In this message Carolyn reminds us that God’s ways are good, and self-control is one of His gifts that helps us live the full and flourishing life He desires for us.
In 2 Peter 1, we are see that God has already given us everything we need to live a godly life and self-control is part of that gift. Through the Holy Spirit at work within us, we can learn to manage the emotions, thoughts and actions that might otherwise pull us away from the life God has for us.
The story of David and Saul in 1 Samuel 24 gives us a powerful picture of this. David had every reason to react. He had been betrayed, pursued and treated unjustly, and suddenly had the opportunity to take matters into his own hands. Instead, he chose to see the situation through God’s eyes. His knowledge of God shaped his response, allowing him to resist the voices around him and choose a different way.
Carolyn encouraged us to consider where we might need that same self-control in our emotions, our physical choices and actions, and our thought life. Growth requires honesty and effort, but we don’t do it alone. The Holy Spirit is our help and strength, and self-control is already part of the fruit He is growing within us. Ultimately, it is less about controlling ourselves and more about allowing Christ, through His Spirit, to shape every part of who we are.
