Self-Control and the Christian Walk

Our One Word for the upcoming week is Self-Control, and it’s in the section of our devotional reading that has to do with Christian Character. In other words, Christians ought to be characterized by self-control. Everyone wants it, right? Or at least we want more of it. We want the ability to resist the slice of cheesecake after dinner, or to resist vegging out in front of Netflix for a couple of hours, or to stay away from mindless internet surfing, or whatever. But of course it’s more serious than any of those would reflect. Some Christians need to stay away from alcohol, or pornography, or gossip, or anger. Many Christians need to be more disciplined in prayer, in meditation, in Bible reading. All of us must confess that our self-control has let us down more than we’d like to admit. The age-old question is, “How can I develop more self-control?” How can we strengthen our ability to say “no” to things God has warned us about? Is it just something we’re born with (or without), or are there things we can do to grow in this area?