Self Control

I love thinking about the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God seems full of joy, life, and abundance. Maybe I believe this because I associate the gifts of the Holy Spirit with the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.

We walked outside for staff meeting this week and prayed for one another. Each of us selected a fruit we would like to see God’s Spirit raising up in our lives. One person selected faithfulness, to be full of faith which is a new way of thinking of this word for me. Another chose patience, and the ability to notice tones as a parent that might be filled with exasperation rather than tenderness. One person chose peace, she is getting married soon and that is a good word when preparing for a wedding: the peace to enjoy the moment, taste the food, greet the guests, and dance. One person chose gentleness. She has a radiant laugh that brings levity to the entire office, and she can be quick to anger. Gentleness is a good one for me too, but instead I chose self-control.

I have been meditating on self-control. I read the Greek word used is “enkrateia,” meaning “strong, having mastery, able to control one’s thoughts and actions.” As a fruit, developed in me by the Holy Spirit, I must abide in Christ, connected to Him. Control of self, the discipline to manage godly and positive thinking, to be thankful instead of complaint focused, to be mindful of what I say and why I say it. The opposite of self-control is recklessness, lack of control, and being out of control. I picture this as unwillingness to submit to what the beloved other is asking of me and wanting to go my own way. I picture this as ego, choosing to say what I want, when I want, and how I want without regard to others. I will ask God to grow in me this beautiful gift. Which fruit of the Spirit do you need from the Lord?

*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. –Galatian 5:22-25