Your Daily Slice

 

SHEVAT 9

The Fruit of Self-Control

 

“But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is … SELF-CONTROL (self-restraint, continence).” (Gal 5:22-23 AMPC, emphasis mine)

 

We live in a world where over-indulgence and excess is a common thing, and it pertains to most every area of our lives:  eating, drinking, spending, sleeping, being in a constant state of anger, just to name a few.  Documentation of this lack of ‘self-control’ is easily found through the many sources available, to confirm and verify this sad state of affairs. Clinics and costly treatment centers have been established to address these rapidly escalating problems with no end in sight; to a world caught in a tailspin, they must seem like no-win, hopeless situations.

 

 “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.”  (Pro 25:28 RSV, emphasis mine)

 

However, to those of us who know Him, Messiah Yeshua, as our true Vine, and walk in His ways, the Spirit of Elohim will produce in us the fruit of self-control.  We cannot produce this fruit of ourselves; when we try, it is usually something that is temporary in nature.  We can easily recognize all the diets and weight-loss programs there are on the market today as a perfect example – and they all claim to work!  However, when we admit to our lack of ‘self-control’, our sin of excess, our lack of moderation in different areas, and invite our Elohim to work the changes in us that need to be made, He is faithful to do so.  Then, and only then, will we see the fruit of self-control begin to come forth, first the bud, then the flower, then the fruit, into full maturity, in our lives.

 

 “Do you not know that those who run in a race indeed all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to obtain it. And everyone who competes CONTROLS HIMSELF in every way. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we for an incorruptible crown.”  (1Cor 9:24-25, emphasis mine)

 

“Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.”  (Phi 4:5 KJV)

 

Alvinu, Malkeinu, our Father, our King, we come to You, and ask You to intervene, to help us in this battle that we fight with our excessive appetites.  Teach us, Adon, the key to moderation; teach us and guide us as we learn to discipline our selves, that we might truly be the disciples, the “disciplined ones”, of our Master Yeshua that we long to be.  In His Name we pray, the Name above all names, Yeshua of Nazareth.  Amein.

 

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