If you are like most people, admit it or not, you want to have control over your life circumstances, maybe even control over others. But the truth is we don’t have real control over our life circumstances and control over others is highly illusionary, and maybe abusive. We certainly can make personal choices that influence both our own lives and others. But these will not guarantee a ‘free pass’ on life trials.
SELF control is the only control we will ever really have in our lives. “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” (Victor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning) It is both possible and healthy for you, for those you love, and for our world to pursue self control. What motivates you to success in self control? Marcia and I are trying to honor our commitment to:
- “Live simply so others may simply live.” Disengaging from society’s marketing campaign to gobble up more goodies, energy resources, and time killers, frees us to enjoy and grow our relationship with each other and others. It also frees up resources for shining light into some very dark places in the world. It’s all a growing process, but making a commitment to simplified living makes certain self control choices easier.
- Deciding to enjoy life and enjoy God. These might seem contradictory to some, but they go hand in hand, and both involve self control to make choices that bring us greater and lasting joy rather than choices that bring merely passing pleasure or worse, pain. It is not overly complicated to ask, “Will this choice honor God and His plan in my life or diminish it?”
- Ultimately realizing that our best self control efforts are achieved by surrendering control to the one who knows us most and loves us best, our Lord Jesus. Jesus said if we want to be His followers, we must demonstrate self control: “Deny yourself, pick your cross, and follow Me.”
Self control may seem negative at best or worse, impossible, but it is key to enjoying a truly great life.
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25