Self-Control

In Galatians 5:22-23 it says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

I’ve read that verse multiple times but it wasn’t until recently that I realized self-control was mentioned as a fruit of the Spirit. When I look back now, I can’t really understand why I didn’t notice it before, but I’m thankful that God’s brought it to attention when He did.

How much do we practice self-control? I certainly have my strong suits, but I’m weak in other areas. For example, I’m fine when it comes to drugs or alcohol and abstaining for them, but it’s hard for me to say no to another piece of chocolate or another episode of Game of Thrones.

I don’t know what you think of when you hear the words “self-control”, but when I first saw them mentioned I wrinkled my nose and tried to ignore the discovery. Self-control requires being selfless and dying to ourselves. I personally don’t find that easy.

Matthew 16:24-26 says, “ Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let himdeny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life^[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”

Self-control is one of the biggest fruits of being a Christian, for those who truly love Jesus, but how often do we ignore this commandment in our own pursuit of selfish pleasures? While that extra piece of chocolate tastes good now, we know what’s going to happen when we step onto the scales. While another tv episode sounds good right now, we won’t be thinking about that when we’re trying to hurry through University assignments that should have been done ages ago.

I have come to learn that a lot of God’s commandments aren’t made just for His sake. When we follow God’s true plan as outlined in the Bible, we get to live and experience the full life God has for us. Things of beauty don’t just happen by accident. No one looks at a beautiful garden and ask how it got there. Obviously someone was there labouring each day to weed, water and sow. In the same way, we need to do this in our own lives if we want the fruit that God promises.

2 Peter 1:5-7 says, “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.” 

Self-control is a fruit of faith, virtue and knowledge and then self-control gives fruit to being steadfast, godly, etc. Without self-control, one of the most ignored fruits by Christians, we can’t experience the life God wants us to have.

Let’s choose today to take up our cross as Jesus’ instructed and have the self-control God desires for us that we may live the life He desires for us.

Amen?

 

GOD BLESS XX

~ C

The Longer You Wait…

One of my favourite gems of wisdom I’ve picked up from the Bible, especially the Old Testament is how every great plan of God’s took time and patience from all involved before it could be executed. When people tried to mess with these plans, they’d often cause more damage then good and the great plans wouldn’t come to pass.

I believe everything written in the Bible can be applied to every area of our lives, so I believe that this nugget of wisdom can be applied to waiting for our future spouse.

Some of you have maybe only been waiting a few months, others maybe a number of years. We have a problem of focusing on the time instead of looking at what’s going to come. That’s like with Jesus’ return. So many people are counting down the time that He comes back, but yet scripture tells us to prepare for it like He’s coming tomorrow.

I’m a big believer that every season we go through in life was put before us to help us grow and learn more about God. That includes the single season. So many people look at it like it’s cursed and disgusting and I think that’s why so many people are stuck waiting and waiting. So often we turn our noses up to what we haven’t received instead of actually looking at the gift before us.

“But the single life isn’t a gift,” you may say.

To that I respond, “then you’re looking at it from a human perspective, not a godly perspective.”

Everything God gives us is a gift for our betterment and the betterment of the kingdom. If we refuse to accept that gift, we’re refusing God’s help. So many have done this and run off with a relationship that later fails and then asks why God punished them. God didn’t do that, you did because you failed to accept the season and work with it instead of against it.

Waiting is not a curse. In fact the first fruit of love mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 is patience. Patience is such a vital part of any relationship and we should be seeking every opportunity we can to grow in it and adopt it more. This waiting game is not a desolate curse, it’s the gift of new growth and preparation for the high call of marriage.

Don’t look at the time today, but instead choose to look at the situation through Heaven’s eyes. Work with it, not against it.

 

GOD BLESS XX

~ C

 

What Does Waiting Look Like?

Something I’ve noticed is people see the name of our ministry and take that to mean we’re encouraging people to just laze around and expect a prince charming or princess to just rock up.

That’s the world’s definition of waiting and look at waiting like the world is dangerous and results in, as we’ve seen, many failed relationships and the downfall of peoples lives so today I thought I’d tell you all what waiting God’s way looks like.

Waiting Does Not Mean Lazing Around

Waiting is waiting for God to answer your prayers and desires. In the mean time, you still have a life to live. If we all stopped our lives until God answered, no one would have answered prayers. Why? Because God can’t bring things to pass if things aren’t moving. Unless you’re working hard in your life with your jobs, studdies, etc, you’re not going to grow. God doesn’t give us things we’re not ready for so if you’re waiting, it’s probably because you need to grow some more. This isn’t a bad thing unless you ignore it. Otherwise God gets the blame for “slacking”. Prayer goes both ways. You have to do your part and in return God will do His.

What does this look like?

Like I said, work hard! Study hard, grow into a deeper relationship with the Lord and set your sights on Him. God can’t move someone who isn’t moving. At least when you’re moving God can direct your paths. You’re not just going to wonder across your future spouse. God usually puts them on your path at a certain time and place. It’s your job to be their ready. Wait on the Lord, not on a partner.

Think of Ruth and Boaz. To survive in that era, Ruth needed a partner. The harvest season would only go so long and then she’d have no food to provide for herself and Naomi. Ruth was a faithful servant of the Lord though and she went to work in that field every day, trusting God would provide and fulfill her needs. It was while she was working and trusting that God put her in Boaz’s path. If Ruth chose to give up and stay at home, she wouldn’t have met Boaz and in effect, Jesus wouldn’t have been born.

We all have a part to play and we must play that part. Waiting means to trust and to serve. If you’re not working, study! If you’re not studying, work! Serve people and let God bring what’s to pass. In the mean time live your life and trust God to provide.

 

GOD BLESS XX

~ C