Today's Lenten "Becoming Like Jesus" sermon topic was self-control. I know, I know...you'd rather not go there, right?! Turns out self-control is an important component for those seeking to live a Godly life.
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. "
2 Peter 1: 3-8
This is a vexing topic for many people, including me. Several years ago I had an extraordinary amount of self-control and self-discipline, but not so much now, which is a bit frustrating. So I was curious how the pastor would unpack this topic.
The point in the sermon that meant the most to me was that many people attempt to change their spiritual lives by trying to change. Most of us fail and then feel discouraged and, if anything, feel further from God at the end of all that failed trying than at the beginning. My pastor suggested that instead of trying to change we focus on training to change. I believe this means focusing on small steps we know or are pretty sure we can achieve in order to build up to a larger goal.
The thing in my life in which I have most lacked self-control in recent years has been doing quiet times. I define quiet time as a time of the day that I have by myself with no other distractions in which I can read the Bible or a book about faith, maybe journal, maybe listen to music, and pray. There are a million reasons why I (and many others!) have trouble fitting this into my day, but based on past experience, I know that I am a better person and am closer to God when I do make the effort to take this time. I found this sermon and topic particularly well timed because I just started a new bible study last week that requires 30-40 minutes daily of reading the Bible and reflecting. It is just what I was looking for! I'm so grateful that this opportunity has come along to help me start down this quiet time road again. I see this bible study, where I am accountable to the other members if I don't do the reading, as a kind of baby step in my training, so to speak. So far so good on my daily quiet times...hopefully I can keep it up!!
In what part of your life, spiritual or otherwise, do you feel you are lacking self-control right now? Have you tried to change and failed? Consider what small step you can take to start you down that road and don't lose heart during the journey. As the apostle Paul said, "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3: 13-14
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