On the first Monday of each month when my children were in high school, I wrote a letter to them describing a secret of success in life. Recently I compiled a year’s worth of secrets into a small book. Secrets of Success is a great gift for graduates and a practical study for youth groups. To give you a glimpse, I posted Secret #8 here.
An absolute essential for success in life is the ability and willingness to control yourself. Without self-control, you will not be able to make the hard choices for a positive future. Paul encourages you to be self-controlled (I Thessalonians 5:6, 8). He tells both young and old to lead godly, self-controlled lives (Titus 2:5, 6, 12).
Three areas often need extra efforts at self-control:
1. Your mind.
What happens in your mind affects who you are and what you do. The Word says that you must control your mind and what you think (I Peter 1:13), renew your mind (Romans 12:2), and set it on things above (Colossians 3:2). As you control your mind, you will be in proper control of your life.
2. Your body.
What you eat, how you care for your body, and your view and use of sex—these all matter to God. Paul writes that you need to submit your body to God, giving it to Him for His guidance and care (Romans 12:1). In another place, Paul goes further and tells us to submit our bodies to God, and not to sin (Romans 6:1). He also reminds you that your body is a temple (a dwelling-place, a home) of God. He urges you to flee immorality and honor God with your body (Corinthians 6:18-20 and 9:27).
3. Money.
Since money is essential for life, the ability to use it well – with discipline – is also essential. The Bible tells you to give back to the Lord (Proverbs 3:9-10) and warns against loving money (I Timothy 6:10). Proverbs encourages you to be prudent (careful), to gather your money little by little and to use it wisely (Proverbs 13:11; 6:6-11; 8:18-21).
The wonderful thing is that God doesn’t expect you to control yourself in your own power; His Holy Spirit gives you the power (Galatians 5:23; II Timothy 1:7).
My prayer is that you will walk in the control of the Spirit.
How about you? What area of self control is most challenging for you?
c2011 Judy Douglass
You can order Secrets of Success in the US from New Life Resources. In Asia, you can order from CCC Mass Media.
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Hi Jeedoo! What a wise mom you are, to write these letters for your children.
I’ve heard it said, Self Control is the umbrella over all of fruit of the spirit—a believer can’t enjoy the fullness of Peace, Patience, Joy etc. without employing Self Control. I struggle most to control my thoughts, altho that has gotten a tad easier in recent years. Controlling my words (responding to harshness with gentleness, for example) is also a struggle.
You should write for us at baaaaa.com sometime. Let me know if you’re interested. The purpose of the site is to promote Jesus Christ, and authors who write for him.
God bless you, dear.
You are kind, Catherine. Yes, thought control is challenging. What has helped me there the most is to say thank You, Lord as a first response. That really helps the words that come out next be from the Lord. Now about the exercise–slow progress. I will look at your site. Thanks for the offer.
I completely agree with Secret #8, Judy! Thank you for posting it! I would like to read the book, as well…
Lots of love and blessings!
So glad you like it, Lena.