by Dani Catherine
Self-control: restraint exercised over one’s own impulses, emotions, or desires.
Self control wasn't always easy for me. And writing this post wasn't easy for me either. The term "self control" brings me back to a time where I had no self control and wasn't walking with the Lord. I grew up in a Catholic home and attended Catholic school until 7th grade. As I entered public school, I felt as though I didn't fit in. Was I sheltered for most of my childhood that I didn't fit in with the “cool kids”? No, not at all. But that’s what it felt like. I felt like there was so much emphasis on, "Who was most popular? Who was the best looking? Which girl has the most guys after her." I felt my cheek turning from the Lord and focused more on exercising self control to maintain the way I looked rather than exercising self control when it came to moral issues such as staying pure, sober and honest. I was faced with many temptations, and with those temptations came lack of self control, as well as lack of my hunger for the Lord.
In all of the "no-self-control" messes I had, there is one distinct moment that I can remember where I knelt down, looked up to the Lord and said, "I need you. I want to come home." I had a lot to drink the night before and woke up not remembering what I had done. I remember I drank so much to numb depression. I was depressed over incidents that happened in my past due to my lack of self control: sex before marriage, fulfilling the desires of my flesh (getting in debt to have all those worldly "things" that society portrayed as being "important"), and disappointing my family and friends. I realized my world was shaken and I was defenseless against sin. As Proverbs 25:28 says, "A person without self-control is like a house with its doors and windows knocked out." I couldn't keep living like a wild animal. I needed to be tamed and controlled.
As I started my new journey walking with the Lord, I reminded myself of the motivators to have self control (and still remind myself of these motivators daily). The first motivator is Christ's redemption. His redemption has motivated me to live a life honoring to Him because I recognize the sin I was rescued from. And the second motivator is the law of harvest. As Paul states in Galatians 6:7-8, "...we reap according to what we sow." By living a life honoring to Him, my life will reap and sow accordingly. Without self control, I am a slave to the world, the flesh and Satan, but as I walk more and more in the Spirit, I find victory. Although at times self control is difficult, (buying a new pair of shoes when I don't need it - worldly desires - still working on it!), self control does comes easier. I am blown away, in constant awe and thankful for God's grace and mercy. I want to leave you with this, Beautiful ladies:
1 Corinthians 10:13, "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
Dani Catherine is a social worker by trade, although is currently working with a fundraising organization. She loves to bake, paint, snap photos and spend time with her loved ones. Dani enjoys leading a table at Beautiful Monday nights and loves to volunteer as much as she can at Grace Family Church.