Self-Control

Self-control is hard, it takes a lot of will power and determination. But it’s vital in all our lives to help us in the face of temptation.  

King Solomon said that “a person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls” (Proverbs 25:28). We’re not used to living in fortified cities these days, but for Solomon, a city with strong walls represented protection and safety from the enemy. City walls make it harder for the enemy to get in and they create a protected community.  

A city with broken-down walls though, is defenceless, disgraced, and exposed to ruin and defeat. A great metaphor for our lives without self-control.  

However, a city with broken-down walls is not beyond hope. There are numerous examples in the Bible of cities having their walls rebuilt, and the same can be true for us today. You might feel you are weak today, and that sin is dominating your life, and you can’t see a way forward. The walls of self-control are broken-down. But there is hope for a rebuild… 

Step One: Change Your Focus. 

Change your focus from the things that are tempting you. Jesus, as always is our best example of this. In Matthew 4 he was faced with temptation in the desert, but he changes his focus from the temptation by speaking out truth from scripture against Satan’s lies.  

Step Two: Get Perspective. 

Like with so much in life, taking time to pause and breathe can help us out massively. In our times of struggle, weakness and temptation, we can pause and take a moment to think through the consequences – we can get a grasp on what life could be like if we demonstrate self-control.  

Step Three: Ask For Help. 

Ultimately, our best defence to temptation and sin is to ask for the Holy Spirit’s help. We all have our limitations and our weaknesses. The Holy Spirit is our greatest advocate in growing self-control in our lives. We just need to ask him to help us.  

Questions: 

1. What areas of your life do you lack self-control in? 

2. How could you change your focus in the areas that you lack self-control? 

3. How might thinking through the consequences help you to gain self-control? 

4. Finish by asking the Holy Spirit to help you in your temptation/weakness, ask him to help you grow in self-control.