Saying "no," can be challenging--especially saying "no" to yourself. Resisting temptation and denying your flesh is easier said than done. I know it is for me. Sadly, we live in a world that teaches us to gratify ourselves and to indulge in everything instead of living with parameters. But stability is only found when staying within the parameters God set before you. And with a lot of practice and discipline, self control can become second nature.
When done right, self control does not limit you; however, it empowers you. Your flesh does not rule you and other people do not rule you. When you allow God to govern your life, it becomes easier to definitively tell yourself "no." It becomes easier to make decisions that may be difficult, but are ultimately beneficial for your spiritual growth.
Proverbs 25:28 says: "A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls." Lack of self-control will leave you susceptible to falling into sin. It is basically saying "yes" to everything without considering the consequences. And that is dangerous territory.
How can we master self-control?
We must first acknowledge that without proper self-control, we will inevitably wander aimlessly.
We have to adapt to disciplining ourselves.
We have to reteach ourselves what is truly good and what is truly bad.
We have to strive to be better, to do better.
We have to want to make the right decisions for the right reasons.
My prayer is that we act more wisely.
That we learn to dictate our flesh instead of allowing our flesh to dictate us.
That we operate in the power God has given us: the power to live right by actually doing right.
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