Controlling Ourselves

            In many ways many seems to be out of control.  Men kill other men over mundane things.  Children are raped and molested on a daily basis.  Lying, stealing and cheating are second nature to some.  However, I believe we can counteract this by having self-control.  Self-control is best described as self discipline or self denial.  The Greek word for Self-Control comes from two words, the preposition meaning “in”, and the verb meaning “to hold”, hence suggesting a holding of oneself in.  The apostle Paul best described the fleshly\spiritual war that each of us face in Rom 7:19, “For the good that I will to do, I do not do, but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.”  Paul, as most of us do, had a struggle in his own body to do what is right.  How did he overcome this battle?  By exercising self-discipline.  Consider this passage, “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection. . . lest I myself should become disqualified” (I Cor 9:27).  The best way to gain self-control is to, “Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established” (Prov 16:3).  If we have our minds focused on Godly things we will not have time to focus on fleshly things.  In exercising self control we each need to think back to the Mount of Olives, and remember the words Jesus Christ uttered, “. . Not my will, but yours, be done” (Lk 22:42). The apostle Paul sums it up by saying, “Finally, Brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of a good report, if there be any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.” (Phil 4:6-8).  May God help us all to have control of ourselves?