- Marie’s Daily Verse: Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.Jude 1:2
- DEVOTION, December 7, Self-control Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control (Proverbs 25:28). A few weeks ago, we had a lesson on self-control in Bible study. Here are a few thoughts from that study. The verse from Proverbs is very thoughtful. In biblical times, if an enemy breached your city’s walls, chaos was the result. Solomon compares that to a person lacking in self-control. If we give in to rash behavior (anger, revenge, gossip etc), we create chaos in our lives. The enemy (Satan) rushes in to create bedlam. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). This is a reminder to us that we cannot exercise self-control without help. As we pray and yield to the direction of the Holy Spirit, we learn self-control. There are several verses in Proverbs that warn us against allowing our tongues to have free reign. Here is an example: “Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him” (Proverbs 29:2). Much of our problem with self-control impacts the tongue. We need to offer a quick prayer for the Holy Spirit will guide us before speaking a hasty response. Here’s another one. “He who guards his mouth and his tongue guards his soul from troubles” (Proverbs 21:23). As we learn to control ourselves with the help of the Holy Spirit, our words, and lives become pleasing to God. Warhorses in ancient society were trained to remain under control when the battle was raging. Life is like a battle, and we need to remain under control, lest our rash and foolish behavior hurts others and offend our heavenly Father. Self-control is being controlled by the Holy Spirit. Dear Father, I know that sometimes others irritate me, and I react with hasty words, making the situation worse. Please help me to control my words and actions so that my life honors You. Help me to yield my life to the Holy Spirit. In Jesus name, Amen.
Warsaw Christian Church
"I was glad when they said…let us go into the house of the Lord." Psalm 122:1
Warsaw Christian Church 