Self-control is something I didn’t really want to talk about because honestly, it’s the fruit of the Spirit I’ve struggled with so much. Whether it’s an unhealthy relationship with food, lust, or behavior and temperament I’ve struggled a lot. I’ve honestly felt like I’m not doing this Christianity thing right. I thought I would always be in a cycle of sin, filling my nights with the actions of lust and the days with anger, overeating, and selfishness. I started going to a really good church and I went to the altar time and time again crying over my sin and begging God to deliver me from it. I wondered why I could not stop doing the things I did not want to do. I wondered why I couldn’t consistently do the things I need to do like praying and reading my bible. I realized it was partially because I like my sin. My flesh craves the rush of satisfaction and pleasure that comes from my sins so I keep doing those same things leading to a cycle I can’t get out of. Does that sound familiar?

The first thing I want to say is that if you’re struggling with a cycle of sin like me, you’re not alone. I can’t even sit here today and tell you that I’m perfectly healed of this sin because I’m not. My sinful nature will always be part of me until I meet Jesus face-to-face. But I found the answer to my self-control problem this Monday at a revival meeting at my church. Great things always happen at those old-fashioned revivals. The pastor preached about Pharaoh and all the ways he tried to keep the Israelites from leaving Egypt, but they refused to compromise because they were bound for the promised land. He said that Satan (the enemy of God) is like that with us. He doesn’t want us to leave his way of sin and go to God, so he tries to compromise by saying we can leave but we can’t go too far.

I realized that yes, I am saved, but I was still on Satan’s short leash, and he was using my sinful desires to yank me close to him again whenever I got close to God. I could either have God, or my sin, but I couldn’t have both. In other words, I’d been letting my desires lead me instead of letting God lead my desires. I think that’s part of what self-control is. If we practice self-control, it means we rule our passions and desires in an effort to be well-balanced and even tempered. We don’t let our feelings and emotions take over our common sense. We practice moderation and discipline. I’ve come to the conclusion that self-control is hard, that’s why we need the second and most important part of self-control, God.

In that church pew I realized the only way to get a handle on my sin is to give my life and my desires totally to God. I realized the key is obedience. I’ve been obedient to my desires, my hopes, my dreams, not what God wills for my life. That night I took the first step in faith and surrendered to God’s call to obedience. I’m figuring out that God has a calling for my life. He has a plan and a place for me in ministry, but He hasn’t given me every detail yet. Part of my call to obedience is taking the small steps of faith He gives me even though I don’t know the big picture yet just knowing that it will lead to the fullness of what God has for me. It takes self-control to take those steps of faith in obedience and trust God that He will make all things fit together for my good and His glory. That’s a lot of self-control and it only comes from walking with the Lord and being sensitive to His Holy Spirit.

So, we’re back to where we started 9 weeks ago with the idea that walking in God’s Spirit produces good fruit. Walking in the flesh and doing what the flesh wants produces shame, anger, grief, depression, bitterness, discontent, and death. Fortunately, walking in the Spirit produces, (you know this), Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

My favorite verse to fight against my sin battle has been Galatians 5:1, all about the freedom of walking in the Spirit instead of the flesh so I’ll end with that.

“For freedom Christ has set us free; Stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”

One we have accepted Jesus free gift of salvation, we are free. We are no longer slaves to sin so let’s not return to that old bondage. Break off the chains of slavery and join me in snapping of Satan’s short leash and running as far away from him as possible right into the arms of our Savior.

Standing firm with you,

Katelyn