Self-Control

As always, yesterday's discussion during Women's Study was very thought-provoking. The book is Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate by Jerry Bridges, and the topic this week was lack of self-control. The very definition of self-control presented in this chapter was helpful and precise:

"It is a governance or prudent control of one's desires, cravings, impulses, emotions, and passions. It is saying no when we should say no. It is moderation in legitimate desires and activities, and absolute restraint in areas that are clearly sinful."

Of course, as Bridges points out, the various situations in which self-control (or lack thereof) most usually arise are in the areas of speech, eating and drinking, and the use of financial resources. But the discussion took an interesting turn when we expanded beyond these usual culprits - particularly into areas of our thought life. When we become aware of a sense of despondency during a crisis, for example, we need to exercise self-control to stop unproductive (and ultimately sinful) thoughts of doubting God's goodness, His love for us, the wisdom of His providential care, etc. Letting our negative thinking reign over us is giving in to the emotion of the moment. We need to say no when we should say no. Giving in to such meditations is a lack of self-control.

So how do we escape from this sin? Bridges has an answer for us:

"Biblical self-control is dependent on the influence and enablement of the Holy Spirit. It requires continual exposure of our mind to the words of God and continual prayer for the Holy Spirit to give us both the desire and power to exercise self-control. We might say that self-control is not control by oneself through one's won willpower but rather control of oneself through the power of the Holy Spirit."

Come, O Spirit, and grant us self control.