Where are You Self-Control?

The other night my five and six year-old boys were struggling with poor choices and disobedience which all stemmed from a lack of self control.  I was tired, frustrated and “done.”  But, I kept calm and told them I was tired of correcting them.  I sent them to bed early telling them we would look up scripture on self-control the next morning (yep, I totally skipped the evening bible study – wasn’t that just brilliant?). 

I collapsed into bed yet again knowing things would be better in the morning.  And, guess what?  They were.  Except for the fact that I totally forgot about the scripture I had said we were going to look up.  In fact, I didn’t realize I had forgotten until our Bible study time the next evening.  At that point, I decided the best course of action was to take a shower and let Chris handle the kids (yep, another brilliant move!). 

As I “hid” from my family, my mind drifted toward God, “How can I help them with self-control?”  And, then I realized that I needed help with self-control.  One child may struggle with keeping his hands to himself, but I struggle with keeping my hands away from food and overeating.  Another child may struggle with controlling emotions when tired, but don’t I as well?  Self-control.  I need it too.

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Lord, I want to be a woman of self-control.  I want my children to be self controlled.  I don’t know how to teach us how to do it, so I look to You.  Teach me how to teach us all Father.

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Daughter,

You are doing well with bringing all things to Me rather than handling them yourself.  Do you feel the weight being released from you?  Stop and breathe for a moment.  Do you feel lighter?  And do you see that when you give your life to Me and seek Me, that I answer?  I may not give the final answer immediately, but I am working and moving toward the answer.  Trust Me to work in their lives just like I have faithfully worked in yours. 

Focus on the Fruit of the Spirit to learn self-control.  Start with the first and you’ll soon have even the last.

You Answerer 

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Lately I have struggled with sitting down and reading Scripture.  I’m not focused.  I’m distracted.  I’m reading and I’m not getting it.  I’ll share more of what God is doing through this time as we enter 2013, but because of my own personal struggle, I want to break down the Scripture on the fruit of the spirit with you.  It will help me, and hopefully you as well.  If you find it confusing, though, please feel free to read Galatians 5:16-25 as a whole and ignore my questions and commentary through the breaks below.

 “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

What two parts of us are fighting each other? 

Which one are we to walk or live by?

What happens if we do this?

Think about a rating scale.  If living according to your fleshly desires is a “1” and living according to the  Spirit a “10,” where do you fall?

^“ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

This list can be so appalling that we can rush through it and say, “NOT ME!”  But the truth is that when we live according to the flesh, we can honestly say, “IT IS ME!” 

Have you ever had an outburst of anger?  Flesh

Have you ever put someone, like a relationship, or something else, like money, career, TV show, etc. ahead of God? Fleshly idolatry

Have you ever hated someone?  Flesh

Have you ever wished with all your heart you had what someone else had, whether it be something material or a gift or talent?  Fleshly envy

Have you ever wondered why someone else got someone or something rather than you?  Fleshly jealousy

Have you ever tried to talk someone into defending your side of a conflict? Fleshly dissensions and factions

The list could go on and on, but I’m thinking we can each identify with more than one of these, so I’ll stop.

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

This is who I wish I was all the time.  How about you?  

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Those who believe in and call on Jesus as Lord and Savior and surrender their lives belong to Him.  And what do we find about the flesh in those who belong to Him?

Do you see the hope?  Do you see that the flesh has been crucified?  Do you see we do not have to live by the flesh anymore?  Do you see it is possible to live by the Spirit?  This is the hope of Jesus! 

Cling to that hope this week.  Ask God to show you any “fleshly” stuff you are choosing in your life.  Confess them to Him and seek the fruit of the Spirit.  Next week we’ll study more on how we can live in freedom.