Self-Control, Self-Discipline and Self-Restraint: Lesson 3

(Reminder:  the following are my class notes from a young wives Bible class that I teach.  They are not a complete lesson.)

We began our lesson by reviewing our previous lessons, then we led into our class with the following verse as our foundation ...

Proverbs 25:28 ... Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control over his spirit.

'Like a city that is broken into and without walls' ... in biblical times, city walls were for protection.  A city without walls was open and unprotected to enemy attack.  If we can't control ourselves, we are like the city without walls, we are vulnerable and open to enemy attacks.

'a man who has no control over his spirit' ... without self-discipline, self-control and self-restraint, we are more prone to being influenced by the enemy and thereby make ourselves vulnerable.

Then we talked about what a man or woman who has no control over their spirit might look like ...

They put no restraint on their passions, desires and affections.

They are always in danger of being carried away and involved in sin by their uncontrolled passions, desires and affections.

They have no defense, protection or back-up when temptation comes their way.

After we discussed what these looked like in real life, we talked about the consequences that naturally followed.

We then explored the fact that on our own, we cannot conquer or control the three 'self's.'  Our only hope is in Christ, and we must utilize the tools we have been given.

We then talked about what those tools were ...

1.         Prayer ... Pray for God’s help to help us control ourselves based on His word.

2.         Bible study ... Study God’s word.  Be a faithful student of God's Word.

3.         Mindfulness ... Try hard to be more mindful and aware of the potential danger.

4.         Scripture memorization ... Memorize scripture that will help us fight this fight.

5.         Quote Scripture ... Quote scripture to self when tempted

Final thoughts:

Matthew 23:37 ... (NKJV)  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!

God is more than willing to help us fight this battle and be our protector; we just have to be willing to do our part.  The fact that God wants to help us is so very comforting ... 'How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing' ... are we willing?

I hope these thoughts and notes help you in your spiritual walk with God.

May God be glorified in all that we do!

patsy @ From This Heart of Mine

In the spirit of Titus 2:3-5 and from this heart of mine ...

Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.