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Living in the Spirit … Gives Me Self-Control

In the Word

A person without self-control is like a house with its doors and windows knocked out (Proverbs 25:28 MSG).

Of the Word

… the fruit of the Spirit is … self-control … (Galatians 5:22–23a).

A house without windows or doors indicates a dwelling exposed to the elements and vulnerable to intruders. Without self-control we are like this house — wide open for the intrusion of sin.

We chuckle and say, “I just have no self-control when it comes to _____.” We can fill in the blank with our own answers: chocolate, television, shopping, eating, working. Or we may have a lack of self-control over things we don’t so readily admit: rage, swearing, lust, jealousy, alcohol, abusive speech, or gossip. Lack of self-control, no matter how trivial we may perceive it to be, leads us away from God’s direction for us.

… make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; … For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5b–6a, 8).

Walking with my Lord

Merciful Father, send Your Spirit to strengthen me so that I may persevere in my desire for self-control. Lord, lift me up when I am falling. Help me keep my eyes upon Jesus. In His name. Amen.


Mustard Seed: Living in the Spirit. Authors: Marcia Gomulka, Dcs. Betty Knapp, Myrna Lou Meyer. 29/30 ©2007 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 801 Seminary Place Ste. L010, St. Louis, MO 63105. www.lwml.org

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture passages with the notation of (MSG) were taken from THE MESSAGE, Copyright ©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

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