GOD-CONTROL
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and SELF-CONTROL.” - Galatians 5:22-23a
Friend,
God wants us to have SELF-CONTROL, or as I like to say GOD-CONTROL.
Jesus modeled self-control and he wants us to have self-control. There is so much for us to learn about this topic from scripture. Let’s take a look together and learn from Jesus how we can have self-control.
Let’s read Mark 14:32-42 says,
“32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and Johnalong with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled.34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”
35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba,[f] Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
God is sovereign and holy! We may not understand why we are called to suffer and do hard things but just as Jesus said, “not my will but your will be done.”
Jesus surrendered His will to His Father. Friends, we should also surrender our will to the father daily.
God sees you and loves you and HE overcame it ALL.
Our challenge is to put on the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20) so we are ready for battle. As we continue to seek truth and wisdom, we will learn to fight in the spirit and not in the flesh.
Holy Father, thank you for the gift of SELF-CONTROL! This is a big topic, and I know that I’m going to need your help! Together, I know I can experience a life of SELF-CONTROL! I’m so excited! Father, thank you for the gifts of the fruit of the Spirit. I pray that you would equip me with all of them from this day forward! I can’t wait to see the world in a whole new way! Amen.