Insight for Today: Self-Control

Here's a timely devotional I received today and thought I should share from Charles Swindoll!

Self-Control
by Charles R. Swindoll

Galatians 5:22-23

Willpower is a forgotten word amidst most Christian circles today. Many of us are soft, flabby, and fat either outwardly or inwardly . . . or both.

The overindulgence and underachievement of our age have created a monster whose brain is lazy, vision is blurred, hands are greedy, skin is thin, middle is round, and seat is wide. Color him baby blue!

What has spawned this strange, pillowy product? The Greeks would say: "A serious lack of enkrateia." That isn't a vitamin, it's a virtue---self-control.

The word actually means "inner power or strength." Expanded, it includes such things as having mastery or possession of something, the controlling power of the will (under the operation of the Spirit of God), the inner strength to resist and refrain, the strength not to indulge, not to act on impulse.

Paul uses this term in 1 Corinthians 7:9 regarding the control of sexual desire. He refers to it again in 9:25 as he speaks of the athlete's control over his body and its wants during the period of time he is training for a contest.

Rigid, severe discipline went into such training, mixed with separation and loneliness. Stern soul-discipline was a constant companion of the Greek athlete of the first century. Enkrateia became his middle name for ten long months.

In Galatians 5:23, this virtue occurs in the list of the fruit of the Spirit. But lest you think it is something God suddenly drops on you without any involvement on your part, allow me to quote 2 Peter 1:5-6 so as to keep everything in balance:

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness.

Observe two things, please. First, this is a series of commands to the Christian---this is our responsibility. Second, the fulfilling of the commands necessitates our "applying all diligence"---this will take sacrificial effort . . . emotional blood, sweat, and tears!

For the remainder of this reading I'd like to apply self-control to our lives just from the neck up. Naturally, we are the product of what we think about. Our actions and our reactions originate in our minds. What do you think about? Upon what do you spend most of your mental energy? How much independent, hard-core, no-nonsense, controlled mental input goes into your day on the average?

Those sorts of questions haunt me when I consider how a phenomenon like TV watching has so thoroughly saturated our society. Consider the following facts, gathered at the time of this writing:

Ninety-five percent of American households---over 60 million homes---have televisions. An additional 100,000 sets are being added with every passing month. More than 106 million adults find themselves in front of the tube on an average week in America.

And how often do those TVs get turned on? The American average is 48 hours per week. The average male watches 26 hours per week, while the female watches 30 hours. A national survey reports that the average American high school student spends more time in front of a television in his lifetime than the sum total spent before a teacher from kindergarten through high school.

I don't have to remind you that I am not anti-TV. I own one and I thoroughly enjoy viewing selected programs regularly as time permits. However, it is exceedingly serious when a nation like ours has become so lacking in self-control that we cannot turn a one-inch knob to "off" and provide our minds and eyes a needed rest from the blast of consistent cosmos propaganda.

It is a pity that many Christians have the TV schedule better memorized than a single chapter from God's precious Word. Due to our lack of mental self-control, our driving desire is to be entertained and amused, rather than challenged through reading or family discussions or silent meditation or personal planning and goal-setting.

I suggest that you attack this problem with a loaded rifle, not a sling shot. Take one needy area at a time and shoot it into submission with relentless prayer and determination as the Spirit provides the gunpowder. Let's meet at the rifle range. I think I hear a few shots already.

Don't fail to draw on the Lord's power as you work on self-control, knowing His strength is yours. Understand and believe Romans 8:9-14.


Excerpted from Come Before Winter and Share My Hope, Copyright © 1985, 1994 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

Living a Crucified Life

I am never so hungry as I am on the first day of a diet! Seriously, I psych myself up for it by planning our meals and asking my hubby to hold me accountable...but then the morning comes and the pangs of hunger kick in and it's all downhill from there. Ya know?

I've done the same thing with life in general many times! I've been so determined to change my life. I really want to do things differently! I psych myself up for it by identifying all my problem areas and ask a few friends for accountability...but then the morning comes and my attitude stinks and I'm never so lazy and tired as I am on the first day I set out to change my life! lol

I was thinking about that yesterday after I posted, Minding My Busy-Ness. I wondered if this time would be any different?

Then, right before I went to bed, my friend Katie wrote a post about Discipline and Self-Control on her blog. She said that the very word, "discipline", is something she hates and yet she craves. And boy-oh-boy can I relate! That was just the confirmation I needed.

Here is a portion of the passage from Romans 7 (Amplified Bible) my friend Katie shared in her blog that really ministered to me. It's Paul writing about his own personal experience with the sinful flesh:

15For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled, bewildered]. I do not practice or accomplish what I wish, but I do the very thing that I loathe [[b]which my moral instinct condemns].

I think that about sums up what I said yesterday, right? :o)

And on to the end of the chapter...

24O unhappy and pitiable and wretched man that I am! Who will release and deliver me from [the shackles of] this body of death?

25O thank God! [He will!] through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One) our Lord! So then indeed I, of myself with the mind and heart, serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

I especially love verses 24-25. I too am an unhappy and pitiable and wretched person! But I thank GOD that he has released and delivered me from the shackles of my flesh through Jesus my Lord! And so then IN DEED I, with my mind and my heart, will serve God through obedience to His Word!

Now that last little bit of verse 25 leaves one to worry a bit about what's next, right?

When we read on into Romans 8, we find direction...and peace:

1THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.(A)

***We must live and walk after the dictates of the Holy Spirit.

2For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death.

3For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [[a]the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [[b]subdued, overcame, [c]deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice],(B)

4So that the righteous and just requirement of the Law might be fully met in us who live and move not in the ways of the flesh but in the ways of the Spirit [our lives governed not by the standards and according to the dictates of the flesh, but controlled by the Holy Spirit].

5For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and [d]pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and [e]seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit.

6Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that [f]comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever].

***We are free from the law of sin and death! If we can overcome that through God's grace what CAN'T we overcome? (skipping to verse 9)

9But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the [Holy] Spirit of God [really] dwells within you [directs and controls you]. But if anyone does not possess the [Holy] Spirit of Christ, he is none of His [he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God].(C)

10But if Christ lives in you, [then although] your [natural] body is dead by reason of sin and guilt, the spirit is alive because of [the] righteousness [that He imputes to you].

11And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you.

12So then, brethren, we are debtors, but not to the flesh [we are not obligated to our carnal nature], to live [a life ruled by the standards set up by the dictates] of the flesh.

13For if you live according to [the dictates of] the flesh, you will surely die. But if through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall [really and genuinely] live forever.

14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

15For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father!

16The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God.

17And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory.

18[But what of that?] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and [g]for us and [h]conferred on us!

***We must share in His suffering if we are to share in His glory! That isn't asking too much seeing as how we will NEVER suffer as much as Christ did!!! (skipping to verse 24)
a
24For in [this] hope we were saved. But hope [the object of] which is seen is not hope. For how can one hope for what he already sees?

25But if we hope for what is still unseen by us, we wait for it with patience and composure.

26So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.

27And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will.(F)

28We are assured and know that [[j]God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.

29For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was [k]aware and [l]loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren.

***Here is the hope! God has given us the Holy Spirit to help us overcome our flesh! He has done this because He wants us to succeed! He wants us to be molded into the image of His Son. So, I should ask myself daily, "When people look at me, can they see Jesus?"

30And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified (acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself). And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being].

31What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?](G)

32He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?

33Who shall bring any charge against God's elect [when it is] God Who justifies [that is, Who puts us in right relation to Himself? Who shall come forward and accuse or impeach those whom God has chosen? Will God, Who acquits us?]

34Who is there to condemn [us]? Will Christ Jesus (the Messiah), Who died, or rather Who was raised from the dead, Who is at the right hand of God actually pleading as He intercedes for us?

35Who shall ever separate us from Christ's love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword?

36Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter.(H)

37Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors [m]and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.

38For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things [n]impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers,

39Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Woohoo! God is on our side! We are not alone! He is there, cheering us on! We have his blessing and He LOVES US!!!

God has called us to live a crucified life, to follow His Son. THAT, my sweet friends, is the answer. That is how we partake in Christ's sufferings, that is how we truly follow Him. That is how we succeed...By being obedient to God's Word and not letting our flesh get the best of us! DISCIPLINE. And yes, a lot of the work falls on us.

There is no time like the present to change the future! Change can happen overnight...it just may not be the radical change we'd like to see. It's a process, sometimes very difficult and painful, but that's alright! God loves us and if He is for us, who can be against us?!

So, now, I will get up off this couch. I will go make my children lunch. I will put Julie down for a nap. I will clean up the kitchen. I will tidy up the house. I will sit down with my son's and spend some time with them in God's Word, talking about the issues they face. Then, I'll get Julie up from her nap. Load them all up in the car and go spend some time with my sisters in faith and fellowship.

God Bless You Today!

Jesus Loves Me, THIS I Know!

The following is a post from my facebook notes, entitled, "To All My Mom Friends", dated 2/26/09:

Today has been one of "those" days. I was ready to quit before I even got started! Let's just put it this way, I was in tears within 15 minutes of getting out of bed.

I had another run-in with my "strong willed" child this morning. (Some of you know of whom I speak. :o) It was one of those things I've told him a thousand times NOT to do and yet he was doing it AGAIN! And, of course, this had to happen before I'd had my quiet time or coffee. So, almost immediately, my flesh got the best of me. lol

Within moments I had decided that all hope was lost! I thought to myself, "What have I done wrong??? Why does this child disrespect me this way??? Does he think I'm stupid? Does he think he'll get away with it? He never does! I've spanked, I've grounded, I've yelled, I've pleaded. What more can I DO???" It was at this point that I realized I must be a horrible mother and I completely fell apart. I bawled for about 15 minutes in the shower, hoping my kids didn't hear my pathetic blubbering prayer session! ;o)

Then, after I had regained my composure a bit, I called my dad and asked him if he would spend some time with the boy. I felt like it would be good for this child to help Pop do some work around the church and parsonage and maybe Pop could talk to him about character, integrity and being a good man. Thankfully, my dad agreed and invited us over.

My mom and I went grocery shopping. When we came back we all had lunch together and watched a Dr. Dino video (They're pretty cool!). I don't know what all the guys did while we were gone. However, I have noticed that my "strong willed" child has been REMARKABLY quiet since we got home about an hour ago...he,he. I can see the wheels turning and I'm hoping that is a good thing. Pray with me, k? Thanks.

Anyway, to get back to my reason for writing, I said all that to say this:

Just a little while ago, I sat down at the piano with my Julie in the living room and started playing, "Jesus Loves Me". I smiled and sang as she joyfully played and sang along. :o) After playing the song a few times, I got up to go clean the kitchen and as I stood at the sink and continued to sing that song, the lyrics became real to me...

Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak but He is strong

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so

I've always sang that song, thinking it was meant for children. But at that moment, that song was meant for ME!

I know that God does love me. He knows I'm doing the best I can to raise these children He's given me to love and serve Him. I know He is always there to help me when I need Him because His Word says so! My little ones may be weak, but He is strong! I may be weak, but He is strong! I don't have to have everything under control as long as He does!!! We are ALL in His hands! He can DO what I can't!!!

I'm still tearing up, just thinking about it! It blessed my heart so much. I thought maybe it would bless your's too. Hope so.

God loves you and so do I! Keep up the good work moms!

Minding My Busy-Ness

Have you ever been so stressed out by all the chaos in life that you found yourself struggling to think? I mean, so overwhelmed by each thought that passes through your mind, you find it difficult to concentrate and complete the simplest, most mundane of tasks? If so, WELCOME TO MY WORLD! Sometimes I do the strangest things and wonder, "What in the world is wrong with me!?!"

For instance, quite frequently I find myself standing in front of the refrigerator, door ajar, questioning the cold, white light, "What was I doing again?" (As if the silly thing might offer some insight!)

Many times I've set out to Wal-Mart, promising to take the kids for Sonic slushes afterward. Only, when I get to the first light, I turn right instead of going straight, heading for church (or possibly Starbucks, I'm not really sure) instead. And of course, it only makes matters worse when all the little people in the car start yelling, "Mom! Where are we going? I thought we were going to Sonic!"

The other night I went into the bathroom to brush my teeth before bed. I was so tired! I could hardly wait for my head to hit my pillow. As I stood there, looking at my tired reflection, I found myself becoming inexplicably frustrated. For some reason, I was having difficulty maneuvering and applying the hand soap to my toothbrush. That's right! You read it. Hand soap! Needless to say, I learned a very important lesson that night, NEVER, EVER, EVER leave the toothpaste next to the soap dispenser!

Aha! You laugh. I gotta admit, I laugh at myself a lot too. However, sometimes I laugh only because I'd rather not fall apart and cry like a big baby!

What has happened to me? Is it because I've given birth to three children? Sleep deprivation? Unhealthy diet? Lack of oxygen? What is it?

Well, I've reached several conclusions. It's definitely all of the above COMBINED with much too much "busy-ness". I've done this to myself! I go here and there and everywhere, for so many different reasons...and so many silly, ridiculous reasons at that! It's no wonder I've finally decided to take back my mind and my sanity by streamlining my life. That's right! We're cuttin' back, baby! Nothin' but the basics.

My Bible says, in Isaiah 26:3, "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You."

Obviously my mind has been all over the place...definitely not steadfast on God, the way it should be. See if you can relate:

A lot of the things I do, I do because...
1. I want people to like me.
2. It will make me look good.
3. I want people to do things for me.
4. It makes me feel good about myself.
5. I'm afraid of what people will think or say if I don't.
6. I don't trust other people to do it the way I think it should be done (control!).

Sound familiar? C'mon! I KNOW I'm not the only one.

Of course there are times when I do things for the right reasons too! I do lots of things to glorify God, show His love to others or simply out of obedience and love for Him. However, even then, those good reasons can be tainted by selfish reasoning when and if I haven't been spending time with God, the way I should.

I want peace. Peace of heart and mind. I've wasted time pursuing so many "things" in life and look where they've gotten me. It's time for a change...it's time for me to pursue peace like never before! Not just on Sunday or at Bible Study or even once a day in a 5 minute devotional, but all day, every day! Not in just one area, but ALL of them!

I know that sounds hard, but it's really not! Peace really isn't hard to find if it's really what you're lookin' for...

Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you: I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27, italics mine)

Tada! There it is. Jesus gives us His peace! And notice, His peace isn't like the "peace" the world offers. It's not temporal, like a day at the spa, a nap, or a date-night. It goes beyond that...

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:6-7, italics mine)

It guards our hearts and minds. We can't "let" sin creep in. We have to pursue peace, through prayer and thanksgiving! It doesn't have to make sense. God's peace transcends what makes sense to us!

"The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace." (Rom. 8:6)

I let sin creep in...into my mind, my motives and thereby my heart. I let it throw out my peace to make room for pride, fear and worry. Well, it's high time for me to mind my busy-ness! It's time for me to really let the Holy Spirit take control. Time to streamline. Eliminate the non-essentials. Prioritize. Put God first. I want peace and I will have it, for myself and my family! TO GOD'S GLORY! Amen. :o)

From here on out, this blog will be a logbook of my journey. I'll share my struggles and my triumphs and offer some tips and advice from my own success and/or failure. I'd appreciate your input as well! Please join me, on this exciting adventure...

Boiled Frog Syndrome

While visiting with a friend the other day, the subject of homeschooling came up and it triggered a few thoughts I figured I should write down for future reference.

Basically my friend's position was that, "Homeschooling is good. But I worry homeschooled children may be in for an overwhelming shock when they have to go into the real world, college, work, etc."

This is a perfectly logical concern, to which I sweetly responded, "Well, I think my kids will be alright. They're all very outgoing and confident. So..." But after the words left my mouth, I thought of a hundred different things that I would have rather said...only too late!

As I drove home, reflecting upon the conversation and all the things I wished I would have said, I was reminded of this particularly fitting anecdote about boiled frogs:

If you throw a frog into a pot of boiling water, he’ll jump out. But if you place a frog into a pot of lukewarm water and slowly turn up the heat, it will boil to death.

I'm not sure if that's really true, so please don't try it at home...he,he...But that about sums things up for me perfectly!

Too many Christians have Boiled Frog Syndrome! I should know...I've fallen prey to the disease myself many times! But shouldn't the "real world" be shocking??? I mean, LOOK at it! Perversion, corruption, injustice, immorallity everywhere! I would rather my children be shocked by it than acclimated to it! Wouldn't you???

Of course my sweet friend meant no offense. She loves my children and I. She was just being an honest, caring friend, and I appreciate that. I only wish I had thought this through earlier. Prepared to respond to such a question with love and truth.

This world is a scary place, but God's Word says that He will keep in perfect peace the person who trusts in Him. My children don't need to be afraid of this world. My children trust God! They don't have to be overwhelmed, they have to act!

Evil prevails when good men (and women) do nothing! -Edmund Berke

My purpose for homeschooling is to raise up good men and women to DO SOMETHING! Homeschooling may not be the thing for everyone and that's fine. But I'm doing this for the Lord and for my children. It's not easy, by any means, but I believe that if we persevere we will receive what the Lord has promised.

So...there. That's all I have to say about that, for now. ;o)