Prophet’s Reading Plan: Jeremiah 13-15
And the fruit of the Spirit is… self-control.
Proverbs 25:28 Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who
lacks self-control.
We
are called to have self-control, to have restraint over our actions and
thoughts and feelings. This is an area of many facets that we can all find a
spot to grow in. Most of us allow ourselves to overindulge in something we
shouldn’t, weather it is overeating, overspending, or overthinking!
When
we find ourselves stuck on something somebody said to us, unable to forgive and
get over the issue, we lack the self-control to command our thoughts. When we
find ourselves reaching for that third helping that we are not at all hungry
for, we are lacking the self-control to stop. When we agree to do something
that we have zero time for, we are lacking the self-control to say “no.”
This
proverb tells us that the man who lacks self-control is like a city with broken
down walls. In the time that this was written, walled cities were the norm and
any city without a wall was an open target to the enemy. Those of us who lack
the self-control to command our thoughts or say no or stop gossiping or eating
or whatever are easy targets for Satan. All he must do is send one little
temptation our way and we’ve as good as stumbled.
The
key to this problem is discipline. We
need to discipline ourselves to do what we must to conquer our problem. If we
say yes to everything, we must start practicing “No!” If we often overeat, we
must start throwing our napkin into our plate or getting up from the table. If
we overspend, perhaps it is time to budget or cut the credit cards. And the
Holy Spirit has practical instruction for you in all of these areas!
PRAYER AND
MEDITATION
1.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal a few areas where you lack
self-control.
2. Choose one area to focus on today. What is the problem?
How do you know you lack self-control?
a. Ask God to show you if
this is an area of sin in your life? If it is, repent of it.
b. Ask God to show you
how this weakens you to the enemy.
c. Ask God for a step of discipline you can take in
order to grow in self-control in this area.
