Fruit of the Spirit: Producing Bounty in Barren Seasons
Hoo boy. Self-control. At first thought, I long to skip over this one. I find self-control to be an issue I am especially struggling with right now. It seems to me that if I had better control over my thoughts, emotions, anxieties, and temptations, then I would be doing much better at living out the other virtues in my life.
Allowing my fears and anxieties to dictate my emotions and reactions means I may lash out in anger, attempt to soothe my spirit with chocolate cake, or hibernate in my bedroom with Netflix and a bowl or two of ice cream.
I recognize that if I rely on my own willpower to make good choices and do the right thing, I will fail. My desire to tame my emotions, be a good Christian, control my temper, or be disciplined in my health goals, is not enough to keep me on the right track. As the apostle Paul laments:
“I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.” Romans 7:18-29 ESV
In his letter to the Romans, Paul goes on to convey that the fruit of the spirit, the fruit of Christian life, are not virtues that we can cultivate in our own power. Instead, these attributes are the fruit we display through the Holy Spirit at work in us. As humans, we are born with sinful natures. Yet, those who love Christ have the gift of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us.
“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you…But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:9-11 ESV
Of course, I can’t just sit back and wait for the Holy Spirit to do all the work. I have a part to play in developing self-control in my life. First, exercising self-control means harnessing my thoughts to focus on the source of all peace and goodness: my Lord and Savior.
Self-discipline also means crying out to God when I am anxious, afraid, and hurting rather than lashing out at those around me.
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Romans 8:26
Furthermore, for me, self-control means disciplining myself to avoid the empty, temporary comforts of cake and cookies when what I truly need is to feast on the nourishing Word of God.
I find it challenging to discipline my mind and refrain from destructive behaviors when I am feeling weighed down by uncertainty, sadness, and confusion. I am thankful that God does not leave me to my own devices but walks with me through these difficult times and reminds me to look to Him.
Dear Lord, you are so good. Thank you for the peace and goodness that you represent. I see many places in my life where I am struggling with a lack of self-control. Thank you for your precious gift of the Holy Spirit. Please help me to focus my mind on you and to embrace the Holy Spirit at work in my life. Amen