You Take Control By Your Choice
by Olga Hermans
Some people think that self-control is not important, but I’d like to prove you otherwise. One of the things you need to know is that you area spirit being; when you are Christian your spirit is the most important part of you. You probably know that you are a three-part being, right? Spirit, soul and body. 1Thess.5:23 You are a spirit, you have a soul and you live in a body. The part that everybody sees is the body. However, the real you is your spirit man.
If you do not build up your spirit, then your soul and body will dominate your life. You soul and body will then convince you to do what feels good at the moment or what looks easiest and most convenient. The soul and body will also convince you that no one will ever know, or what difference will it make to do a little of whatever you want to do.
Some people never learn to walk in self-control because they don’t take time to build up their spirit man. They learn to shove aside the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to them and instead follow their emotions or their own desires and reasoning.
Sometimes they may even put a religious coat on it and say that they felt God lead them to do what they did, when in fact, if they closely examined what they did, they would know that it goes against the principles of the Word of God.
When you desire to walk in the Spirit, you have to exercise self-control. You and I will have to learn to say “no” to that which pulls on our flesh and emotions to sin.
As Christians, we are to take control of what we see, hear and read, and whom we allow to influence our lives. We are responsible for our emotions, impulses and desires. For example, circumstances may press your emotions to respond negatively, but through the fruit of self-control, you choose to respond differently.
You choose to walk in peace while others may want to argue. You choose to forgive and show mercy when others offend, disappoint, or fail you. You choose to keep the joy of the Lord when you feel unhappy. You choose not to speak when your emotions are wanting your mouth to speak. All of these are example of self-control in operation.
Some may say, “Well, I believe you should vent your emotions.” There have been so many people today who have vented their emotions that we have destruction everywhere – destroyed marriages, destroyed family relationships, murders, and broken hearts, depressed and abused personalities, etc. Some people have vented their emotions and later regretted ever saying or doing what they said and did but cannot change it now.
Get control by submitting to God’s Word in your life personally. There are those who have learned that freedom is not doing whatever you feel at the moment. Freedom is in choosing to walk in love toward God and others. The love walk requires self-control. Gal.5:13
Jesus said in Luke 17:1 that offenses would come. He also said in John 16:33 to rejoice in the midst of tribulation. Walking in peace demands self-control! I remember somebody say once, “I have no problem walking with God. It’s just all the other Christians I have problems with!” That sounds funny, but that’s really the way some people feel.
When we become a part of the family of God, we must learn to live together as a family. God can use other brothers and sisters in the Lord to develop fruit in our lives if we allow Him to. We may not always appreciate the part they are playing in our spiritual growth, but we will realize it is a way God works the rough edges off of us.
Here are a few guidelines for helping you to strengthen the fruit of self-control in your life:
1. Take time to daily read the Word of God. Psalm 119:9-11. Hide God’s Word in your heart, so you will not sin against Him and will be able to live in His Blessings.
2. Take time daily in prayer. Matth.26:41. We need to “watch and pray” over our own lives. Watch for the attacks of the enemy in your life and then pray immediately.
3. Guard your heart with all diligence. Proverbs 4:23 We need to examine our attitudes and our thoughts on a regular basis and make adjustments as needed.
4. Be sensitive in your spirit to hear God. Hebr.3:7. When we hear from God we can choose to respond with humility and trust or
harden our hearts and ignore Him.
5. Be righteousness conscious. Remember, having an attitude of righteousness in Jesus makes you want to stay right with Him. 2Cor.5:21
6. Be quick to repent if you sin, and reckon yourself dead to sin and alive unto God. Gal.2:20.
7. Cast down wrong thoughts. Phil.4:8. Do you ever think about what you are thinking about? If you are not careful, your thought life can lead you into problems. It is important to think before you act.
8. Keep humble before God. James 4:6. We have our own ideas about what we can accomplish, but often we think more highly of
ourselves than we ought. We need humble attitudes, knowing that apart from God, we can do nothing.
9. Submit to God and to His Word, and resist the devil. We must remember that the devil is not going to just sit back and allow us to take new ground without putting up a fight, but James 4:7 says that he will flee if we submit to God and resist the enemy.
10. Set you affections upon the Lord. If you want to live the resurrection life that Jesus provides, then seek that new, powerful life by setting your mind and keeping it set on things above, not on things on the earth.
You can subscribe toThe Daily Choice which is a SPIRITUAL Devotion that helps you to make the right choices in your life!
GOODMORNINGMS.OLGA I JUST FINISHED READING YOUR BLOG WHICH ARE ALWAYS A BLESSING TO ME.I HAVENT RESPONDED TO THEM IN A LONG TIME,BUT I READ THEM EVERYD
AY OR AS MUCH AS I CAN.THIS POST TODAY CAUSED ME TO THINK A ABOUT A INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY AND IT CAUSED ME TO BE OUT OF CONTROL.I ASKED GOD TO FORGIVE ME FOR SOME THINGS I HAD SAID.THE POST TODAY I WILL REVERT BACK TO OFTEN BECAUSE IT HELP ME SEE THINGS IN A BETTER WAY.GOD BLESS YOU FOR ALLOWING HIM TO USE YOUR LIFE FOR OTHERS.LOVE YOUR SISTER IN THE LORD.
Thank you Latanya for your great comment; you come as back as often as you want; that is exactly what we need some times, to be reminded over and over again!! Blessings back to you!!
Hello Olga,
Thank you for such a helpful article this morning. It’s a real blessing and a guide to help anyone who needs to gain control over their lives. It’s always best if we focus on changing only 2-3 things at a time in our lives and depending on the size of what we want to change – one at a time may be all we can do realistically. Trying to change too much all at once leads to overwhelm and failure, and a gnawing low self-esteem results. Focusing on what is realistically doable gives optimum results and as success becomes evident in these areas we are encouraged to make other changes. Our self-esteem is our ability to achieve what we desire to achieve and as Christians we also want to be led by God in our achievements. I believe God blesses us greatly with His helping hand when He sees that we are setting out to make improvements in any area of our lives. It’s a great faith-builder to see how He leads us and strengthens us along the way. Thanks for being a blessing to so many! Many blessings to you, Brenda.
YES Brenda, thank you for pointing this out; getting control, over one thing at a time is definitely the way to go. Sometimes people first need to be wiling to take control over their lives and any little thing would be a great start!!
It’s our responsibility to choose what goes into our minds. If we protect what we put in and make the decision to guard what we take in, the results will be positive. How many of us have seen and heard things that we wish we had never?? You see, once it’s been seen and heard, you can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube! I am a self-help junkie. I make a conscious effort to put good, guiding words into my brain. And of course, if you have been taught and learned the words of God, those will last you forever and come to you when needed. Thanks for a very insightful post!
The words of God last forever and with His help self-control is so much easier…thanks Martha!!
Self-Control is truly important. You can tell a lot by a person as to how they prioritize in life.
Prioritising your life is one the most important things you can do to get control over your life! YES!! 🙂
I have learned in my marriage and with my children these principles are essential. Sometimes it is better to be happy than to prove you are right. Thanks for the beautiful words
I had to learn that as well, rather be happy than being right. Those are the moments where we practice what we preach right? 🙂
I love your guideline #3. I think sometimes people get set in their ways, even complacent. But there is always room for improvement, always space for reassessment, and always a good idea to “make adjustments as needed”. Love it!
Thank you Nisha, we can be set in our ways and be in a rut; sometimes even without us realizing it…so that is a good moment for improvement.
Hi Olga,
Thank you so much for the messages you send for me. Even though I have never responded they always bless me a lot. They influence me and I try as much as i can to apply them in my day to day walk with the Lord. May God bless you so much for the good work.
Thanks Perez for your great comment, hope to see you more often!! 🙂
Self-control is always important. Nice post, Olga. Thanks for sharing.
YES, self-control is ALWAYS important!
Thanks for sharing your guidelines for helping one to strengthen the fruit of self-control in their life. Great article, Olga.
Thanks Alexandra fro your sweet comment!!
nicely said! thanks for a great reminder and great job today!
Thanks for your comment today Patricia!!
Beautiful! Yes your Body and Soul are connected and self control is so important! Addiction to Tobacco had ruled my life for a very long time. I finally got control and dumped that 30 year old habit and it has changed my life and the way I run it! I never knew how much control it had over me ! Great Article Doll!
Tobacco can have a strong in your life; I was a 2 package cigarette smoker at one time in my life, I know how it feels to be controlled by a habit. Good for you that you dumped that stinking habit Elizabeth!!
Powerful and critical message…our power is on our response and choice! Love what you share Olga…so needed in today’s world!
Hi Denny! Thanks for your encouraging comment!!
My pastor says this all the time… Guard your heart. That is where it begins. Thanks for sharing this great post. Loved it. x0x
Sounds like you have a great pastor Norma 🙂 That’s where it all begins!!
Loved every part of this article Olga. Like what you say about guarding your heart Examining our attitudes on a regular basis is important. Staying connected with the One who truly gives us power will definitely help us to maintain that self-control. Thanks so much for sharing!
Hi Sue!! You are so right! examining ourselves is one of the wisest things we can do to grow up and mature!
Olga, what a GREAT article! I especially love this “As Christians, we are to take control of what we see, hear and read, and whom we allow to influence our lives.” YES!
Thanks Kim for your encouraging comment and YES it is up to us to take control of everything we hear, see and read!!
Wonderful words of encouragement Olga! I just love reading your blog! Thanks for sharing!
Self-control is huge Olga, I agree. I equate it with responsibility, and the more responsibility you take for your life the better it will be. If you aren’t controlling what goes in to your mind and what influences you, then you are living someone else’s life ~ and probably complaining about it every day!