The Power of Self-Control – In Life and In The Bible

The Power of Self-Control…In Life and In The Bible

Self-Control lies within your ability to master your emotions, thoughts, and awareness…

Exercising self-control is essential in all aspects of life, including our Spiritual Life; it brings power and greatness. If and when you might be lacking in sufficient self-control of your emotions, actions, or activities, think about how you can improve your life performance.  

What Is Self-Control

Self-control means the ability to control oneself, in particular, one’s emotions and desires or expressions of them in one’s behavior, especially in difficult situations.

Self-control helps us to do the things we need to do, how we need to do them, and “if” we need to do them. It also helps us stop doing things that we see are bad for us, as well as being bad for those around us.

Why Do We Have Difficulties with Self-Control?

There are several reasons why we struggle with self-control. One reason is that we often lack awareness of how our actions affect others. When an individual does not take the time to think before they speak or act, it can generate chaos within their life.

Living in our world today, it is hard to think about the power of self-control, as there is a rush for all things to get done. No time to think about other people’s feelings, just get it done. Take the time to slow down and remember that everything we do is either good or bad for us.

Some individuals believe they are being called out if someone disagrees with them. They get defensive and react negatively. This means that they find it difficult to resist opposition to their way of thinking.

However, to live a good life, we must not push our thoughts, beliefs, and opinions about life on the people around us. If and when you become defensive about your way of thinking, you must realize that the minds of everyone do not always believe or think as you do. One must develop an attitude of tolerance for other people’s beliefs.

Self-Control In The Bible and Our Spiritual Life

Self-control in the Bible is defined as a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and a divine gift of power, love, and discipline (2 Timothy 1:7), rather than just human willpower. It is portrayed as a crucial virtue for godly living, protecting against temptation and sinful passions.

Key Biblical Aspects of Self-Control:

• A “Fruit of the Spirit”: It is produced by the Holy Spirit within a believer, enabling them to say “no” to ungodliness.
• A Sign of Strength: Proverbs 16:32 states, “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.”
• Essential for Security:  “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” (Proverbs 25:28).
• Application Areas: It involves controlling bodily desires (1 Thessalonians 4:3–5), speech (James 1:19–20), and moderation in all things (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).
• Foundation for Growth: 2 Peter 1:5-6 lists self-control as a necessary step for growing in faith and knowledge. (5) “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;”
• (6) -(9)- And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; ⁷And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. ⁸For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

How to Cultivate Self-Control Within Your Spiritual Being:

• Rely on the Spirit: It is not by sheer human effort but by submitting to the Holy Spirit’s power (Romans 8:13).
• Set Your Mind: Focus on things above and consider your sinful nature “dead” to lust and greed (Colossians 3:5).
• Avoid Temptation: Actively avoid situations that trigger a lack of self-control (1 Corinthians 7:5).

Key Verses on Self-Control:

• 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind”.
• Galatians 5:22-23 “…the fruit of the Spirit is…self-control.”
• Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God has appeared…training us to renounce ungodliness…and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives.

How Can You Develop Self-Control And Have The Power of Self-Control in Your Life?

Self-control comes through self-awareness, as well as mindfulness (we mention below), which means the ability to focus on your actions, reactions, thoughts, and emotions, and how all of these affect your life.

Positive Psychology states the following: Self-awareness is the ability to see yourself clearly and objectively through reflection and introspection.

The Bible States:  “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:”  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32

To build self-control, it is important to think and be aware of what you say, how you say it, what you do, and the method in which you deliver it. Your responses matter in all of life.

How Can We Overcome Obstacles to Self-Control?

Mindfulness is the quality or state of being conscious or fully aware of something. We can think about the moment what the consequences of our actions, reactions, or actions might produce within our lives.

One of the most effective ways to improve self-control is by practicing mindfulness. Mindfulness involves paying attention to what we are doing at any given moment. This allows us to notice when we are tempted to act impulsively, without thought, or engage in unhealthy habits.

Summary

Mindfulness is also practicing patience, forethought, acceptance, thinking before we make decisions, and considering how they affect us.

Mindfulness is the part of us that knows what triggers our unhealthy responses and our unhealthy habits, and helps us to correct those that are irrelevant or irresponsible.

Five Steps to Mindfulness By Thich Nhat Hanh

When we live with mindfulness and awareness, we will have more self-control, and we will have more structured well-being. We will be more prone to success, contented, and have meaningful experiences in our lives.

That does not mean that we never have an accident and mess things up a little, but we can overcome those mishaps by regrouping our thoughts, praying for more self-awareness, and the ability to always consider what makes life better for us and those around us.

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