Can’t control yourself regarding anger

Can’t control yourself regarding sex

Can’t control yourself regarding gossip

Can’t control yourself regarding telling lies

Can’t control yourself regarding drugs

Can’t control yourself regarding spending money

Can’t control yourself regarding cussing

Can’t control yourself regarding procrastination

Can’t control yourself regarding temptations

Can’t control yourself regarding men

Can’t control yourself regarding women

Can’t control yourself regarding gambling

All these things and then some others will eventually create problems in your life if you have no control over them. I have the feeling many of us have allowed situations to run free with no boundaries and no restraints that now it has become almost a norm in our lives.  We’ve allowed it so much room and dominion that we have lost control of it.  It rules us.

In 1 Corinthians 9:27: Paul is talking to the people of the Corinthian church and telling them that he must discipline himself, and keep his body under control. He does that to be an upstanding example to the people he is preaching to.  He won’t tell you to do it and he doesn’t restrain himself also.

“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection” (KJV)

“Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control” (ESV)

But this also shows you that there is a solution to this issue. You can control yourself by keeping your body under subjection, disciplining yourself.  Saying…NO

Then there is Galatians 5: 22-23, that says “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”

Here we are shown that the Holy Spirit gives you a gift of SELF-CONTROL. So if you didn’t have it before, when you give your life to Jesus Christ you will receive the self-control you need to withstand the temptations of the world.  You will now have the Holy Spirit power within you to say NO.

Learn to use this power to crucify the affections of lust and regain back control over your life.

Remember, not all lust is sexual, meaning the things you want are not always sexual things, i.e. gambling, money, status.

Take some time to think about your life….are there situations, things, people that you have lost control in? You can’t function without them? It’s becoming unhealthy?  People mention or complain about it to you often? You lose time, sleep, and major moments in life because of it?

Take it to God. And find someone you trust that you can talk to you about it.  Someone who can give you godly advice.  I say that because if you are seeking the things of God….a worldly person cannot give you those godly answers.

Self-control is very important to your Christian walk. Because the devil uses temptation as a way of getting us off course, we need to learn early how to say NO.  And control ourselves so we don’t go back to old habits that kept us in sin.

I am praying with you.