-given identity and you are in control, controlled by the Spirit and not by the world.
Prayer: Lord, guide me in the Spirit to control any anger today, and to control my words and actions for your glory. Help me to be light for Christ, reflecting your love and compassion to the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen