During my high school days, when my thoughts, imaginations, and desires ran beyond this world, one of the Bible verses that kept me in check and made me think twice before acting, was Proverbs 25:28, which says, “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.”
The city wall, a defensive structure, serves to safeguard a city or kingdom from possible attackers. If it is breached, it can threaten the entire geopolitical stability. Similarly, a person without temperance is quite exposed. Self-control represents strength, and having it is a sign of mastery, and “The highest evidence of nobility in a Christian is self-control. He who can stand unmoved amid a storm of abuse is one of God’s heroes.”
Temperance is crucial and vital to humans. As Christians, exercising temperance—part of the Fruit of the Spirit—is necessary. However, a common question that keeps us awake is, “How can I develop self-control?” While reflecting on this, I considered many ideas and thoughts, and eventually found a solution.
Scholars define self-control as the capacity to regulate impulses, emotions, and behaviors to reach long-term goals. The human brain's prefrontal cortex plays a key role in planning, problem-solving, and decision-making. However, the notion that self-control is a stable trait is not always accurate; it varies with physical energy levels. From these findings, I understand that I cannot solely rely on my physical or mental strength to develop self-control, as these do not correlate perfectly. This insight is helpful, but it doesn't always apply.
Sometimes, we become so overwhelmed with worry and stress that maintaining self-control feels impossible. As Christians, this can lead us to feel unworthy. However, the Bible offers a different approach to help us gain self-control. I'm glad to share the insights God has personally revealed to me.
Insights About Self-Control
Jesus, the best Teacher in the world, said in John 15:4, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” To bear fruit, we must stay rooted in Christ and rely entirely on our Creator. After Jesus ascended, He sent the Holy Spirit, or Helper, to live inside us.
The Word of God declares that when we allow the Spirit of God to dwell in us and guide us on the right path, He produces the Fruit of the Spirit. This fruit is remarkable because it encompasses nine distinct qualities, which are interconnected. Each quality naturally leads to the next, culminating in self-control.
The process starts with Christ. We must be firmly rooted in His Word, which is even more nourishing than our daily food. Our consistent connection with Him through prayer becomes our source of strength. Through the Word and prayer, we hear the clear voice of the Holy Spirit. As we respond in His power, we grow. Now the Fruit of the Spirit appears, and self-control takes the lead. We are experiencing the sweet fruit of self-control.
This is a daily process and involves constantly trusting in the loving Lord Jesus. When we keep Christ at the center of our lives and stay connected with Him through Bible reading and prayer, we are guided by the Spirit. Fortunately, the Fruit of the Spirit is now shown both inwardly and outwardly.
Self-control is our defensive wall, ensuring that we “taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” (Psalm 34:8).
Call to Action
The Fruit of the Spirit is sweet, and our lives should mirror that sweetness. We are inspired by the Word of God and the goal of our prayers—to be filled with the Holy Spirit—so we can embody God’s incredible grace through self-control in the present moment.
All scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
- Ellen G. White, Reflecting Christ (Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1985), 292.
