The Fruit of Self-Control

The Fruit of Self-Control By Michael Youssef, Ph.D. "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age" (Titus 2:11-12).      Some people see self-control as living an austere life without any enjoyment. Self-control is not about shunning things that bring joy. God does not call us to morbidity, but to a genuine enjoyment of His goodness.      Another trap people fall into is mistakenly thinking that the fruit of self-control is the same as self-improvement. Self-improvement assumes that we can achieve all that we set our minds to.      Instead, we should ask God what He wants for our lives and what we should work toward. Self-improvement apart from God's help may work outwardly. But deep down, the discontent and dissatisfaction remain. In contrast, God's improvement of us always works perfectly, both inwardly and on the outside.      To be self-disciplined, we must yield self-control. If you do not invite the Holy Spirit to fill up your life, the inner you will be filled with the impulses of the world, the flesh, and the devil. To yield control to God, we must daily feed on God's Word. We must rely on the Holy Spirit's convicting power, being sensitive to the ways in which He might prick our conscience about what to choose and how to take action.      The more we align ourselves with God's commands and His plan, the more we lead a focused, disciplined, and purposeful life. And in this lifelong process, we become whole.      Prayer: God, I want You to direct my life. I pray that Your Spirit would give me discernment to help me to see any obstacles keeping me from being the person You want me to be. Amen.

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