FOLLOW THE SPIRIT: SELF-CONTROL

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7, AMP).

Living God: Giver of Life, thank You for breathing me into existence. (Genesis 2:7, NIV). I kneel before Your throne in worship, extending my gratitude for being with me from my Hell to my Win. In jubilant song, I praise You for being my everything!

When I think about the Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness, I must glorify You. (Galatians 5:22-23, HCSB).

I am a living, breathing witness, that following the Spirit of self-control has kept me from experiencing a multitude of emotional outbursts. However, I confess that I sometimes suffer from conniptions. Fortunately, my emotional outbursts have been restricted--within the confines of my home, car, and in the company of my closest (empathizing, understanding) friends, I cuss like I'm unconverted.

I admit that I need Your help in being more self-controlled. With my tongue I praise You, and with it I curse people, who have been made in Your likeness--I know this should not be. (James 4:9, 10, NIV). Purify my heart, O God, and assist me in following the Spirit of self-control more closely.

Continue to mature me, LORD; may I be more devoted to following the Spirit of self-control.

In the name of Jesus Christ...AMEN.

Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I tell you about these things in advance—as I told you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit. (Galatians 5:19-25, HCSB).