It is day 11 on this year’s beautiful wives prayer challenge. We thank the Lord for how far we have come seeking Him, befriending the Holy Spirit and also praying for a full manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit.
Today we get to see the last fruit of the Spirit and for me I see it as the “Main one.” This is because everyone can relate to it. Unbelievers know about it and while they exhibit theirs when they feel like, as believing women, our manifestation of this fruit of the Spirit is one we must exhibit on a daily basis not when the need calls for it. Now what is it? Self Control
Self-control is so easy to throw around but very difficult to practice. It is self control that would make you not respond in the same manner in which the other person is talking to you. It is self control that makes you not to buy that product even though you can afford it. It is self-control that’ll make you look away from that tub of ice cream. It is self control that keeps you going no matter the pressure to do something which is not sinful but may look sinful to a new believer. It is self-control that helps you stay loyal and faithful to your spouse.
Self control can be taught. It can be learned but It can only be sustained through the help of the Holy Spirit.
But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, SELF-CONTROL. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
To put it in the best term, Oxford dictionary defines Self-control as “the ability to control oneself, in particular one’s emotions and desires, especially in a difficult situation.” You may call it discipline or restraint and you are right.
For example, you are trying to grab that woman’s hair for annoying you and you are able to keep your hands back in your pocket; or you have been asking your husband for money and he didn’t give you, only for you to see some money in his trouser’s pocket. Everything is telling you to take it but you restrain yourself from doing that.
Prayers
Find scriptures to guide you as you pray to manifest this fruit of the Spirit daily in your life. Please I encourage you to pray as this is more personal than communal.
- For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control]. – 2 Timothy 1:7
- So now [if that is the case, then] it is no longer I who do it [the disobedient thing which I despise], but the sin [nature] which lives in me. For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh [my human nature, my worldliness—my sinful capacity]. For the willingness [to do good] is present in me, but the doing of good is not. For the good that I want to do, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. – Romans 7:17-19
- After all, God’s saving kindness has appeared for the benefit of all people. It trains us to avoid ungodly lives filled with worldly desires so that we can live self-controlled, moral, and godly lives in this present world. – Titus 2:11-12
- Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving] – James 1:19
- Because you have these blessings, do all you can to add to your life these things: to your faith add goodness; to your goodness add knowledge; to your knowledge add self-control; to your self-control add patience; to your patience add devotion to God; to your devotion add kindness toward your brothers and sisters in Christ, and to this kindness add love. If all these things are in you and growing, you will never fail to be useful to God. You will produce the kind of fruit that should come from your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. – 2 Peter 1:5-8
- But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear]. For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane, [and they will be] unloving [devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane], irreconcilable, malicious gossips, devoid of self-control [intemperate, immoral], brutal, haters of good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of [sensual] pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them. – 2 Timothy 3:1-5
- He who is slow to anger is better and more honorable than the mighty [soldier], and he who rules and controls his own spirit, than he who captures a city. – Proverbs 16:32
Reflection
What areas of your life do you need to practice self-restraint or discipline? How will you practice self-control in the days ahead? Will you be open to allow the Holy Spirit help you as you commit to this?
Tomorrow is the last day beautiful women. I hope to see you tomorrow as we bring this year end prayer challenge to a close.
God bless you.
All Scriptures are quoted from http://www.biblegateway.com
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